“I did it for both of us.”
He doesn’t answer right away.
And I know why.
He’s letting me think about the fact that Junie will remember those details. She’ll know I did the best I could with the choices I made.
“Three years ago, when we got home after wrapping up the season and had two solid months at home, I refused every job offer that came our way. Dean got super pissed at me, but that summer, I took Junie everywhere. We went to the pool. We went to three different amusement parks. I made Dean take off work, and we went to the beach. We shopped. We gossiped. We ate too much ice cream. And I did it all out of guilt, and I have no idea if she liked it or not, and I don’t know if she remembers. I just know it never felt like enough. I feel like I’m finally in a place where I know I’m giving her enough, and it’s hard and draining butso worth it, and I don’t want to go back.”
“I heard a rumor there are people who start dating single moms and engage with their kids because they know they’re getting a package deal.”
“I hear the words you’re saying, and I want to believe them. And that’s the best I can do tonight.”
“I’ll take it.”
I twist my neck so I can look at him. “Seriously? That’s it? You’ll take it?”
“No rush, Maisey. Can’t do the math if you don’t read the whole problem, and you can’t wave a wand and make a person’s feelings go away. If you could, my job would be a fuck ton simpler.”
“You like your job.”
“Love it.”
“Teenage hormones and all?”
“They’re a puzzle. Every one of them. If they leave my classroom happier and more confident, even if they can’t math to save their lives, I’ve done my job.”
I stare at him.
He gives me a lazy smile.
I know what that smile means. It meansAnd yes, Maisey, I’m working on making you see what a good person you are too.
“Who regularly tells you what a good personyouare?” I ask him.
“I do.”
An unexpected laugh rolls out of me.
His smile goes soft as he strokes my hair again. “Apparently there’s this woman in my life who’s bound and determined to tell me too. Funny thing, though—the more she tells me I’m good, the more I want to be even better.”
“Hmm. I have something that I think you might be able to do better.”
“Do you now?”
I slide my hand over his chest, soaking up the view. The wolf tattoo on one biceps. The geometric designs on the other. The hair over his broad pecs, narrowing down to his fit stomach and his belly button.
My hand drifts lower. And lower. Until I’m gripping his hard length and stroking my fist slowly over it. “Yep. And it startsright here.”
“You’re gonna kill me, woman.”
“You’re welcome.”
He pounces again.
I laugh, but not for long.
Because when Flint kisses me and touches me and makes me gasp and moan, he takes me somewhere even better than laughter.
