I took his hand and rubbed my thumb over his. Sparks always flew between us, but this was more. A river of feelings flooded the space between us. We’d cared about each other for way too long. It wasn’t in my DNA to allow him to be sad.
“I think being with you now will be good for them,” I said, not knowing what the hell I was saying. After all, Aston could be taken away from them at any moment.
“I have my limitations, I know. I spend too much money, spoil them, and depend on Denise and other sitters she knows, but I’m stable when it comes to them. Someone is always there for them. Food is ready and available. I don’t embarrass them in public. Shit, other than the accusations. But you know what? I love them.”
“Sometimes that’s the best thing you can give. Love. Unconditional love.”
Our fingers entwined, he squeezed my hand, then reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His lips ghosted my cheek, my ear, and back to my cheek.
“I like this. Talking with you. Hashing things out. I probably shouldn’t say this, but Cass and I never did this. Never saw anything the same or even listened to each other. I threw money at every problem, just like my dad always does.”
“We always listened to each other,” I said, wishing his lips were back on me. Instead, I drank some more wine, took a bite of filet, and continued to listen.
“We did. And I don’t want you to think that I’m doing the same with my kids. Throwing money at them, like my dad. I just want them to have fun, be kids, not worry. I try to give them attention and affection too. I’m learning.”
“You’re doing just fine. And like you said, you’re going to beat all these allegations. They will be fine too.” As I said it, though, I knew I was saying it more for myself than for him.
His lips found my cheek again. “Thank you.”
And then we went back to laughing until dessert.
“Milly’s up to no good,” he said over coffee.
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t know?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No, I don’t. How would you know? Through Mike?”
I truly had no idea what Aston was getting at, but he’d never liked Milly much.
“Eh, forget it. It’s probably just club gossip.”
“Now, I remember your PI saying something ...”
“It was nothing.”
I was liking my chocolate cake too much to think about it anymore. After all, club gossip was only true about ten percent of the time.
Later, we pulled up in front of my house. Instead of getting out right away, we sat in the car, the engine idling and our minds racing.
“I want to come in,” Aston said, speaking the words of a teenager with the determination of a grown man.
Shaking my head, I said, “We can’t.”
“Denise will stay with the kids. They’re fine for one night.”
Turning to face him, I was brutally honest. “This has nothing to do with your kids, Aston. How dare you?”
“Piper and Tyler will adjust. We have to move forward.”
Throwing my door open, I wanted to get the hell out of the car and forget this night ever happened.
“Wait,” Aston said, taking my arm and holding me in place. “Tell me what I said wrong.”
“You’re so goddamn presumptuous. Always have been. Yeah, I fell into bed with you at the engagement party, and look what that got me.”
“What? A beautiful daughter? Now I’m here, wanting to be a permanent part of your life. Can’t see how that’s a bad thing, Bex.”
