I looked to Alexis for approval, making her subtly nod and rest her chin in her palm.

I placed my fork on my plate and leaned back in my chair, looking at Josie and Henry. Their worlds were about to get turned upside down, and the fact that I was doing it made it worse.

"Hey," I said, catching their attention.

"Hi," Josie said, smiling.

I let out a sigh, clenching my jaw.

I shouldn't even be the one doing this. I don't even want to separate.

"Your mom and I," I began, completely unaware of how to navigate around this, "we, uh, we've decided that we need some time apart."

Josie's smile faded, and a confused expression replaced it. Henry picked around at his food, obviously not entirely on board with it, either.

"Why?" Josie harshly asked, shaking her head.

"Your father and I, we've, um, grown apart," Alexis softly answered.

"No, you grew-"

I stopped myself, biting down on my lip. I reached for my wine glass and took a sip, my eyes glued to hers.

She held our gaze for a few more seconds before looking back towards the kids.

"How the hell does that even happen?" Josie asked, "how did you guys manage that?"

"Jo," Henry muttered, his eyes meeting hers.

"No, I'm really curious," she said, "so you didn't think it was worth trying to fix?"

"That's not the case, sweetheart," Alexis said.

"Well obviously it's close enough to it," Josie laughed out, "who just lets thirty years go down the drain like that?"

You should try being in my shoes, I thought, but didn't open my mouth for a single sound.

"And you decided to spring it on us while we're eating?" She scoffed.

"Josie, calm down," Henry adamantly said, looking at her.

"So you guys are getting a divorce?" She asked, shrugging as she leaned back in her chair.

"No," I said, "we're just giving ourselves some space."

"Which sounds like a divorce."

"Well, it's not," Alexis said, "you'll understand one day."

"No, I really hope I won't," she said, "I'd rather not understand having a relationship that'll fall apart-"

"Josie," Henry said, his voice booming.

She looked at him, cutting her eyes at him. "In case you haven't realized, these are your parents, too."

"You're right, but that's their relationship to worry about," he said, "not ours."

She shook her head and dropped her fork on her plate, standing up. She shot Alexis and I one last cold glare, grabbing her plate.

"Sweetheart, please eat dinner," I said, keeping my eyes glued to the table.

"No, I'm sick to my stomach," she said, "I'm not hungry."

She placed her plate on the counter, walking over to the staircase. I let out a sigh and rubbed my eyes, shaking my head.

Henry bit down on his lip. "I hope you guys work out whatever needs to be worked out."

He stood up, hanging his head. He walked into the kitchen and sat his plate next to Josie's, his hands in his pockets as he walked back over to the table.

"I'm gonna go to Cordelia's, if that's okay," he said.

"Yeah," I said, tracing circles around my wine glass.

He grabbed his keys and walked out of the house, and about that time, Josie jogged downstairs.

"Where are you going, sweetheart?" Mom asked.

"Eros's," she said, grabbing her keys. Before Lex or I could interject, she opened the door, and slammed it behind her.

Alexis and I sat in silence for what felt like ages. I shot her one glance before I stood up, grabbing my plate.

"I hope you're happy now," I muttered, walking into the kitchen.

~*~

"They say they're just taking some space, which actually means divorce," I said, nestling my face in Eros's neck.

He gently rubbed my bare back. "I always thought your parents were in love."

"Yeah, me too," I said, sitting upright, "guess I was fucking wrong."

He sat upright and wrapped his arms around my middle, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

Eros was my safe space. His arms felt like a safe haven in themselves, and I could turn to him for anything and receive no judgment.

"I mean, has my entire life been a lie?" I asked, looking at us through his mirror, "h-have I been lied to for seventeen years?"

"They're probably just going through a spell," he said, "I think that happens after long enough, unfortunately."

"No, Eros," I said, throwing his arms off of me, "it's not supposed to work like that."

I turned away from him, lying down as tears clouded my eyes. He gently wrapped his arm around me, pressing a soft kiss to my head.

"I know, sweetheart," he said.

"Stop calling me that," I said, "everyone says that when they're trying to smooth things over with me. I got sweethearted about ten times just at the dinner table."

"What would you like me to call you, then?" He softly asked, and I could feel his smile against my head.

I didn't respond, biting down on my bottom lip to suppress my tears.

"Josie?" He softly said, leaning over me.

I covered my face, shaking my head.

"Hey," he said, rolling me over, "hey, don't cry."

"Oh my gosh, I immediately stopped crying when you said that."

He chuckled, stroking my cheek. "My little spitfire."

I looked up at him, sniffling.

He dipped two fingers in my mouth, looking down at me. "I only like to see your mascara run when you've sucked me off."

I wrapped my hand around his wrist, making sure to take my time pulling his fingers out of my mouth. "Or when you've fucked me just hard enough?"

"Yeah," he said, trailing his fingers down my body, "exactly."

He smiled and I leaned my head back, closing my eyes when I felt his hand between my legs. I trailed my hand down his arm, pulling him closer to me.

"You are so beautiful, Josie," he said, pressing kisses to my collarbones.

"Eros," I whispered, "please."

His eyes met mine, making me bite down on my lip. I felt his fingers dip inside of me, gentle and soft.

I relaxed into him, but tensed up after soon enough. "No, Eros."

He pulled away from me. "O-okay. I'll go downstairs?-"

I sat upright, pushing him down on the bed. "I don't want soft, or sweet. I don't want that."

He sat upright, pulling me into his lap. "Why don't you want that?"

"Because I'm pissed off, Eros," I said, rummaging around in his drawer for a condom.

I found one and ripped it open, earning a chuckle from him. He grabbed a handful of my hair, tilting my head over.

I kept my eyes on his as I stroked his length before sheathing him with the condom. I climbed on top of him, letting out a moan when I felt his length fill me.

"Josie," he whispered, "baby."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my lips against his. He gripped my hips, moving me more aggressively.

"I should ride your dick more often, shouldn't I?" I asked, giggling against his lips.

He let out a groan, nodding. "Yeah. Fuck yeah, Josie."

"Yeah?" I asked, wrapping my hand around his neck.

He gave my cheek a slap, making me let out a moan. I pulled his lips to mine, moaning into his mouth.

"I'm so deep inside of you," he said.

"Yeah, you are," I moaned, "know why?"

He stopped me, smiling. "I know you're about to boost my ego."

"Because you're so fucking big," I whispered, grabbing his face.

He grabbed my hips and moved me harder, faster than I ever could've imagined. I was extremely happy that his parents weren't home, because we were both being painfully loud.

"Josie, I-I'm-"

"Do it," I said, keeping my eyes locked on his.

His orgasm triggered mine- well, mostly, the sounds his orgasm produced. I fell against him and moaned, our breathing heavy.

He brushed my hair away from my face, smiling. "Good girl."

I giggled as he pressed a kiss to my forehead, and fell against his chest.

~*~

"Are you okay?"

I looked over at Cordelia, nodding. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"No, you're not," she said, climbing in bed next to me.

I leaned my head back against her headboard, folding my arms over my chest. "I'm trying to comprehend."

"I know," she softly said, kissing my bicep.

"And Josie, God," I said, shaking my head, "I've never seen her so bent out of shape."

She sighed and rested her head against me. "I'm sorry, Henry."

I looked down at her hand wrapping around mine. "It's not your fault."

"And it isn't yours, either," she said, looking up at me, "so don't blame yourself. Like you always do."

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "I've known that something was up with Mom, she's just been so quiet lately."

She softly rubbed my arm. "Well, like I said. It's not your fault. I blamed myself when Mom and Dad got divorced, but then realized there wasn't a thing I did that made that decision for them."

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my legs. "That's just not them, Cordelia."

"What do you mean?" She asked, gently brushing her nails against my back.

"To just give up like that?" I said, looking back at her, "if they've taught me anything, it's that you don't just give up. You don't just stop trying."

"Maybe they're not done trying," she said, "maybe the space is going to help them."

"How do you try..." I trailed off, sighing as I rubbed my eyes, "it's a clusterfuck. All of it."

"I know," she said, resting her head against my arm.

I fell on my back and she rested her head on my chest, making me rake my fingers through her ponytail.

"Sorry I interrupted your workout," I softly said.

She smiled, leaning up. "You could finish with me. I just have yoga left."

I chuckled. "You're serious?"

"Yep," she said, pulling me up as she stood up, "come on, let's ease that pretty mind of yours."

She sat on her yoga mat, looking up at me. "You can take the carpet."

I sat next to her, watching as she skillfully flipped herself over into what looked like the position of a snake ready to strike.

I tilted my head over. "Oh?"

She giggled, tilting her head back. "It's called the upward facing dog."

"I feel like my balls just aren't ready for this," I muttered, attempting to get into the position she was in.

She laughed, making me laugh. Her laugh was contagious, maybe because I was just in love with her.

"Hey," I said, "I did it. Not without a little pain, but I did it."

"Look at you go," she sighed, rolling her neck around.

I looked over at her, watching as she tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth. She held my undivided attention until she flipped into another position.

"Cat and cow," she said, deeply arching her back.

I lifted an eyebrow, my mouth slightly open.

She looked over at me, rolling her eyes. "It stretches your back, hips, and abdomen. Very useful."

I mimicked her pose, hunching my back before arching it, as she was doing hers.

"See? You're a yoga natural," she said, smiling over at me.

And with that, we finished our night off doing yoga.

~*~

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