“No. Not really. I mean it could be if we get an asshole judge, but I have time and money on my side.” He did too. Robbie’s up-until-now childfree life and chosen career meant he could outspend Sawyer’s grandparents in court. If nothing else, he just had to keep them from getting custody, temporary or permanent, until Sawyer’s eighteenth birthday. “But why risk it, you know?”
Finn nodded. “Makes sense.” He frowned at his plate as if processing what Robbie had said, and it only drew Robbie to him even more. Finn didn’t tolerate Sawyer in Robbie’s life, or worse, admire Robbie for a perceived sacrifice—Robbie had plenty of people admire him for that like Sawyer was some sort of burden—no, Finn understood how important Sawyer was to Robbieandtook an active interest in their lives. He actually wanted to know what Robbie and Sawyer were going through and understand their struggle. He bet any moment Finn would ask questions or offer advice.
Finn slowly chewed a bite and at last lifted his head to look Robbie in the eye. “So… as a final added insult to their actions, on top of all the shit they’re putting Sawyer through, your parents are unknowingly blocking your closet door?”
“Pretty much.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re not the one fighting me for custody of my kid,” Robbie pointed out, because as much as he loved Finn’s good heart, he wasn’t having Finn associate himself with his parents even that much.
Finn’s mouth twitched. “You know what I meant.”
“Do I?” Robbie smiled back. Relief filled his chest. Finn, it seemed, was okay with the increased timeline, wasn’t holding it against Robbie that their courtship would have to stay behind closed doors and in furtive rendezvous for a while longer. God, how did Robbie get so lucky?
“Jerk,” Finn said with an eye roll and no small amount of affection.
“Hey, now, don’t be a brat or I’ll have to spank you,” Robbie teased back.
Finn flushed. “That sounds like incentive, not a threat.”
“Yeah?” Lust pooled in Robbie’s stomach and he watched with hungry eyes as Finn leaned back from the table.
“Yeah. What are you going to do about it?”
Robbie rose from his chair and showed him.
Chapter Eleven
The Dildo of Consequences
Finn should’vegone home after he left the hotel, but it was only eight, and he knew the kind of look Holly would give him. Unfortunately he didn’t want to be alone either. He sent Holly a note that he was going to visit his parents instead, then drove out to their place and let himself in.
Inside, the house was mostly quiet. He could hear the TV downstairs—it sounded like the new season ofWednesday, so that was probably Imogen, who wouldn’t want to be disturbed—and the shower upstairs, which was probably Gail. Dad was probably still at the gastropub, regaling the kitchen staff with tales of his glory days as a firefighter.
Finn took off his shoes, texted Gail so she didn’t walk into the hallway in a towel—once was enough—and curled up on the couch to wait.
It was silly. He could’ve gone downstairs and let Imogen and Wednesday distract him. He might not be able totalkto Imogen the way he wanted to talk to someone—okay, the way he wanted to talk to Holly, who was not an option right now—but he’d still feel better with company.
He waited for Gail instead.
Within a few minutes the water shut off and he could hear her moving around in the master bedroom. She didn’t bother texting him back, just came out in a pair of boxers and an old Winnie the Pooh T-shirt, drying her hair with a towel. “Hi, honey. You want some tea?”
Finn didn’t want tea; it was still close to thirty degrees outside. But he agreed anyway because holding the hot mug would make him feel better. He followed Gail into the kitchen while she put the kettle on.
She glanced over her shoulder at him as she reached for the cupboard that housed the tea. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”
Where to start? Finn pressed his lips together between his teeth and inhaled through his nose. Stalling for time, he said, “How’d you know?”
Gail smiled softly and pulled down the honey. “I know I’m notyourmom, but I’ve beenamom for a while. Showing up after eight o’clock on your day off? I’m not going to miss a clue like that. Especially when I know Imogen’s right downstairs.”
He managed a weak smile in return. “Maybe you should’ve been a detective.”
Now she laughed. “Don’t you know? That’s basically what a mom is.” The kettle finished boiling, and she poured the water into the mugs and took them to the kitchen table. “Now. Spill your guts.”
Finn pulled the mug close to him and hunched over it. He didn’t actually care for the raspberry tea Gail always gave him, but she’d been making it for him for so long that he could never tell her so without hurting her feelings.
It felt weird to think that she’d never noticed, right after she’d said being a mom meant being a detective. Maybe moms were only good at detecting the stuff that really mattered.
