Adam is a great dad, but he’s still such a man. The party would suck if he was left incharge.
“Michaela’s mother won’t be there tohelp?”
“God, no. That would be adisaster.”
“You’ve never said anything abouther.”
“Not much to say about Robin except she likes meth more than she likes herkid.”
“She’s not in Michaela’slife?”
“She was until Adam caught her driving around high on meth while she had Michaela in the car. Adam was going to take her to court to sue for full custody but she gave up her parental rights without a fight. She never wanted Michaela anyway. She saw her as an inconvenience getting in the way of herpartying.”
I get so damn mad every time I think about Robin and the way she has treated Michaela. Mostly because it’s the same way that our mother treated Adam and me. Both mothers chose their own happiness over their children’s. But what makes it even worse is that Michaela could have had a seizure while Robin was high. That sweet baby could have died because Robin might not have been able to helpher.
“I don’t understand how a mother does that—how she doesn’t want her baby or care enough to keep her safe. I’m not a mom, but I know without a doubt that I would be willing to lay down my own life for my child. Just like Adam with Michaela, I would do anything for mybaby.”
Tristan, fully dressed, gets into bed beside me. “Do you remember our talk lastnight?”
“Most of it. I think.” I was fairlyhammered.
“You told me that you’d marryme.”
I could have drunk ten bottles of wine, and I wouldn’t forget talking about that. “Iremember.”
“And you also told me that you’d be happy to have mybaby.”
Shit. Where is this conversation going? “I remember that,too.”
“Is that how you feel today after having time to soberup?”
Drunk or not, those feelings will never change. “I love you, Tristan. I would marry you and happily give you children if it’s what youwanted.”
“Just like that? You don’t even need to think aboutit?”
“I’ve given it plenty of thought already and I’ve decided. I am yours and you aremine.”
I was with other men prior to Tristan, and I’m certain of what I want. He is it for me. It isn’t possible for me to be with another man after him. To me, they would all seem like watered-down versions of what a man shouldbe.
“You know what a selfish bastard I can be. I want my way, and I do whatever it takes to get it. I do bend for you, but I’m not going to change entirely. I am what I am. Can you live with me being thatway?”
Tristan has shown me exactly who he is. I’ve seen his ruthlessness, how callous he can be at times, and certainly how selfish. But I’ve also seen him abandon his most absolute rules and surrender to the love he feels for me. He isn’t perfect, but he’s all Iwant.
“It sounds like you’re trying to convince me that I shouldn’t want to marryyou.”
“Absolutely not but bending for you is still new to me. I sometimes forget to take what you want into account because I’m so used to living just for me and my own desires. I still find myself making decisions based upon whatIwant and notwewant.”
“You’ve lived like that for thirty-six years. I don’t expect you to change overnight, but I do expect you to not make life-altering decisions without my input. You knowthis.”
“But what if I slipped and did itagain?”
One doesn’t simply slip and make an important decision without thought. “I’d be very upset withyou.”
“But you could forgive me? Especially if I’d learned my lesson and seen the error of myways?”
I don’t like the way this conversation is going. “Maybe. I guess it would depend on what youdid.”
“What if it were really important? Like big-time life-changingimportant?”
