Unable to hide anything from Mrs. Mitchell, I chuckle. She’s a very astute woman who sees more than she lets on. “I’m fine. A rough evening.” I lower my tone as I walk her to the door. “Oscar’s dad knows about him, so things are going to change slightly going forward.”
When I first moved here and Mrs. Mitchell offered to help, I told her my life’s story. I don’t know if it was because she’s a mother herself, but I found myself opening up to her more than I’d ever opened up to anyone other than Theo. I didn’t tell her who his father was though. That was a secret just for me… until now.
But maybe, just maybe, Theo and I can start healing. Start rebuilding those bridges that were so severely damaged and restoring the trust neither of us seems to have in the other. I want that for us, but more importantly, for Oscar.
“How do you feel about it?” she asks gently, looking over her shoulder to make sure Oscar can’t hear.
“I’m not sure yet. We spoke a lot tonight and got a lot off our chests, but there’s still a long way to go before I can answer that.”
“I’m always here if you need to talk. Lord knows my daughter takes me up on that offer often enough.” She chuckles, but there’s love clearly shining through her eyes as she speaks.
“Thank you. I appreciate it,” I reply.
Closing the door, I turn to my son. “Right, I’m going to have a quick shower and get changed; then it's bedtime for you, mister.”
“Okay, Momma,” he says, not bothering to take his eyes off the TV.
I huff out a laugh and ruffle his hair as I walk past. Climbing into the shower, I’m hit with a wave of exhaustion. I’ve been a single mom for so long; I’m not sure how I’m going to handle letting Theo into our lives. Intomylife. Can I trust him to not walk away again? Trust him to not destroy me, and this time, our son as well? So many reasons why this is a bad idea engulf me, but ultimately, I don’t have a choice. Oscar deserves a relationship with his father, and Theo deserves a relationship with his son. Having Oscar healed me in a way I never thought it could, so maybe it can help him?
Toweling off, I leave my hair to air dry and go in search of Oscar. Stepping into the living room, I see him lying on the floor, asleep. Smiling to myself, I pick him up—no easy feat, ten-year-olds are heavy—and take him into his bedroom to tuck him in. Stroking his hair gently, I lean down to kiss his forehead.
I’m scared for what the future will bring, but we all owe it to ourselves to see where this could lead.
Chapter Thirty-One
BLAKE
I’m so lost in work, I don’t realize anyone’s behind me until I hear a whispered, “Hi.”
I jump and let out a scream. “Theo! You have got to stop doing that,” I exclaim. “This… you see this?” I point at the couple of grey hairs starting to show on the crown of my head. “This is you. I’m going to be completely gray by the time I’m forty at this rate.” I huff, my heart racing.
“You’d still look hot.” He winks, and my thighs clench of their own accord, still not immune to this man and his charms. “Would that make you a cougar? No. Wait. You have to be older to be a cougar,” he muses. “Definitely hot.”
“Theo!” I admonish jokingly. He can’t say stuff like this to me; my heart and body can’t cope with it. “What are you doing in here anyway? Don’t you have your own office to work in?” I smirk.
“I noticed you hadn’t moved in a while, so I brought you a coffee,” he says, handing me the cup. I take a grateful sip, my eyes closing athow good it tastes. I can’t remember the last time I got up to get a drink. “You stalking me, big guy?” I finally say, leaning back in my chair and smiling around the edge of the mug.
“Always,” he murmurs, his tone low.
“You know nothing like that can happen between us,” I reply, sitting up.
“No? Why? You seeing someone?” he asks, trying to act nonchalant, but I can see the jealous glint in his eyes and the slight tick in his jaw.
“Because, big guy, boundaries. What we had was great, but?—”
He cuts me off. “Look, I get it. It’s just a bit of harmless flirting. You know I’ve never been able to help myself around you.” He grins, showing his pearly whites, and I soften. “If we’re going to co-parent, we need to have a good relationship, yeah?” I nod slowly. “Then enjoy it for what it is… a couple of friends just bantering.”
“I can work with that,” I agree, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
“So…” he begins, and I raise an eyebrow. “I know we discussed taking it slowly, and I’m totally on board with that, but, uh, when can I see Oscar again?” Theo blushes, a bashful look on his face as he asks, and my heart melts. He just wants a relationship with his son.
“He’s actually coming here today. Mrs. Mitchell has a doctor's appointment and can’t pick him up from school.”
Theo becomes giddy—bouncing on the tips of his toes and rubbing his hands together. “I’ve got so many ideas. I brought this new action figurine just for him. It’s Bumblebee and Optimus Prime tangled together from the episode where?—”
“Theo!” I laugh. “Take a breath.” He does as I ask, but his face has already turned red from the excitement. “I forgot what a big kid you are.”
He rubs the back of his neck, a sheepish look on his face. “Sorry. I, uh, get a bit carried away sometimes.”
