He unzips his backpack, returning the dinosaurs to the shelf one by one, as if they’re made of glass instead of plastic.
Kid treats them like they’re Fabergé eggs, which is wild, because when I was Theo’s age, I broke damn near everything I touched. Probably explains why I make a living fixing things now.
Theo finishes and hands me his backpack. Of course he does.
“Let’s say goodbye to Mom.”
We return to the greenhouse where the late sunlight filters through the glass, turning everything golden.
Theo runs to Deirdre’s side, throwing his arms around her neck.
“Have a good time this weekend, alright? You’re my little man, right?”
He nods, serious as anything. “Yeah.”
“Okay,” she says, tapping the end of his nose. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I hang back, watching the two of them. Deirdre’s an amazing mom. She always has been, and I’m so damn lucky that Theo has her. Hell, we’re both lucky.
I capture her gaze over Theo’s head and mouth, “Thank you.”
She nods, sinking back into the bubbling water. “We’ll set something up. Don’t have too much fun tonight, boys.”
I’m not sure if she’s directing her sarcastic comment at Theo, who overindulged in ice cream last weekend and returned home with a stomachache, or at me and my new girlfriend, but I choose to let it slide.
Theo’s already halfway to the truck by the time I round the corner on the porch, but he keeps glancing back at me.
Oh, I know that little bounce in his step. Now to figure out what he wants.
Hopefully, it’s not a last plea to stow away a few more dinosaurs.
By the time I get him buckled into his booster seat, he can’t hold it in anymore. “Dad?”
I climb into the driver’s seat and glance at him in the rearview. “What’s up, bud?”
“Are we gonna see Miss Kiki?”
There it is. Seems my kid misses her as much as I do.
“Well, I wasn’t planning on it, Theo. I figured you and I would grab some pizza tonight. Just us guys.”
“I like pizza,” he replies, fiddling with the dinosaur in his hands. “But I like Miss Kiki too.”
“I know you do, bud. I like her too.”
Truer words have never been spoken. In fact, I’m crazy about her, and the feelings grow exponentially every day.
And it’s so much more than the sex, although goddamn, that woman can move her body like nobody’s business.
I’m happy around her. Totally content with my life. Already missing her before our time together has ended.
Yeah, I’ve got it bad.
Not telling her that, though. At least, not yet.
I back out of the driveway, tossing a glance in the rearview. Theo’s still watching me, hopeful as hell.
I blow out a breath, already knowing I’ve lost this battle.
