“I changed your diapers, I know you wellenough.”
Cedar shook her head. She’d said it before and she’d say it again: Parents were exhausting. “Mom, I have to go. I have a meeting with…” What was one little lie? “…investors.”
“That’s right—you go get those dreams. But have fun—life is supposed to befun.”
“Sure. Byenow.”
“Bu-bye.”
She stared at her phone for a full minute before dropping it into her purse. The loss of her childhood home was not so great that she couldn’t survive. What hurt, was the flippant way her mother disregarded her feelings on thematter.
With a quick tug at her shirt, she set her jaw and nodded once to herself in the mirror. She didn’t need a fawning mother to survive, and she wasn’t a sentimental fool, either. Life would go on much as it had before her parents relocated. For a brief moment, she wondered how long it would be until her mom sent her the new address. A week? A month?Thanksgiving?
The longer the better as far as she was concerned. She had played with the idea of introducing Teo and Akoni to her parents during the holidays. She wanted to show Teo where she grew up, the playground she frequented, the burger joint where she took her first job. Sharing those memories would bring them closer. They could still make the trip, but part of her had wanted to make a memory of Teo in her childhood home—to bring her two worlds together and swirl them like cinnamon twists, imprinting Teo into her life like no other man had ever beenbefore.
With a shake of her head, she pushed thoughts of parents and homes and childhood out of herhead.
“Ready?” Teo asked. He stood by the front door, Akoni in one arm and the diaper bag over his other shoulder. He wore a blue polo shirt and golf pants that accentuated his trim middle and broad shoulders. His eyes wereinviting.
Inviting her into his evening—his heart even. Maybe she didn’t need to take him to her past to imprint him on her heart. Falling into his life had worked out pretty good so far. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” shequipped.
The drive to Los Tios was uneventful, and they were soon seated with Elijah and Deja. Deja was adorable in her maternity top and tight skirt that accentuated her baby bump. She had short, crazy-curly black hair and a high forehead. Her eyes were bright and her smile wascontagious.
“Have you found out what you’re having?” Teo asked. The busboy put a high chair between Cedar and Deja, and Cedar strapped Akoni in. He pounded the table with this palms until she sprinkled some vegetable puffs on the surface to keep himoccupied.
“It’s a human,” replied Elijah, feigning intense interest in themenu.
“Stop teasing.” Deja smacked him in the arm. “It’s a girl, and he’s over themoon.”
Teo grinned. “Better you than me. I’d be a nervous wreck to have agirl.”
Elijah set down the menu. “Are you kidding? Boys are so hard on things—our house would never survive. My little princess is going to have all the stuffed bears and tea parties shewants.”
Deja turned to exchange a wide-eyed, can-you-believe-him look with Cedar. She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. If the man they were here to meet was anything like these people, they were going to have a great night. She already suspected she and he were kindred spirits. After all, he was already living her dream life, starting businesses and the like. She’d been looking forward to picking his braintonight.
Elijah’s attention shifted to the front door. “There’s the golden boy now.” He stood and waved. Cedar went to stand to greet the final addition to their little dinner party. Akoni screamed, lifting his hands towards her as if he wanted to be included. He’d developed some fantastic lungs lately, and rather than have him disturb the whole dining room, she bent down to lift him out of his chair. While she was busy with the latch, she heard Elijah introduce everyone. “… and this is Cedar, and Teo’s son Akoni.” With a big smile, Cedar turned to meet the man with the brilliantideas.
Cedar’s happy feelings evaporated like a puddle in the Texas sun as she stared at the man she’d hoped to never see again. “Darrin?”
Darrin placed his hand on his stomach and let out a hearty, completely fake laugh. “Cedar. What a coincidence. It’s so good to see you.” He leaned over and gave her a lingering peck on the cheek. Cedar smelled his expensive cologne, the one his mom bought him every year for Christmas. He only used it on special occasions. Their first date. Their one-month anniversary. That scent triggered a half-dozen memories—none of thembad.
Cedar realized she was staring at Darrin. To say she was stunned would be an understatement. Darrin was the man Elijah had taken to callinggoldenboy?
“And—the best offensive tackle in the NFL.” Darrin clapped Teo on the shoulder as if they were long-lost teammates. “It’s good to see you again,man.”
Teo cocked his head. “I’m sorry, have wemet?”
Cedar clamped her lips together to hold back theHa!that threatened to escape. She may not have put Darrin in his place, but Teo had no trouble keeping the smooth talker at arm’slength.
Teo put his hand on the back of her chair, and Cedar fell into it with as much grace as a baby horse on shaky legs. She should have shoved Darrin away or not let him get close enough to kiss her in front of her boyfriend. She’d done Teo a disservice. In her defense, she’d been blindsided. Surely a football player would understand how that felt. If she’d known they were meeting her ex-boyfriend for lunch, she could have prepared herself for the onslaught of memories and emotions—especially the ones that had risen so easily to the surface at hiskiss.
“Do you want me to put him back in his chair?” Teo asked, reaching forAkoni.
Cedar settled him better on her lap. She wanted the baby close, needed his serenity. She didn’t have to worry about Darrin snatching a baby. He wanted nothing to do with anyone under the age of eighteen she reminded herself. Maybe, if she kept Akoni close, Darrin wouldn’t be tempted to touch her again. “I’ll hold him for a bit.” She smiled up atTeo.
“How do you two know each other?” askedDeja.
Darrin ended up in the seat across from Cedar. She’d been ravenous when they walked in, the smell of melted cheese and spicy meats tantalizing her senses. Now, she wasn’t sure she could force herself to take even onebite.
