Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“We are not arguing about this bullshit, and we are definitely not taking any time to think about one goddamn thing. You and I are together, and there will never be a time when that isn’t true.”
“Zach.”
“No, we work. We’re happy and working on starting our family, and I won’t let you make this shit into something it’s not. I won’t let you use your past as an excuse to push me away. I don’t give a fuck what Max did. He is not here. This is you and me. I’m not asking you to sacrifice your happiness. I’m telling you that Aubrey and Steven’s relationship with their mother isn’t something you need to tie yourself into knots about.”
“But it is,” she replies gently, and I jerk my head back.
“It’s not, baby. She’s the one who should be fighting to stay close to them. She’s the one who should be worried about how she’s going to make it work, not you. I’ll worry about it, because I want them to have as much love as they can get, and because I want them to have their mother in their lives. But that isn’t something for you to worry about.” I sigh, then growl, “Jesus, Max may be a dick, but he loves his son enough to fight for him. He loves him enough to fly here to see him when he hasn’t heard from him for a few days. Don’t get me wrong; I know Tina loves Aubrey and Steven in her own way, but she’d never sacrifice her own happiness for them. Right now, she’s looking out for herself.”
“That’s not fair to Steven or Aubrey,” she whispers, wringing her hands together.
“It’s not, but at the end of the day, all I can do is pray the kids see what we have, what we’re building, and know what love looks like, what family looks like, and hope that sinks in for them somewhere along the line.”
Her face softens and she goes to speak, but is cut off.
“Moms moving?” Steven asks, and I swing my head toward the hall, where he and Hunter are standing, obviously having come in through the back door in the kitchen at some point, only I don’t have a clue when or how much they heard.
“Bud.” I hold his gaze and see pain in his eyes that causes my jaw to tighten.
“Is mom moving?” he repeats, and I nod. “She’s going to talk to you and Bre about it while you guys are over at her place for the weekend.”
“She’s going to live with Thomas, isn’t she?” he prompts, and I nod, not wanting to lie to him, even though every part of me wishes I could, so I could protect him from this. He loves his mom, has always loved her unconditionally, and that love runs deep. So deep, I wonder if I’ll lose my boy to this—something I’ve been worried about since Tina told me her plans.
“She’s leaving Bre and me here to go live with her boyfriend?” he asks again, and I take a step toward him, wrap my hand around the back of his neck, and drop my head toward his.
“She’ll be a forty-five minute flight away. You can go see her anytime you want.”
“And see him, right?” He laughs, but it sounds pained and bitter. “He doesn’t even talk to us! He doesn’t even act like we’re there when we’re at her house and he’s there with us.”
“We’ll find a way to make it work, bud. Your mom and I will find a way to make it work so that when you’re there, he’s not, or she’ll come here to see you, if that’s what you and Bre need.”
“What’s the point? Bre’s right. Mom doesn’t care,” he mutters, dropping his eyes to the ground, sounding defeated.
“She loves you,” Shel cuts in, and Steven lifts his eyes to her. “I know this transition will take time, but your mom loves you. I’ve seen you together, and have seen pictures. I know you and Aubrey are both her world.” Steven’s muscles tighten under my hand. “Just give it time, honey. Everything will work out. You’ll see. Your dad and I will make sure you can see her as often as you and Bre want. Right, Zach?” she asks, and even though this isn’t the time to smile, I feel myself do just that, because she has somehow just placed her self in the middle of this.
“We will,” I agree, giving his neck another squeeze. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Sure,” he agrees, not sounding sure at all, and I touch my forehead to his.
Hearing the front door open, I don’t pull away until I hear Bre ask, “Is everything okay?”
My eyes move to her. “Everything’s fine, gorgeous.”
“Then why does Steven look so upset?” she questions, and I hear Shel say something to Hunter about Penny then the sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor, along with the sound of paws, and I know Bre must have brought Penny over with her.