He pulled over one of the lawn chairs and plopped down. “Where’s Andrew?”
“Exhausted in the room. He’s taking a nap. It’s official—you’ve worn him out.” She laughed when concern crossed his face. “The high altitude has a lot to do with it as well.” She put her hand over his and he quickly moved it away. Her stomach twisted. “It’s nice here,” she said with a cheerfulness she wasn’t feeling.
“Yeah. I like watching the river. Just thinking about where it goes is mind-blowing. It’s fun to come here with a few brothers, smoke a few joints, and come up with ideas of where the water, rocks, and leaves end up. It can be fuckin’ hilarious.” He chuckled and then put his beer bottle to his lips.
“I’m sure what you guys come up with is pretty much out there.” She laughed and turned back to gazing at the water. From the corner of her eye, she noticed him staring at her.
“You’re a good mom. Andrew’s a great kid.”
She cocked her head and met his gaze. “That means a lot coming from you.”I miss you so much. I want to feel your lips on mine, your arms around my body. I want us to be back the way we were at Isa’s. How can I melt your heart again?“Addie told me the club’s having a family barbecue in the yard this Sunday. She said her son, Jack, will be there, along with some other kids Andrew’s age. He’ll like that. Her daughter is so precious. She seems very happy.” She sighed.
“I was going to mention it to you. It’s a good time, and with the days growing shorter we don’t have too much time left before it’ll be too cold to do shit outside. Chas and Addie are solid. She’s a good woman.” He placed a joint in his mouth and cupped his hand around it as he lit it.
“All the old ladies I met seem real nice. Baylee said that if we wanted to stay in Pinewood Springs, she’d try and find us a place.” She held her breath.
“You planning on staying? When did that come about?”
“I’m not sure. It’s just that Andrew loves it here, and he’s over the moon about spending time with you. I think Pinewood Springs would be a good place to raise a kid. I also want you to have the time with him. If we go back to Connecticut it’d be so far away. He needs you.”
His smoke blew away from them, dissipating by the pine trees. “I’d love to be a full-time dad. We have a lot of catching up to do. What would you do?”
“Get a job. Cara said she could hook me up with something. She knows everyone.” She smiled. “You could watch Andrew until I got home from work. I don’t know… I’m just thinking about it.”
“Sounds like you wanna do it. I’d love for Andrew to be here.”
But not me. You deserve to have a chance with your son, but it rips me up inside that you’ve shut me out of your life.She glanced at her watch. “I better get going. There’s some things I want to pick up at the grocery store before it gets too late. I was thinking I’d make a pot of gumbo. Do you think the guys will like that?”
“Fuck yeah. They’re not too picky except when it comes to barbecue—then everyone is a critic. You need a lift into town? I could borrow Wheelie’s SUV.”
Her pulse quickened. “Let me see if Andrew’s up. If he is, then we can all go together.” She sprang up and dashed into the clubhouse.
Grocery shopping with Rock and Andrew was so enjoyable. It seemed like they were a happy family, and if she pretended hard enough, she believed it too. So many women blatantly flirted with Rock, acting like she was invisible. Even though she knew he enjoyed it, he didn’t flirt back, but she did catch him take a few phone numbers when he thought she wasn’t looking and it made her stomach plummet.I’m being foolish. Why shouldn’t he go out? We aren’t together anymore. I should probably think about meeting someone. Maybe if I date a little I won’t think of him as much.
“Is that going to do it?” Rock asked as he and Andrew munched on some beef jerky.
“Done. How can you guys eat that?”
“It’s super good, Mom. I never had it before until Dad gave me some a few days ago. Now I’m hooked.” She and Rock laughed, and he ruffled his hand through Andrew’s hair.
“Did your Dad tell you that the club’s having a family barbecue this Sunday, and that there’s a boy around your age who’ll be there?”
Andrew bobbed his head up and down. “He said his name’s Jack.” He ripped off another hunk of jerky.
On the way back to the clubhouse, Andrew and Rock talked about everything and nothing, and their chatter was comforting to her.I wish it could always be like this. It just feels so right.When they arrived at the club, Rock and Andrew carried all the groceries in and placed them on the kitchen counter. Clotille busied herself in putting things away.
Bones walked in and high-fived Andrew. “You wanna find rocks for skipping? Your dad’s taking you to Crystal Lake tomorrow, so you’re gonna want the best rocks.”
Andrew practically knocked Bones down in his haste to get to the door. “Can I, Mom?” he asked breathlessly as he leaned against the door frame. She nodded. “Yay! Let’s go.” Bones chuckled and followed the boy.
“He sure has taken to Bones,” she said as she put the cans in the pantry.
Rock leaned against the counter, watching her. “And Bones to him. I know he always wanted kids with his ex from hell, but she wasn’t into them. It’s too bad he can’t have one and skip the woman being around.” He chuckled.
“Like you?” she said softly.
He stared hard at her, then pressed his lips together. “Yeah, like me.” At that moment, Wendy came into the kitchen and grabbed an orange before she went up to Rock and ran her hand up and down his arm, her fingers lingering on his bulging bicep. “Hey, Wendy. What’s shaking?”
“Bored out of my fuckin’ mind.” She licked her lips. “Wanna do something with me?”
