“My ass!” I hiss.
He’s going to think I’m a terrible mother. My son is at home with my parents while I’m here getting sloshed. Un-fucking-believable.
“He’s out there. You’re in here. It’s no big deal. You don’t have to see him unless you want to. Now let’s go back to talking about how much you want him.”
“I changed my schedule for him.”
“You did what now?”
“I rush around all day taking care of everything so I have nothing to do in the evenings, just on the off chance that he’ll stay a little longer.” I stare up at the ceiling. I’ve already confessed so many things, I might as well confess them all and get it over with. “I could take some time for myself or get some studying done while he’s there, but no. I just sit on the sofa and watch them play. I listen just as hard as Andy does when Drew reads him a story. I nearly asked him to stay last night when he carried him to bed. It was the first time he’d ever been in my room, and God, Soph. I wanted him in my bed so badly.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I hadn’t shaved my legs in like four days.”
She laughs which makes me laugh, and before I know it, we’re practically rolling around on the bed like idiots.
“You love him,” she says softly once we settle.
“So much.”
“You need to tell him.”
“I can’t.”
Chapter 40
Drew
“Hey, man!” Colton seems a little overeager when he opens the front door to see me standing on the porch. “Can I get you a beer?”
“No thanks. I have an early morning with Andy tomorrow.”
“Maybe a soda?”
“I’m good.”
Instead of directing me to the living room where I hear several guys giving each other shit, he guides me the opposite way toward the kitchen.
“Listen—”
“I can go,” I say before he can tell me that the guys aren’t exactly happy about my invite.
“What? No—I mean—”
“They don’t want me here. I get it. I knew this would be an issue once I got out.” I reach out to shake his hand. “No big deal, man, I completely understand.”
“What? No.” He smacks my hand away. “This has nothing to do with the guys.”
“Then why else would you have to separate me from them?”
“It’s ah, shit. Sophia invited Izzy over.”
A slow smile spreads across my face. “Is Andy here, too?”
“He’s at home with Gigi. Listen, they came to the kitchen and grabbed a saltshaker, three limes, and a bottle of tequila then disappeared upstairs.”
“Sophia is pregnant. Three limes—shit.”
“Yeah. It seems Izzy plans to drink herself stupid tonight.”
“And you’re just going to let it happen.” I move to head toward the stairs but he grabs my arm.
“Sophia would never let her get so drunk that she’s in any real danger. Her keys are put away, and she’s here for the night. I just didn’t want you to be shocked when they come down to raid the fridge during the middle of a hand.”
“I’ll be fine.” I keep my eyes on the stairs as if she’s going to glide down them at any moment.
“You sure?”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“Not a chance. I’m hoping you’re really good at poker and someone is finally able to beat the chief. He gloats for days after a poker night, and I’d like some peace and quiet at work for once.”
He slaps me on the back and I follow him from the room.
Introductions go around the table, and only one guy by the name of Ramshaw looks at me with what I determine is annoyance.
Ignoring him, I let them deal me in, but my focus isn’t on the table or the men around it. My head is upstairs, my ears perked up waiting to hear any sound coming from Izzy.
“And boom,” Monahan says thirty minutes later. He slaps a full house down on top of the pile of poker chips. “What do you have, kid?”
“Umm?” I cringe when I look down at my hand, getting stares of disbelief when I show them.
“They’re not even suited. What were you going for there?”
“That’s awful?” another detective by the name of Gaffey snaps. “A pair of threes? You suck at this.”
Colton shakes his head as he collects the cards from the table, but there’s a knowing look in his eyes. He’s well aware of why I can’t concentrate on this damn game.
“Good thing we aren’t playing with real money,” I mutter, looking down at my paltry stack of remaining coins.
“Speak for yourself,” Chief Monahan says as he scrapes the chips in his direction and begins to sort them into piles.
“Anyone need another beer?” Ramshaw asks as he stands.
“Bathroom?” I ask Colton as I stand as well.
“Just down the hall—oh wait, I forgot that floor is torn out. Up the stairs, first door on the left.”
I hate the idea that all the guys will be coming upstairs when they need to piss. Izzy is up here, and I don’t want that Ramshaw guy getting anywhere near her. He either hates me because of my past, or he’s seen her. Any single man would be a fool to not look twice. The girl is off-the-charts gorgeous.
I don’t think I’ve seen a better looki—
“Shit,” I hiss when I clear the stairs and see her standing there.
I haven’t been drinking, but I’d swear she’s an apparition, a figment my imagination has conjured. When have I ever gotten so lucky to be thinking about her and she just appears?
“H-hi,” I stammer like a grade-school kid running into his crush in the hallway. Even my face is heated.
I lick my dry lips, nearly groaning when her eyes try to track the movement. I would’ve been able to tell she’s drinking even if Colton hadn’t told me earlier. She’s relying heavily on the wall, and somehow she’s lost a shoe. Thankfully, she’s wearing sandals with that same damn dress she had on this morning at the festival.
“Hello there.” Her teeth dig into her lower lip as her eyes flutter.
I can’t tell if she has something in her eyes or if she’s flirting. It brings a grin to my face. She’s absolutely adorable.
“Funny meeting you here.”
“I could say the same for you. Do you come here often?”
I inch closer to her when she goes to move, afraid she’s going to fall over. “Are you using cheesy pickup lines on me?”
“Do you want to be picked up?” She winks, or at least I think it’s a wink, but both of her eyes flutter closed.
See? Adorable.
“This is my first time here.” Although I’m completely sober, I lean against the same wall, a mere two feet from her, and rest my head at the same angle as hers, hoping it will make it easier for her to focus on my face.
“You won me a unicorn today.”
“I did. Do you like it?”
“Love it.” The words come out breathy, and it’s my turn to be enthralled when she licks her lips.
“I just came up to use the bathroom. Are you having fun with your friend?”