There truly was only so much pushback she could summon in the face of something as incredible as Charlotte Thompson offering herself—not just physically, but her emotional, intimate, whole self.
And after long months, Sutton’s will to do so was simply gone.
“Okay,” she breathed, reaching up and taking Charlotte’s hand in hers. She laced their fingers together, and it felt so… so insane, the way they justfit. “Do you want to stay for dinner, then?”
“More than anything.”
Sutton sat next to Charlotte,both across the table from Lucy, twenty minutes later. Their plates were loaded with spaghetti and meatballs, but no one was eating.
Not as Lucy sat with her spine straight, her hands linked together on the table in front of her, studying Sutton and Charlotte closely.
“Can I ask questions now?” she asked, aiming her puppy-dog eyes at Sutton.
She exchanged a look with Charlotte, who was wearing one of her alarmingly attractive, sweet smiles. It was something she’d never seen on Charlotte before, not until she’d seen Charlotte interact with Lucy. The smile made Sutton think Charlotte believed Lucy was absolutely adorable.
And for the first time in the months of seeing that smile, she let herself give in to the tempting warmth it lit inside of her.
“Yes, hon, you can ask questions,” she answered, turning back to face her daughter.
Lucy dropped her serious look quickly, lighting up in excitement instead. “Okay! Are you two girlfriends?” she repeated her first question from earlier.
Sutton’s insides turned soft and anxious and thrilled—all of the feelings she’d once felt, years ago, at the prospect of beingCharlotte’s girlfriend. She honestly felt that by now, in her late thirties, being referred to as someone’s girlfriend shouldn’t appeal to her.
But, oh, it did.
And,oh, she really hadn’t thought about how tricky this conversation would be. Because she and Charlotte hadn’t even discussed that themselves yet.
“Well, Luce,” Sutton started, the words falling slowly from her mouth as she tried to think of what to say. And all she could think of was—honesty. She didn’t lie to Lucy. Not that she’d ever had anything to lie about, nor had she found herself in such a complicated situation in years, but… “It’s?—”
“Yes,” Charlotte answered, surprising her. “At least, I would like to be.”
Both Sutton and Lucy turned to look at her, and Charlotte’s cheeks went the slightest bit pink. Fuck, it wassoendearing.
She felt Charlotte’s hand reach out under the table, landing on her knee and gently squeezing as she sent her an inquisitive look.
“You would?” Sutton asked, needing the clarification, even if it was for what felt like the hundredth time.
“I would.” Charlotte nodded, a gorgeous smile playing at her lips as she turned to face Lucy. “Though—would you believe this, Luce? I’ve never actually had a girlfriend before.”
Lucy’s mouth dropped open in shock, the expression making Sutton laugh even as her heart stuttered at the sweetness of the interaction. “No way!You’re so pretty!”
Charlotte chuckled again, reaching her free hand up to card through her long, wavy hair, and Sutton’s heart stuttered all over again. Becauseyeah, Lucy was absolutely fucking right. Charlotte was so pretty.
“Thank you! But, yes way. I’ve never had a girlfriend because I have always been very dedicated to my work.”
Lucy screwed up her face. “Yuck.”
They both laughed then, as Charlotte slowly nodded in agreement. “Though I do enjoy a lot of my work… yes. Itisyuck, that it’s stopped me from having relationships,” she murmured in agreement, sliding her gaze back to Sutton for a few seconds before she cleared her throat. “So I would like your mother to be my girlfriend. If that’s all right with you.”
Sutton blinked widely at the last part of Charlotte’s statement. She’d never even really considered what her having a partner might look like to Lucy; Lucy had never had to share her, in any sense of the word.
She supposed it was a blessing she hadn’t had time to think about that yet. Another thing to worry about, and?—
That worry seemed to be unfounded as Lucy shrugged, unperturbed. “It’s okay. My other mom, um, she has a wife. So I think Mama should, too.”
Relieved, and wishing very much she could pull Lucy in for a hug right now, Sutton gazed at her, so full of thatloveLucy made her feel. “Thank you, honey.” She mulled over Lucy’s words again before she slightly shook her head. “Though, Charlotte isn’t exactly like Arianne.”
“I know.” Lucy nodded firmly. “She gives funner presents and comes to holidays with Grandma and Grandpa, which iswaybetter!”
