Now I grin. “Thanks for the invite, Coopzilla. I was already planning to be there, so I’m sure we’ll see each other.”
“Awesome,” Coop says happily. “I love Dogwood Cove.”
He doesn’t notice his mom’s hand drift up to cover her mouth, but I do, and I know it’s because she’s so damn happy he said that. I sneak my hand across the center console to squeeze her thigh briefly, flashing her an understanding smile. She covers my hand with hers and squeezes back, and something about sharing this moment feels really good.
When we get to the LEGO store, the kids dash off to different sections, whirling around like hurricanes of excitement. Tori and I stand off to the side for a few minutes just watching them. We’re close enough that our hands brush, and I grab on to her pinkie. Cooper runs up, and I drop it quickly.
“Sawyer, look at this one!”
I crouch down and take the large box he’s holding. “Woah, that’s super cool, little dude.” It’s a full fire station set, and something flip-flops in my chest that he picked this out. “I would’ve loved to have this as a kid.”
“You could get it now, I’ll help you build it.”
“Cooper, I don’t think Sawyer wants to buy a LEGO set,” Tori interjects, but I give her a mock frown.
“Excuse you, but I happen to love LEGO.” I stand up and reach out my hand to Cooper. He jumps to it, and we go through our handshake. “Thanks, Coopzilla. I think we better help Vi choose which one she wants, then we can find yours.”
We grab some lunch after finishing up at the LEGO store, then head home. The drive back to Dogwood Cove is full of chatter from the kids in the back seat, but silence from Tori. When I pull into their driveway, I climb out to walk them to the door. To my surprise, Cooper doesn’t go for a handshake, instead, flinging his arms around my waist and hugging me tightly.
“Hey bud, thanks for coming with us today.”
“You won’t forget me when you go to build the fire station, will you?” he asks, the words muffled. But the hope shining from his eyes when he lifts his head is obvious, and I know there’s not a chance in hell I want to disappoint the kid.
“You bet I won’t. I’m gonna need your help, for sure.”
“Cool. Bye, Sawyer.” He releases me, and with one more wave to Violet sitting in the truck, he bounds inside his house.
“He really likes you.”
I look over at Tori, who’s adopted a serious expression. “I like him, too.”
“Don’t… Just…” She lets out a huff.
“Just say it, angel. Whatever’s on your mind, I want you to say it.”
She gulps and takes in a deep breath. “He’s got some serious hero worship going on with you, and if you can’t handle that, just tell me so we can work it out. That kid has been let down by the one man who should’ve always been there for him too many times, and I’ll be damned if I allow him to be let down by another, no matter what’s going on between me and you.”
Her mama bear attitude is kinda sexy, but I keep that thought to myself. Because I hear every word she’s saying, and the ones she’s not. And I don’t know how to respond. Can I promise I’ll always be here for her and her son? Part of me wants to, but part of me is scared.
Because that feels a hell of a lot like a commitment I’m not in any position to make.
Chapter twenty
Tori
“Get up, Mom! It’s time to go look at the dogs!”
I let out anoomphas seventy pounds of kid lands on top of me.
“Cooper, buddy, I love you, but it is too dang early,” I groan, looking at my phone that shows it’s not even seven. “The adoption fair doesn’t start for hours.”
“But I’m awake now,” he says in that matter-of-fact way that is sometimes adorable and sometimes — like now — really, really annoying.
I fix him with a glare. “Well, I wasn’t, until you jumped on me.”
He looks sheepish. “I’m excited. I know you said it’s only amaybethat we get a dog, but I’m really excited.”
Well, shoot. I push myself up to sit and drag him in for a hug. “I know you are. I’m sorry I’m a grumpasaurus in the morning.”
