Fractured Affections (The Affections Series Book 1) by Elizabeth Wills

time getting comfortable and keeping warm without you here.”
    Dalton chuckles, “Maybe it’s the lack of orgasm before bed. That usually tires you out. I know it does me. That’s the part I miss most about my daily routine.”
    “Oh, stop, you know it’s not every day. But you could be right. Could you find a sex store, and buy one of those kits to make a replica of your penis? Then you could mail it to me and that problem will be solved.”
    We are both laughing softly into the phone now. I’m so glad I called. I just have to remember that he misses me too, and that I could never be a bother to him. We need each other because we are a team, and that’s what a good marriage is about.
    “Well, most days, I have the best wife ever. She never tells me no, so I guess it could be arranged to have my dick in the mail for you. I’ll check into that today. Make sure none of the kids check the mail until it arrives, cause the package will be huge. You know how excited kids get over large boxes. I would hate for them to open it because they would definitely be traumatized.”
    “Oh my God, Dalton, don’t you dare mail me your penis. I was just joking.”
    He is hysterically laughing at this point. I just know that he may actually send me the replica of his most adored appendage. Me and my big mouth. Now I have to reinforce the fact that opening someone else’s mail is a federal offense with the kids and that they could go to jail. Threatening them into fear is a much better option than telling them their father is sending his penis in the mail. That is something that stays with you.
    “Come on, you know you would enjoy it. You could call me every night before bed with my dick in your hands. I could tell you exactly what I would do with it, if I was there.”
    “Dalton, there is no way I’m having phone sex,” I say with a giggle.
    “Come on, my sweet Rea. I know you want to touch that warm wet-“
    “DALT! Stop. I’m not comfortable with that. Can we talk about something else? Please?” I end on a whisper and roll onto my back with a huff.
    “Always so modest, Rea. It’s just me, baby. It could give us something to look forward to while I’m away, but we can change the subject. What’s going on at the house? Dylan called asking questions about Striker.”
    “What?”
    Dylan is so observant, plus he’s taking the role as, ‘man of the house,’ a little too seriously. Sometimes I wish he would just enjoy being a kid instead of always worrying about others.
    “Yeah, he called earlier and said Striker seemed angry after talking to you in the laundry room. Everything okay?”
    “Yeah. I have no idea what happened. He came into the laundry room to see if I would go to breakfast with him, so that we could work things out and maybe one day be friends again. All I said was that I prefer to just do coffee here.”
    “Ok, so what’s wrong with breakfast? Why only coffee at the house?”
    Do I really want to get into all of this with him? Why couldn’t the conversation stay on the light and fun side? Talking about Striker to Dalton makes me uncomfortable. I think that’s why I have avoided it for so long.
    “Dalt, I’m just not comfortable, yet. I’ve been doing pretty well with him in the house.”
    “Huh, really? What have you guys done or talked about with one another?”
    Ok, so maybe I haven’t been doing so well, but just being able to be in the same house as him, without feeling angry or betrayed, is a step in the right direction. What does Dalton want from me? I just want to be cordial and keep my distance. I have too much history with Striker. Dalton knows that. If I get friendly with him, then I know he will become friendly with the boys, and I’m not ready for that.
    “Alright, so maybe I haven’t put in a lot of effort, but I am no longer upset about the idea of him being in the house. I just don’t want to be best friends any time soon.”
    “Listen, Rea. I know things were difficult for