“Don’t you dare say what’s on the tip of your tongue, Evie, because I’m telling you right now, I won’t accept it, and neither will Shepherd and Asher.”
“How do you even know what I’m going to say?” she demanded, jamming her hands on her hips, while a part of her subconscious automatically checked Ollie was otherwise occupied.
“Because it’s written all over your face, darlin’.”
Impossible! How could he know her so well after such a short time, when Adrian had been oblivious even after eight years together?
A nasty thought wormed its way into her brain.Or maybe Adrian always knew, but just didn’t care…
“Look, we can’t do this with Ollie here,” Evie declared in a low voice. “And if you have any real feelings for me, you’ll respect that.”
Gabe pursed his lips, and Evie knew he wanted to argue, but instead, he gave a perfunctory nod and held his tongue.
“Just don’t imagine this conversation is over, Evie,” he warned.
After arranging for Posy to watch Ollie while she donned her elf costume for the last time, Evie got much the same spiel from Asher.
“Evie, look at me.” He took hold of her arms in the makeshift changing room behind the grotto.
She tried to shrug him off. “We don’t have time for this, Asher. “Kids and parents are already starting to line up since this is our last day.”
“You think I can’t feel you trying to pull away, Evie? Trying to freeze me out? It won’t work.”
She looked at him then. Saw how serious this usually bright and cheerful man was.
Evie frowned. “Come on, Ash! This is completely unorthodox. Even you have to admit it’s unsustainable.”
She meant it, even if it broke her heart to say it.
Asher was militant. “What we have is special,” he argued, grabbing her hand. “And we all deserve a chance to see where it leads.”
“I’m a mother,” Evie hissed, leaning in to get her point across and to ensure nobody outside heard. “I don’t have the luxury of playing hard and fast with my son’s well-being.”
Asher reared back, and she hated the hurt that wreathed his expression. “You really think we’re a danger to his well-being?” he asked in disbelief.
Evie threw her hands in the air. “You know what I mean! This is not a normal situation, and people, kids, can be mean. Ollie will be the kid with three dads - four if you count Adrian - and I’ll be the slut who’s sleeping around.”
She knew she’d said the wrong thing as soon as the words were out of her mouth. “Youwillbe getting a spanking for talking about yourself that way,” Asher’s tone was positively arctic, and Evie didn’t think he was talking about a fun spanking. But the thought still caused her panties to dampen embarrassingly, and she had to look away.
Asher wasn’t letting her get away with that, either. “And this is Frostvale. We’re a community in the very best way. Everyone knows and supports everyone else, so no one is going to think that way.”
Except for Victoria, Evie thought irritable. Not that she was bringing Gabe’s ex into this already difficult conversation.
“And Posy would never stand for any of the kids in school making fun of Ollie for his home life. The kids in this town are brought up to be broad-minded and accepting.”
Damn, if he wasn’t on a roll. It was kinda hot.
“Hell, Carly Peterson’s parents separated, and now her mother has a girlfriend. Peter and Molly Macintyre split their time living between two sets of grandparents. And Thomas Carter was born through surrogacy and has only ever known two fathers. You ever heard anyone disparaging any of them?”
Evie shook her head mutely. Asher was right, they did have a varied and eclectic neighborhood. Nobody threw any shade, and if they did, they’d be slapped down by any number of people. You didn’t want that in a tight community like this, but still…
"I hear what you're saying, Asher. I really do. But this is my son's life we're talking about."
"And ours," Asher countered softly. His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand, and that simple touch made her want to cry. "Evie, we're not asking you to make some grand announcement tomorrow. We're just asking you not to shut us out. Not to make this decision alone."
She pulled her hand away, needing the distance to think clearly. "I have to make decisions alone. That's what single parents do."
"But you don't have to be single." His voice was gentle but firm. "That's the whole point."
