Somehow, we make it through dinner, and on the way out, Whit catches my arm while the women say their goodbyes to Tanner.
“That’s as good as it gets with her,” Whit whispers.
“Well, that’s not saying much.”
He nods and lowers his voice further.“For what it’s worth—Hadley’s never brought anyone home.Ever.”
I open my mouth to respond, but he’s already moving toward Sloane.
I’m not sure why he’s telling me.He knows the score.She didn’t have a choice.She had to bring me home, so what he felt was a compliment wasn’t.I’m just an arrangement for Hadley.
In the car on the way home, Hadley is quiet most of the ride.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she says.
“Do what?”
She turns to look at me in the darkness of the back seat.“Stick up for us.I don’t care what she thinks.”
I shrug.“I was just clarifying, and if you think I’m going to sit at that table and allow them to disrespect you, Tanner, and us, then you don’t know me at all.”
She watches me for a moment, then turns back toward the window.“Thank you,” she says quietly.
I don’t say anything.But I think about Whit’s words the whole way home, and I think about how I can’t wait to get back in the condo and getmyHadley back.
I think that’s probably something I should be more worried about than I am.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Hadley
Easton reached out to Lila Mercer, a woman he slept with roughly fifteen months ago.The timeframe that is most likely when Tanner was conceived.
Now we sit in the café around the corner.Him at a table with me a table away, Tanner’s back to Easton in a high chair, and me with a baseball hat on to disguise myself as much as possible.
Easton was going to come by himself, but as he was leaving the condo, he started second-guessing himself, his anxiety increasing about whether or not he should be looking for Tanner’s mother.So I got Tanner ready and said we’ll all go.I couldn’t let him do this alone.
He slyly looks at me, sipping his coffee, which will be gone before Lila even turns up since he can’t seem to just sit there and wait.
Tanner is happy at least, having no idea his mother might turn up today.Would he remember her and want to go to her?One of the reasons we both agreed his back should be turned.If he reaches for her, that’s a good sign, but one I’m not sure I’m prepared for, so I’m sure Easton isn’t either.
My laptop is open, so I appear like a busy working mom, even though my concentration is only on the door.
It opens and a woman steps inside, her eyes scouring the area.
This must be her.
Easton half-lifts off the chair, but then a man comes in right behind her, holding a baby carrier off of one arm.Easton sits back down, glancing at me, looking as though he’s one second from bolting.
I know how important this is to him, and to Tanner, and I hope this can be a one and done.That Lila Mercer is Tanner’s mom.If so, I’m not sure why she’d agree to coffee, but I didn’t want to convey my doubts to Easton when he was hopeful.Maybe she regrets her decision and just needed an opening from Easton to come forward.
The woman at the door stops searching when her eyes land on Easton, turning to say something to who I think might be her husband.His gaze lands on Easton, and the two of them walk over.
Maybe they’re just big fans?Or… holy shit, this is it.
Easton straightens.I hate seeing that fun-loving guy disappear.
Tanner bangs on the table, and I pass him another puff while watching the scene unfold in front of me.
