He just stared at me. I stared back. He squinted at me as if trying to figure out if I was telling the truth or not. Since I had nothing to hide, I let him look. For at least two minutes. Then I realized if I didn’t break the silence, we’d be standing there all day and we needed to get a move on.
“Not that Iwouldn’thave bought a booster for him, if Lovett didn’t have one. Because let’s face it. I need a seat for your kid, Mal. That’s what happens when you date a man who's also a dad.”
He squinted at me. “Are we dating then?”
I froze, my heart missing a beat and then thundering. “Uh. Yes? At least I thought that we—”
Mal laughed, tugging me in. “I’m joking. It’s nice of you to think of us as a unit. Me and Payton, I mean. Because we are. I appreciate it. Kiss me.”
That was a command I’d never ignore. I wanted to really delve deep so he knew just how much I wanted him but we were out in the open and Payton was nearby. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to check his tonsils or, you know, lay him out right there on the ground.
When I pulled back, we were both wearing sappy smiles. I cleared my throat and got us moving again. But then I realized Payton was no longer inspecting the dandelions.
“Where’s the little man?”
Mal glanced around, then raised his voice. “Marco!”
A second later, Payton’s high pitched voice sounded. “Polo!”
“He’s up by the house. He did mention he wanted to say goodbye to your mom.”
We found them a few minutes later on the porch. Payton was clinging to my mom’s leg and she was running her fingers through his hair, speaking quietly to him. I’d been in that exact position when I was Payton’s age, and older. Hell, sometimes my mom still did it. And I could imagine what she was saying too, reminding Payton he was strong and brave, that he could tackle anything, and it was okay to have feelings, no matter what they were. As long as he treated others nicely and didn’t take his feelings out on them.
“Jenn is pretty amazing,” Mal said as he watched my mom hug Payton extra tight before sending him to us.
“Yeah. Yeah, she is.”
I stayed in the truck as Mal took Payton and his oversize backpack into the daycare. It used to be the elementary school but ten years or so ago, Russel Crossing built a new building that housed grades K through eight. The high schoolers bussed out to the next town over, Briarwood, which was bigger by several thousand residents. The old building was repurposed to be a daycare in one half and a law office on the other, with two separate entrances. The old middle school had been turned into apartments.
Twenty minutes later, Mal emerged and made a beeline for the truck. He wouldn’t look at me when he climbed in, but his eyeswere definitely glassy. I could only guess how tough it was for him to drop his son off to the care of strangers. Since Payton’s birth, he’d been in Mal’s care, or his mother’s or mine.
“Need a minute?” I murmured.
Mal shook his head. “I’m good.”
He didn’t sound good. “Need a hug?”
Mal took a breath. Then another that shuddered. Then he all but launched himself over the console into my arms. I hugged him tightly as he cried a little. It only took him a few minutes to compose himself, press a kiss to my neck, and then shuffle back into his own seat.
“I know he’ll love it once he gets used to it. I know it’ll be good for him. And he wasn’t upset or anything. Just wary. But hell….”
“Yeah.” I put the truck in gear and pulled out, then slid my hand onto Mal’s thigh. He gripped my hand and held on.
We didn’t talk as I drove through the streets to Landry’s Feed and Seed on the south side of town. Mal relaxed in inches though and started looking around. I realized that not only was I offering him support as he sent Payton off to daycare but also offering a sorely needed distraction. I pointed out my favorite diner, Kira’s Kafe, and suggested we stop there for lunch. He agreed and then realized it wasn’t far from the library, which was one of the only landmarks in town he knew.
Landry’s parking lot was busy, as it usually was. I pulled the truck up near the loading bay, then headed inside with Mal at my side. Plenty of customers were wandering around, and there was a line at the service desk. I used my privilege, bypassed them all, and stuck my head through the office door to the left of the desk.
“Yo.”
Trip looked up from his computer and then grinned. I got a hug and a kiss to the cheek before he stepped back.
“Trip, meet my boyfriend, Mal,” I introduced them, wanting things to be clear. I did not need my friend to look at thebeautiful man beside me and think he could make a play for him. “Mal, this is Shannon Landry.”
Trip stuck out his hand, grinning widely. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Mal said, shaking hands. Then he paused a second before adding, “Is it Trip or Shannon?”
Trip laughed and knocked a fist against my shoulder. “I’m a third. Trip is an old nickname I don’t care for, but a couple of people still get to use it since I know it’s said with affection. Namely Crew and my mother. So Shannon, if you please.”
