“So you quit school,” Thad said.
She shook her head. “I tried to make it work for a while. The judge decided it was unfair to assume I would not be able to take care of the girls while also pursing my degree. Everything was going okay until one night when I got caught up at a study group.” She massaged her right temple with her thumb. “Kendra and Kara were at day camp, so I asked my boyfriend at the time to pick them up. I didn’t realize he’d spent the day out at the Lakefront drinking with his buddies.”
“Don’t tell me…”
She nodded. “Thankfully, he got stopped for a DUIbeforehe picked up the girls, but he told the arresting officer that he had been on his way to get them. It was all the ammunition Anita needed.”
“Shit,” Thad whispered.
“Anita tried to convince the courts that I was unfit because of Simon’s actions.” Her bottom lip trembled, a clear indication the accusation still affected her. “That’swhen I quit school. It’s also when I decided that putting dating off for a few years wasn’t a big sacrifice if it meant not jeopardizing my guardianship of the girls.”
“But you quit veterinary school in your final year. Wasn’t that enough of a sacrifice?”
“When it comes to Kendra and Kara, there is nothing that I will not do to ensure that Anita never gains custody.” She cut her eyes at him, though a grin tugged at her lips. “I was doing just fine until you came along with your cute smile and that sexy tattoo on your arm that keeps playing peekaboo.”
Thad wanted to laugh, but the steadfastness he heard inher voice as she explained her rationale for not dating wrecked him. Her aunt’s unreasonable expectations were straight up bullshit.
“You didn’t ask for my opinion, and yeah, my motives are selfish,” Thad admitted. “But this is just wrong. You were young, and your boyfriend, though an asshole, was also young. It’s unfair that your aunt can continue to hold something that happened years ago against you.”
“Tell that to her,” Ashanti said with a humorless laugh. “This isn’t solely about her though,” she continued. “The incident with Simon reminded me why I need to be careful about who I bring around the girls. I’m raising impressionable teenagers. There’s a responsibility that comes with that and I refuse to take it lightly.”
How could he argue with that?
“I get it,” Thad said.
He didn’t like it. He fucking hated it, to be honest, but he understood and respected her stance.
Duchess came waddling over to the bench, with Puddin’ not far behind. Ashanti leaned over and rubbed the Frenchie’s head and Thad automatically did the same to Puddin’. He didn’t even hesitate.
“Thank you,” Ashanti said. “For listening. For… all of this. If you’d told me a few weeks ago thatyouwould be one of the friends I shared anything with, I would never have believed you. But life is funny. It has a way of moving in directions you could have never imagined.”
She nudged her head toward Puddin’. “It looks as if you two are finally starting to get along.”
“See what I mean?” Thad said. “You’re eternally hopeful, even when it’s a lost cause.”
She laughed. “Nothing is ever a lost cause,” she said.
“Maybe you’re right,” he said.
He was counting on it.
28
Are your eyes still closed?”
A mixture of arousal and anticipation skirted down Ashanti’s spine at the sound of Thad’s gruff whisper, his breath warm against her ear. Arousal was the last thing she should be feeling when surrounded by dozens of New Yorkers, but with her eyes closed, the rest of her senses were heightened, amplifying Thad’s every word. His every touch.
His fingertips against the small of her back caused her skin to burn as he guided her to what he assured her was one of the most unique views of the city.
“Yes, my eyes are still closed,” she answered. “I’m putting a lot of trust in you, so this had better be worth it.”
“It will be,” he said. His hands moved to her shoulders as he positioned her against some sort of railing. “Now, tip your head back and open your eyes.”
Ashanti did as he instructed and released a gasp.
“Told you,” Thad said, a satisfied smugness lacing his voice. He earned the right to be smug.
“This is breathtaking,” Ashanti said as she looked up at the inky sky, the tips of several skyscrapers skirting the periphery of the view from the Vessel.
