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“Cole and I wanted to talk to you about something.” He was still clutching Grayson. I knew if he tried to put him down he’d wake up.
“I’ll just keep stirring the potato salad. We have about two hours before we need to leave for the base. Ryan is in the air now. Go on, tell me what’s happening.”
“Mom, please stop worrying about the potato salad and look at us.”
My dad folded his arms.
Cole slipped a strong arm around me and I watched my mom’s mouth drop.
“We came here together. Cole and me,” I started my explanation. “We’re together.”
My parents were speechless.
Cole cleared his throat. “We realize it could make everyone uncomfortable to start.”
My dad peered at Cole. “You’re like a second son to us. There’s a big age difference between you two. And you have a son. With a woman you didn’t marry.”
“Dad,” I hushed. I didn’t need Grayson to hear any of this. I looked at Cole. “Why don’t you see if he’ll go down in the guest room.”
He nodded and walked out of the kitchen.
My mom dropped the spoon. “I love Cole,” she whispered. “But what are you doing, Kaitlyn? He’s way too old for you. And his life is complicated. He’s a father. A father.”
“I know exactly how complicated it is. And I just want you to support us. You’ll get used to it. And Grayson is adorable. I already love him too.”
My dad shook his head. “You’re too young to raise a child. And it’s Cole. He’s practically a brother.”
Cole walked back in the room. “I left the door cracked, but he’s out. The airplane was too exciting.” He cracked a smile.
Did my parents see what I did? Couldn’t they see what I loved about him? I knew there was a toddler in the picture. I knew Cole was a man whore before. I knew everything about his life. And I loved him.
“I’d like to talk to Ryan myself,” Cole explained. “It’s best if I break it to him.”
My mom sighed. “This? This is what we’re dealing with today?”
“Mom, come on. It’s going to be ok.”
She threw her hands in the air. “All right. I have to work on this dinner.”
I looked at Cole. That was our cue to get out of the kitchen. But we had made it over the first hurdle. Only one more and we could coast home.
33
Cole
He’d been home four hours. I had ridden with the Sinclaires to the base. It was an eerie feeling being in the hanger, watching the guys unload from the jet.
Part of me wanted to run over and grab gear and toss it on the flatbed truck. I wanted one of those uniforms instead of the T-shirt I was wearing.
But holding Grayson’s hand I knew I had done the right thing. And with legal papers waiting to be signed when I got back to Texas, it was the best fucking decision I’d made. My son needed me.
I thanked God there were still men like Ryan who would fight the fight while I raised my son.
Ryan was outside on the patio. Kaitlyn and her mom were washing dishes in the kitchen. Mr. Sinclaire had pulled out some of Ryan’s toys from the attic and was racing Matchbox cars with Grayson.
This was my chance.
I poured two glasses of bourbon and walked outside, handing one to my best friend.
