“Hmm. I suppose.” I pretend to mull it over as I stroll a few steps down the path. Then, without warning, I whirl around, tap his shoulder and take off. “Tag! You’re it!”
Theo lets out a delighted shout as I dart behind a cluster of bushes. I slow just enough for him to catch me, because honestly, my stomach is threatening revolt if I don’t.
When it’s his turn to hide, I up the drama to a hundred, even though I see his shoes sticking out from behind the planter. “Oh no! Where did you go, Theo? I can’t find you anywhere!”
In case I’d missed his shoes, his giggle gives him away instantly. “I’m over here!” And then, he’s off again, ducking around the oak tree near the atrium.
Whirling on my heel, I see Eddie strolling toward us, his hands tucked into his pockets, watching us with his warm, easy expression that does dangerous things to my insides.
I throw up my hands, beseeching his help. “Are you going to help me track down your son, or am I on my own here?”
His mouth curves. “Totally on your own. I know better than to play tag with that kid. He’s sneaky. Learned it from me.”
Turns out, Eddie isn’t kidding.
Theo launches himself from behind the bushes to my immediate right with a loud yell, and I scream theatricallybefore collapsing onto the leaf-strewn grass in a ridiculous tickle pile.
“Hey, do any of you crazy kids want dessert? I made chocolate cake,” Ori calls from the doorway.
Theo instantly forgets the game as he scrambles to his feet and runs toward the carriage house. “Me, Aunt Ori! Me!”
“There goes my tag partner,” I lament, as I push myself to a sitting position and begin pulling leaves from my hair and coat. “I’m a mess, aren’t I?”
Eddie squats beside me, pulling another leaf from my hair before leaning in, his lips warm against mine. “You’re a beautiful mess.”
“Don’t know about all that,” I murmur. “But thanks for saying so.”
Eddie helps me to my feet, gathering me close. Not that I mind. Inside his embrace is my favorite place in the world. He pushes a few errant strands from my face, his touch always so gentle. So warm.
But I see it in his face. He’s got a question, and I’m entirely unsure I want to know what it is.
Still…
“What?”
He shakes his head, a hint of a smile on his face. “Maybe I’m getting too personal by asking this, but I’ve always wondered why you didn’t have kids. You’re amazing with Theo and you seem to adore him.”
“I do.”
“So… is it not something you wanted or… is there another reason you don’t have kids?”
My brain races in six different directions at once. What’s the right answer here? Do I tell Eddie the truth, or go with what he wants to hear?
Not that I have any clue whatthatis. At least not when itcomes to kids. He’s younger than me, and he already has Theo, so maybe he’s done.
Or maybe that’s exactlywhyhe’s asking—because he’s not.
Shit, what is the right answer?
“Kiki?”
I blink up at him, realizing I’ve been silent for God knows how long.
“Sorry.” Eddie winces, palms out. “I didn’t mean to overstep. It’s just something I was curious about.”
Okay, it’s a request for information. That I can handle.
I run my hands over my arms, buying myself a bit of space along with warding off the impending chill. “I always wanted kids, but I wanted to wait until I was in my thirties. Settled, you know. Drake kept stalling. Never seemed to be the right time for him. Looking back, I realize he didn’t want any, but he was willing to consider the possibility for my sake, which is the most awful reason to have a baby.”
