“You hanging in there?” Rosie asked.
My chest warmed at the concern in her tone. “I’m just thinking how much everything’s changed in the last six months, and I dunno how I’m meant to feel about it,” I admitted. “It’s overwhelming.”
She burrowed into my side and slipped her arm around my waist. “It’s life, honey. We can plod along for years without much changing, then suddenly, one big, profound thing happens, and it has a domino effect. Before you know it, everything seems upside down.”
I moved my arm across Rosie’s shoulders and pulled her in close. “How can I get everything the right way up again?”
“You don’t. You just roll with it and try to hold on to what’s real. That way, when the world tilts back to its rightful place, you tilt with it, no worse for wear.”
I looked down into her beautiful eyes and her pretty, exotic face, and smiled. “Areyoureal?”
She shot me a sexy little wink. “I’ll always be real with you, O’Shea.”
A chuckle escaped me. “Thank fuck.”
She jerked her chin toward DJ and Gabby, who were hugging Atlas and Sophie on the dance floor, obviously saying their goodbyes. “Things are wrapping up. I’m gonna call a cab and get the kids home. It’s been a long day for us all.”
“You’re not calling a cab, Posy,” I stated, “I’ll take you.”
Her head tilted to one side. “You’re sure?”
Our eyes locked, and I murmured, “I don’t think I’ve ever been more sure about anything.”
She knew I wasn’t talking about the ride because her lips parted slightly at my words, and then she smiled, showing her pretty white teeth. “Thank you for everything you’ve done today. Though FYI, I could’ve done without the bathroom incident.”
I deadpanned. “Tell me about it. My mam will be dining out on that tale for weeks.”
She laughed softly before murmuring, “Gonna say my goodbyes and round up the kids. Give me five.”
She pulled out of my arms and made for the dance floor, throwing a dazzling smile back at me over her shoulder. My eyes swept the length of her, but that time, it wasn’t her incredible ass that took up all my attention. Instead, my mind filled with everything she was on the inside.
My chest contracted with the same tangible feeling as it did earlier, and that was when it hit me like a storm surge.
I’d only gone and caught feels for a woman.
God help me.
And more to the point, God help her.
CHAPTER 4
ROSIE
DJ was a great kid and a great son. He was also old beyond his years, had the swagger of a grown man, and cursed like a trucker.
I’d learned very early on to pick my battles with him wisely. If he said fuck, I told him not to say fuck because that was what a mom was supposed to do. Personally, I didn’t care that he said fuck. What I cared about was that he didn’t get in trouble with the law or shoot heroin into his arm. So, as much as a sixteen-year-old boy shouldn’t say fuck, I knew all sixteen-year-old boys (and most girls) did. Therefore, as long as he didn’t get arrested for stealing cars or dealing smack, I was secretly okay with the word ‘fuck.’
At that moment, in the cab of Donovan’s truck, the word ‘fuck’ was flying around like a motherfucker because both Donny and DJ were having a very excitable conversation.
“You’ve got the DJ and Gabby seal of approval, Mr. O’Shea,” my son announced. “Which means we won’t prank you, we won’t screw with your ride, and we won’t sabotage your dates with our mom.”
Gabby giggled.
My spine bristled.
“If you want us out of the way, we accept cash and the unlimited use of your credit card,” DJ went on. “We like the coffee shop and the movie theater over at Mapletree, though if you expect us to get our asses over there, I’ll be needing gas money to drive Gabby around so you and Mom can have privacy, especially since it’s gas I could be using to take out my honeys.”
My eyes narrowed on my son. “Since when have I needed the DJ and Gabby seal of approval to do anything?”
