118I loved you first
Part One
Johanna Mason looked around the high school field, lined with rows of plastic chairs. In front of her stood two middle-aged women, dressed in their ceremony best, looking over the crowd gathering for the graduation.
"I didn't have a chance to look over my program, but who is the Valedictorian?" one woman asked.
"It's the Mellark girl—Adeline," the other woman responded. "She's heading to Stanford this Fall, you know."
"I'm not really familiar with her…I don't think that she and Katie really hang out."
"Oh—everyone knows about the Mellarks." Johanna moved in closer, grimacing at the woman's overwhelming floral perfume. "Adeline's parents were practically teenagers when they had her. They stay together long enough to have Adeline's younger brother before getting divorced."
"So, they're what? In their thirties?"
"About that. Katniss, her mother, barely looks like she's hitting her thirties. She owns that cute little boutique downtown."
"And, the Dad?"
"Oh God—Peeta Mellark. A delicious specimen of a man. He's the CEO of Mellark Bakery; his family started it from a small mom-and-pop bakery and he turned it into a franchise. Now, they're all over the country."
Johanna was suddenly blinded as two hands covered her eyes. She smelled the faint scent of sugar and watercolor paints.
"You're messing up my makeup, Luke," she warned.
Whirling around, Johanna beamed at a gangly blond, grinning at her.
"Aunt Johanna!" Luke wrapped his arms around her. "You came!"
"Of course." She embraced her nephew tightly. "Where's your mother?"
"Her and Dad are heading down," Luke informed her. "They're deciding which restaurant to go to for Grandma's birthday next weekend."
"There they are," the gossiping woman suddenly said. "Peeta and Katniss Mellark. The perfect exes."
"Are you sure? They looked like they're still into each other."
Luke and Johanna locked eyes; the young boy rolling his at the two women being not-so-discreet.
"They've been that way for years. Every PTA meeting or school event, they're together and usually talking amongst themselves, his arm around her shoulders and her leaning against him, just like now—here they come!"
"Johanna!" Katniss pulled away from her ex to rush into the woman's arms. "I'm so glad you came!"
"I wouldn't miss AJ's graduation for anything," Johanna replied. "And, how is my favorite ex-cousin doing?" She looked to the man talking to her nephew. "Hey, asshole."
Peeta grinned at her. "Hello to you too, Johanna."
"How are you enjoying Panem so far?" Katniss asked her.
Johanna looked to the shocked women, both red with embarrassment.
She gave them a wink.
"It's been illuminating."
"Apparently, you and Peeta, are the 'It' couple when it comes to divorces," Johanna informed the two as they found their seats.
"Are we?" Katniss looked to her ex-husband with a smile. "Did you hear that, Peeta? We're the cool divorcees."
Peeta snorted. "Don't these people have anything else to talk about?" He sat next to Katniss, giving Luke the aisle seat so he could take pictures of his sister walking down towards the stage. His arm snaked over to the back of Katniss' chair. "Sometimes I forget how small it is here."
"Well, you two are freakishly close," Johanna pointed out. "Probably more than most married couples."
"It's kinda true, parents," Luke added as he played with the lens of his camera. "My friends are always surprised when I tell them you're divorced."
"Why are your friends so nosy, teenager?" Peeta asked.
"Because their parents ask." Luke turned to them. "It's not like I mind. I don't really remember when you were together, but if it was the opposite of this, I'm glad you're divorced."
"That's very mature of you, sweetheart," Katniss told their son.
Peeta smiled fondly at his ex-wife. "We made some smart children."
She returned the gesture, her eyes on the handsome man. "All from me."
He leaned towards her ear. "I don't doubt that."
Katniss trembled; even after all these years, Peeta always knew how to make her come undone. They had known one another since they were children, had fallen deeply in love when they were juniors in high school, and Katniss was pregnant by graduation.
They had tried to make it work.
The birth of Adeline had brought them even closer and they loved their daughter with all their hearts. However, the extra responsibility had been a lot on the young parents who both juggled work and college part-time.
Katniss and Peeta's parents had rallied to help the two. Their families helped take care of the adorable cherub that Adeline was while they went to school. On the weekends, Peeta was at the Mellark Bakery, learning how to manage his parents' business. Katniss would be at their apartment, textbooks on the kitchen table and their daughter in her arms.
They both graduated with business degrees.
Katniss was pregnant with Luke during their college ceremony.
By Luke's first birthday, Peeta and Katniss could see the cracks in their relationship. Peeta had been spending less time at home, trying to bring Mellark Bakery up the corporate chain. Katniss was unsure what she wanted to do and had little time to think about it as she raised their two children.
Also, they both had tempers.
As the children slept, they argued, going to bed angry.
Sometimes, one or both would be in tears.
When Luke was two and Adeline six, they had agreed to a divorce.
Katniss and Peeta sat their families down and told them that they would be separating but amicably. She would have the home that they had bought together, and it would be where the children would live. Peeta would move into an apartment nearby and would have them on the weekends.
Their main priorities were Adeline and Luke. They wanted their children to grow up in a loving, supportive environment.
It was hard in the beginning; they still loved one another…but something changed. Maybe they had become too different or they had just grown apart.
Whatever caused their breakup hurt like hell.
They continued to push forward; Katniss eventually decided to open her boutique, Primrose—named after her younger sister. Peeta became a silent partner, helping her purchase the space, but mostly staying out of the way as a gesture of goodwill towards his ex-wife.
Now, Katniss could say with confidence that Peeta was one of her best friends and vice-versa.
They had dinners together with the kids—sometimes without them. She would go to the Mellark Home for Thanksgiving and Peeta would attend the annual Christmas party at her parents' house.
They went to every recital, sports event, and even spelling bee together. The kids never felt neglected—at least she hoped they didn't—and both parents had great relationships with Adeline and Luke.
"It's starting!" Luke called out. He put the viewer of his camera to his eye as the strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance' began.
The navy-clad graduates were led by Haymitch Abernathy—Senior Class advisor and teacher—who held the school banner as he walked down the aisle to cheers and camera flashes.
He was followed by the Senior Student Council, each with white stoles denoting their roles.
Then, wearing gold stoles, were the Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
Adeline beamed excitedly, her long dark waves moving with her, as she walked down the aisle. Next to her, Evan Odair smiled, his cheeks red and his eyes caught on Katniss and Peeta's beautiful daughter.
Adeline spotted her parents, waving excitedly, and flashing a peace sign as Luke took her picture.
Katniss took a deep breath, trying to keep her tears at bay. Sometimes, she still saw the little girl who would beg her to play tea party with her every afternoon.
Now, that little girl was getting ready to take on the world—and she wouldn't need her mother anymore.
Peeta put an arm around her, pulling her side against his.
"She's always going to need us, Katniss," he assured her.
Katniss turned to him. "How did you know what I was thinking?"
Peeta reached, wiping the stray tear off her cheek, and giving her a sad smile.
"Because I know us," he told her. "We all grew up together—you, me, Luke, and Addie. And, we're never going to stop needing each other."
Katniss nodded and he pressed a kissed to her temple.
Next to the exes, Johanna rolled her eyes.
Brainless, the both of them.
"Now, I would like to call up our Valedictorian—" Voluminous applause rang through the crowd along with some shouts from the rowdier seniors. "—an ambitious young woman who, besides maintaining a 4.0 GPA and taking all available AP classes, is the president of our youth volunteer club, one of our most popular tutors and a peer mediator. From personal experience, it has been an honor to have someone to debate with in class—" The crowd laugh at his words. "Ladies and gentlemen, Adeline Jane Mellark."
The crowd was riotous as Adeline stepped onto the stage. She was always popular, though she never had a particular crowd that she hung out with. She went to prom with Evan—as friends—though Katniss believed that the boy next door had always wanted more.
However, Adeline had always been a free spirit.
She admitted to Katniss that she didn't want to be tied down to anyone since she would be leaving for school—despite the cuteness of Evan's smile.
Adeline stepped up to the podium, beaming at the crowd.
"Good afternoon, faculty members, families, and senior class," she began. "My name is Adeline Jane Mellark. Most of you know me as AJ or, if you're my Dad, Addie. I am supposed to be up here trying to inspire and give you advice for what comes next. However, I don't think I could give you any advice as I'm in the same boat as the rest of you. I don't know what's coming next."
Katniss leaned forward; her eyes trained on Adeline. Peeta sat in rapt attention, his own stare on their daughter.
"I can tell you that whenever I'm not sure what to do, I think of my parents. You see, my mom and dad had me right after they graduated high school. They had to navigate going to college along with raising a child and by the time they graduated college, my brother came along. When I think about it, we grew up together." Adeline smiled to herself. "We learned together."
She met Katniss' eyes.
"My mom taught me to always focus on what I want, to never back down, to fight for what I believe in."
Peeta reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze.
"My Dad—" She heard Peeta's breath hitch. "—taught me that there is good in everyone; that sometimes to get back on track all you need to do is look at a sunset, and to always have hope."
She grinned.
"Mom, Dad…I just wanted to say that I'm proud to be your daughter. That, because of you, I am not afraid of what comes next. You both taught me lessons that I'm going to carry with me my whole life—that no matter what happens, I'll always have a place to just be me."
Adeline looked at her classmates.
"We're always going to have each other. So, when you're feeling lost or scared, think back to this moment—this is our place to be us. This great moment of excitement…fear…of endings…and beginnings—life is full of them. Enjoy them. It has been an honor to be part of this graduating class. I wish you all the best of luck in whatever comes next. Thank you and congratulations!"
The crowd was up on their feet and, over the sea of people, Adeline met her parents' identical teary gazes to blow them both a kiss.
"You must be so proud, Peeta," the woman…Karen—he wasn't sure what her name was—said. "Adeline is so accomplished."
In return, Peeta gave the woman a conciliatory smile. "Katniss and I are very proud of her."
Beside him, Finnick and Annie Odair stifled their laughter at her obvious flirting in the middle of his own daughter's graduation reception. The couple had been friends with the Mellarks since they moved into the neighborhood.
"It's going to be awfully lonely for you now that Adeline's going to be moving away," she simpered.
"Not really. Our son is just entering high school. Katniss and I are sure we'll have our hands full."
"Luke is definitely a spitfire," Finnick said. "But a hell of an artist."
"He's going to the fine arts high school, correct?" The woman frowned. "Do you think that's the right path? The artist route isn't very lucrative."
"Well, it's a damn good thing that Peeta and I care more about our children's happiness than the amount of money they'll make." Katniss joined his side and gave the woman a cool smile. "Clarissa, we're so glad you could join us."
"Thank you for having us." The woman looked around the house. "You have a beautiful home." Her eyes suddenly darted behind them. "If you'll excuse me."
She was gone in a second.
"Clarissa! That was her name!" Peeta snapped his fingers, turning to his ex-wife. "This whole time I thought it was Karen."
Katniss chuckled. "Please don't tell me you called her Karen."
"Peeta couldn't get a word in," Annie explained. "The woman had her sights on becoming the new Mrs. Mellark."
"Many have tried, all have failed," Peeta said. "Anyway, I'm not looking."
"Why not?" Katniss questioned, grinning at him. "I was just too perfect, wasn't I?"
He flashed her a smile. "We all didn't find a Gale Hawthorne, did we?"
Peeta tried not to cringe saying the man's name. Katniss had been dating him casually for six months, but he could tell that the man was set on making things official.
"Where is Prince Charming, anyway?" Finnick asked, his disdain obvious. Their friend had always believed that he and Katniss would eventually reunite. According to him, they had too much fire to be just friendly exes.
"Probably somewhere polishing his crown," Peeta replied with a short laugh.
The look on Katniss' face quickly cut him off. She looked disappointed.
"Peeta, you're better than that," she admonished softly. "Excuse me."
Katniss walked away, heading upstairs, and his heart sank seeing the slump in her shoulders.
"What the fuck was that?" Annie asked, looking between the men.
"Truthfully, I think Gale is a douche," her husband admitted. "I don't know what the hell Peeta was on about—" Finnick looked to the downhearted man. "Wait a minute. Are you jealous?"
Peeta glared. "Why would I be jealous?"
Finnick guffawed. "Because the man is probably pounding into your ex-wife who you're still pining over."
"Focus, you two!" Annie pushed Peeta forward. "You should probably talk to her."
"I'm already on it."
Katniss looked at herself in the bathroom mirror.
Why was she even upset about Peeta's remark? It wasn't like it was mean.
Truthfully, Gale was a little high on himself sometimes. He was successful, having his own real estate firm, and had taken her to some nice places.
While he didn't make an effort to get to know Adeline or Luke, she hadn't gone out of her way to encourage his involvement with her children either. They didn't need another father figure.
Truthfully, Katniss kept him because he saw her as a woman—and not just a wife or mother.
There had been a point in her marriage to Peeta where they stopped seeing each other as people and started seeing one another as parents who just slept next to one another. It was hard to keep the romance alive when she always had a baby to her chest.
Their fights had been epic and an argument over which preschool Adeline would go to ended with a bout of angry sex against the doorway of their bedroom.
Then, she was pregnant with Luke.
One day, they looked wearily to one another and both realized it was over.
They had no fight in them left.
"Katniss?" Peeta stood at the bathroom doorway, guilt on his face. "You okay?"
Katniss turned to him, crossing her arms as she faced him. "I guess."
"I didn't mean it," he told her.
"I just don't want us to get to that point where we're snipping at one another," Katniss told him. She moved past him to walk into her bedroom and sat on her bed. "I hated that."
Peeta joined her. "Me, too." He sighed, giving her a doleful look. "I'm just not used to not being the number one man in your life."
She knocked into his shoulder, a smile rising on her lips.
"Peeta…you know that Luke is number one."
"I will concede to our son," Peeta told her. "Addie is going out with her friends tonight and Luke is sleeping over at Christian's house. They have a video game to conquer, apparently. Did you want to have dinner? Like a parents of the Valedictorian celebration? We can go to that Chinese place that we love, with the mu shu you like."
Katniss gave him an apologetic smile.
"After the cleaning crew leaves, I'm having dinner with Gale tonight."
Peeta nodded. "How about I stay while the crew cleans up and you two can go on your date earlier?"
She raised a brow. "You sure?"
He stood, holding out his hand. "Truce?"
Katniss took it, standing and giving him a hug, her nose pressing his shoulder. She always enjoyed his smell, that warm spiciness of his cologne. It was comforting yet it still made her heart skip a beat whenever it hit her nostrils.
"We better get downstairs," she said into his shirt. "We have a speech to make."
Peeta nodded, lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes. "We did it, Katniss."
"What do you mean?"
They walked out of her bedroom and Katniss looped her arm through his as they headed down the hallway towards the stairs.
"Remember when she was first born? We were both so scared of screwing her up…but we didn't," he told her.
They descended the stairs, staring at one another.
"I remember. I was constantly snippy and wanting to call the doctor at every weird noise she made," she replied. "And, you were always worried about dropping her or cursing in front of her!"
"I may have cursed once or twice. Much more around Luke—" Katniss snorted, and he laughed. "Things get a little more relaxed with the second one!"
Katniss sighed. "True." They stopped halfway down, and she turned to him. "I'm sorry if I ever took my parenting fears out on you. It probably contributed to a lot of our fights."
Peeta shrugged. "I wasn't there for you when you needed me. All those late nights at the office…"
"It's all in the past now," she interjected.
At the foot of the stairs, Adeline and Luke were talking to Evan and his parents. When she turned to look at them, their daughter hurried up the stairs with a bright smile on her face before wrapping her arms around her parents.
"Thanks, you two." Adeline pulled away; her blue eyes glowing. "This is a great party and you did so much—"
"You deserve it," Peeta told her tenderly.
"You're our little girl," Katniss said. "We always kind of knew we would be spoiling you!" Adeline giggled. "And, we are enormously proud. A bit braggy, too…"
"Aunt Johanna told me about those two women gossiping about you guys," their daughter informed them quietly. "It makes sense, though. Their daughters are bitches."
Peeta guffawed and Katniss raised a brow at their daughter's words. That was thing about Adeline; she never pussyfooted. Like Katniss, she could be blunt when need be. However, she was naturally empathetic like Peeta.
"While I'd usually prefer that you didn't curse, you're eighteen so I can't really stop you," Katniss said.
"Thanks, Mom!" They made their way to the last three steps and Adeline went to a nearby server, who handed her two glasses of champagne. She walked over to them, handing them both a glass. "Good luck, you two."
Stepping back, Adeline joined her brother and friend.
Katniss turned to Peeta, a nervous grin gracing her face. "Go on. You're better with this than I am."
He chuckled, leaning to kiss her cheek.
"You're probably right." She elbowed him, ignoring the heat rising on her face. "You're really too easy to fluster."
Peeta cleared his throat and Luke tapped the glass he was holding with a spoon to catch everyone's attention.
"Thank you, Luke," he told their son, who grinned back with a smile so much like his own. "Thank you all for attending this reception. Katniss and I would just like to say a few words about our daughter…"
"How did the graduation go?" Gale asked as he cut into his steak, his eyes focused on the slab of meat.
"It was wonderful," Katniss replied. She reached for her fork to cut into her salmon. "I wish you could've come to the reception. You would've enjoyed it."
"It's not really my thing," the man replied easily. "No one wants the boyfriend at the family party. Anyway, I already gave Adeline her graduation gift."
Her daughter had smiled blankly as Gale handed her the two gift cards; one for Target for school supplies and the other one to get a full tank of gas for her Prius.
It wasn't that her daughter was ungrateful; she admitted to Katniss that Gale seemed a little…cold towards her and Luke—as if he didn't like them.
However, who wouldn't adore Katniss' children?
They were sweet and kind…
The man in front of her, however, looked a little overwhelmed whenever he was in their presence.
"Don't you like your food?"
Katniss realized that she had yet to take a bite. She gave him a smile before putting a piece in her mouth.
"Delicious." She swallowed before reaching for her wine glass. She definitely needed to discuss this issue about the children. "Listen—"
"I know what you're going to say." Gale placed his utensils down. "Now that Adeline is leaving for school, you're looking into more time for us." He gave her a tight smile. "It's just that we're getting into the summer and it's our busiest time with parents trying to buy or rent places for their kids—"
"That wasn't what I was going to talk to you about that," she interrupted. "It's that whenever you're around my kids, you seem to be a little…aloof."
Gale looked non-plussed. "I mean, they aren't my kids. I don't necessarily need to be obliged to care for them like I'm their father. They have one."
"I know that and Peeta is a great one," she explained. "But I thought we were serious in a sense where you'd want to get to know them."
"Hmmm…maybe if we had our own child, I might have to open up to them."
Katniss blanched—was she really dating this guy? This man who didn't want to let her children into his life unless he saddled her with his own?
In that moment, Katniss saw a future where she would once again be changing diapers, waiting for a man who was never home.
Suddenly, she was standing up.
"You know what? I'm going to save you the trouble of having to open up to my children. Goodbye, Gale."
She made her way toward the exit, but not before grabbing the bottle of wine she paid for from the ice bucket.
Stepping out of the taxi, Katniss looked up her home, comfort washing over her immediately.
This home was where she watched her children take their first steps…where she'd wait at the front door as they stepped off the school bus and into her arms…where Peeta had carried her over its threshold…
They had purchased the two-story colonial-style house after Luke was born with the help of their parents. Since then, they had repaid the loan tenfold and found comfort that their children had a place to go whenever they needed it.
Heading up the brick walkway, Katniss reached into her purse pulling out her key to unlock the door before stepping into the house.
Closing the door, she was surprised to smell the scent of…cookies.
Toeing off her heels, Katniss headed towards the kitchen and was surprised to find Peeta pulling out a tray full of chocolate chip cookies—her favorite.
"What are you doing?" she asked from the open doorway.
"Thought that you and the kids would like a fresh batch whenever you got home," her ex replied as he placed the tray on the counter. Peeta pulled the oven mitts off, tossing them beside the cookies. "You're home early."
"Dinner didn't go so well," she told him glumly. Katniss presented him with the wine bottle in her grasp. "At least I have a consolation gift—that I paid for."
"Ouch," Peeta replied. "Well…cookies are the perfect complement to wine."
She nodded. "Do you remember where the bottle opener is?"
He went to the second drawer to the left of the counter, pulling out the well-loved gadget. "Always."
"Do you remember how we used to stay up late to watch R-rated movies after the kids were asleep?" Peeta asked. "I swear there was one point where I wanted to murder The Wiggles."
"You didn't know?" Katniss reached to grab another cookie from the coffee table. "I put a hit on them. That's why you never hear about them anymore."
The soft glare of the television was the only light in the room. They had discovered an old romcom that was popular when they were teenagers and decided that it would go well with their late-night snack.
Peeta chuckled, sitting back on the couch. He had changed from his ceremony attire to a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that Katniss had found in her closet. She had also changed into a pair of pajamas while Peeta had set up cookies and wine in the living room.
"If anyone could murder them, it would be you," Peeta replied. "What time is Addie getting home?"
"I told her midnight was her curfew while she lives here," Katniss informed him. "Once she's in college, we will have no say on when she gets home."
"I'm dreading not knowing what she's doing." He turned to her. "Do you think she's going to come home during the holidays?"
"If she doesn't want me to go all the way to Stanford to drag her ass here, she will." Peeta snorted at her words. "She'll come home. It's going to be lonely here without her though. Nobody to have mani-pedis with or talk about those stupid reality shows …"
Katniss found herself sniffing back tears. She swiped them away with the back of her hand.
"Ignore me. It's the wine and ending the most useless relationship in history."
Peeta waved her over to his side and she scooted in towards him, her head going to his shoulder. She tucked her feet underneath her bottom as he put an arm around her.
"Did you love him?" Peeta asked gently.
"No." She closed her eyes, taking comfort in the warmth of him. "I've had my great love. I don't need another…I just liked the feeling of someone making an effort to just be with me."
"And, I wasn't that way?" he replied tightly.
"Neither of us were making much effort towards the end." Katniss looked up, seeing his eyes full of hurt. "It was no one's fault. It just happened. I mean, we didn't kiss each other anymore."
"I should've kissed you more." His thumb reached to brush her chin and her body tingled, her lower half twisting in that familiar heat. "It was one of my favorite things to do."
"Until it wasn't." Katniss swallowed harshly as she unfolded her legs. They were getting into dangerous territory. Reluctantly, she stood up. "I should clean up—"
Peeta suddenly grabbed her wrist and she stilled at the motion.
Standing, Peeta reached his arm around her waist, pulling her against him.
His other hand went to her cheek. "You're always going to be my great love. You know that, right?"
Then, his lips were on hers.
Katniss fell easily into his kiss. She always did. Her arms circled his neck as she pressed against him, feeling her nipples tighten against the hard planes of his chest. Peeta's hands moved down, palming at her bottom and she groaned into his mouth, her tongue sweeping into his.
Peeta's lips moved to her neck. "I forgot how good you tasted." He sucked against the juncture and she mewled, the heat between her legs growing and her core throbbing. "Do you still taste this good everywhere else?"
"You can find out…later."
Katniss guided him to sit on the couch as she unbuttoned her pajama top, shaking it off her quickly. Her breasts were in bare sight, nipples pebbled despite the heat in the room. Her pants were next, and she undid the drawstring before bending down to pull her bottoms down to the carpet.
Peeta stared up at her in awe. "You're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Katniss smiled softly as she placed her knees along both sides of his lap before straddling him.
Her lips went to his in a gentle kiss.
"Have you been with anyone else recently?" she asked against his mouth.
Peeta shook his head. "It's been a year…and it was only once." He looked to her. "And Gale?
"Never. He hardly came over and I have never been to his apartment," Katniss explained. "We mostly had dinner or went to shows that his company was sponsoring."
Peeta tutted. "Shame." His hands went to her waist. "Who wouldn't love to be deep inside you?"
Her hand reached under the waistband of his bottoms, finding him hard. Her hand wrapped around him, stroking smoothly to get him ready. He hissed, his eyes closing and his hips following her motions.
"Please don't make me come all over myself," he begged. "I don't think I'd forgive myself if I did."
"We wouldn't want that—" Katniss eagerly helped him pull his pants off, her eyes going immediately to his length, standing erect and the tip of it glistening. She missed his cock—or at least her pussy did, as it immediately pulsed at the sight of him. "—I don't think either of us is going to last."
His hand went between her thighs, pushing the cloth between aside to plunge two fingers into her sodden core.
"Damn, you're wet." His eyes traveled to meet hers as he slid the digits in and out of her before putting them into his mouth. "You taste even better than I remember."
"I forgot how I loved the way you looked at me whenever we were together," she told him, her hands hurriedly moving the last piece of cloth. "Like I was the only woman in the world."
"To me, you are."
Her eyes filled and she leaned down to give him another kiss before helping him remove his shirt.
"You shouldn't say things like that," she admonished quietly.
Katniss looked over her ex-husband, familiarizing herself with his body once more. His chest and shoulders were broader and his abdomen firmer. However, there were other things that were the same; the scar on his shoulder from falling at the school playground and the feel of his strong thighs under her.
"Why not?" he asked her, his hand going to the nape of her neck.
He gently drew her down until their foreheads met and she looked into those blue eyes, dark with hunger. Her heart skipped at the intensity of his gaze and she remembered all over again how easy it was to fall in love with Peeta.
"Because this will be harder to forget," she told him.
Peeta's hand went to her hip, guiding her over him.
"I don't want to forget."
Then, in one motion, he was inside her.
"Katniss."
She looked up from behind the register to find Gale standing before her.
"Hi. What are you doing here?" she asked, rounding the counter. "I haven't heard from you in…"
"Two months," he replied sheepishly. "Trust me, you don't forget when a woman walks out on you at a restaurant."
Katniss crossed her arms. "You kind of deserved it."
"May I take you out to dinner to apologize?" Gale looked genuinely sorry for his behavior. "I miss you."
"You don't even know me," she countered.
"Give me a chance—unless you're seeing someone else."
Her mind wandered to that night…that perfect night with Peeta.
Katniss had forgotten how perfectly he fit inside her. Peeta had been her first and she was his. When they were younger, he had jokingly told her that her insides were perfectly molded to his cock—any other man's would never fit exactly right.
And, it was true.
He continued to prove his theory a few more times before she insisted that he leave. It wouldn't do any good for Adeline to see her father and mother reuniting carnally all over the living room couch.
They were still close, but they understood that it had been once and once only.
Even though the sight of him left her soaked.
Or that, occasionally, if Peeta was close enough to her, he would brush his hand against Katniss' sending her hormones into overdrive.
She shook herself from her thoughts and looked to the man in front of her.
"There's no one else," she told him.
"Tonight? I'll pick you up after closing." Katniss nodded and Gale leaned over to kiss her cheek. "I'm looking forward to it."
"See you then."
Gale walked out of the store, heading towards the Mercedes parked in the front.
Katniss stretched, feeling an ache in her body. Lately, she had felt off. The stress of Adeline getting ready to leave and unexpected sex with her ex had left her feeling out of sorts.
Yesterday, she nearly tore Luke's head off for leaving his muddy sneakers by the front door after soccer practice.
There was a beep on her phone, and she looked to find a text from Adeline: 'Mom, you heading to a Target or a drug store after work?'
She typed back, 'Wasn't planning to. Do you need anything?'
'Some Tylenol and tampons.'
'Sure babe. I'll see you later.'
Adeline's cycle was very similar to her own; it came strong, leaving her sometimes unable to even move.
Katniss added soup to her list of things to grab after closing the store.
It always made them feel better during their periods—
Which she did not have, even though she and Adeline were usually in sync.
Katniss turned from the counter where a calendar featuring men with puppies was—no red circle marking the arrival of her period. She took the calendar off its hook before looking at the previous month.
No red circle either.
Fuck.
Without fail, every graduation ended with her being pregnant with Peeta's child.
I can't predict as to when I'm going to finished 'Part of Me', but I suspect that I have a few more chapters.
This is going to be my next work and I'm not sure how long it will be.
Anyway, while I get POM done, if you could please follow, subscribe, favorite, kudos, and if you want to give some love, review.
Thank you for support!
-JLaLa