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“That means they can change back.” I smirked, before turning toward Martez, who was inhaling his cinnamon roll. A look of pure ecstasy encompassed him. “From now on, it’s Drake,” I instructed him.
Martez dropped his fork, making it clink against his plate. His focus was solely on his boss, who was glaring at me. “I don’t mind,” he began to stutter. In the stutter I heard that he totally did mind.
“It’s okay to be human,” I reminded Drake, when he said nothing to contradict Martez.
Drake let out a sigh a mile long. “Fine. You win.”
“Great.” I popped up. “My work here is done. Jameson, it’s time to brush your teeth and head to school.”
Jameson shoved the last large bite in his mouth before pushing his chair back and standing up.
Drake looked between Jameson and me as if he weren’t sure what to do. I knew one thing—he wasn’t going to go with us. The last thing I needed was to be seen with the megastar. Besides, he needed to prove himself worthy of being Jameson’s dad before he was cleared to drop my baby off at school, or anywhere for that matter.
“I’ll be right back,” I let Drake know.
He nodded. “Good. We have a lot to talk about.” He sounded like an angry elf.
“Great. I can’t wait.” That was a lie. A big fat lie.
Chapter Nine
Jameson and I jammed out to The Killers on the way to school. “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine” was a favorite. It was a seriously proud moment each time Jameson banged his head against his booster seat and yelled “Jenny was a friend of mine” like he really meant it. I couldn’t wait until the day he was old enough to go to concerts. Except by then, he probably wouldn’t want to be seen with me. He would be more amenable to the Lilas of the world. So, maybe I would still let him believe in the firework theory.
After we finished out the song strong, Jameson raised up his hands like he was going to preach a sermon and yelled, “Rock on!”
Oh, how I love my kid. Mine and Drake’s kid. My stomach twisted knowing Drake was at the inn waiting for my return. I was even more anxious knowing someday I had to tell Jameson the truth. What had I done?
I focused on the road. It was snowing. Again. It was pretty much an everyday occurrence this time of year. I would like to say I loved the snow, but I was still trying to come to terms with the icy flecks hitting my windshield and the white-knuckle driving. Although, I should love them both considering they were the reason for Jameson’s existence. You know, that, and me not listening to Izzy. We both had agreed it was a good thing. Jameson was worth it all, even the uncomfortable moments in my very near future. Which begged the question, “What do you think of Drake?” I asked Jameson.
He looked at me through the rearview mirror and shrugged. “He’s grumpy.”
I laughed. “He can be.” We were going to have to work on that. Among other things.
I carefully turned onto the street where Fair Hollow Elementary resided. A line of cars already flowed out of the parking lot of the new school. It surprisingly had some modern architecture going for it with an angular roof and tall windows, which allowed the sunlight in—that is, when the sun was actually shining. Don’t get me wrong, come spring and summer, the sun would be out in all her glory. Even now, when she showed up, she made everything glisten in the snow. I just wished she would warm things up a bit more. This Florida girl missed her mild winters. Yet, my heart belonged here. That I knew. Even from that very first weekend, this place—especially the inn—called to me.
When it was almost Jameson’s turn to be dropped off, I turned and gave him my normal morning speech. “You are smart, you are clever, you are oh so handsome. Use your powers for good and not evil. Don’t kiss any girls.” I added that last part after our conversation about Lila.
He scrunched his face. “Ew.”
That was the exact response I wanted, knowing full well one day his response to that statement would make me want to say “Ew.”
“I love you, J man. Make good choices today.”
He straightened the beanie on his head. His curls peeked out, just above his ears. I was such a sucker for the curls.
“Love you. You make good choices too.” He always said that, but today it felt like I should really listen.
“I’ll try.” Even though I wasn’t exactly sure what the best choices were.
One of the teachers on duty opened the car door and Jameson hopped out with his backpack. Every time I watched him go, it tugged on my heart. Especially today. When he stopped and waved at me with his mittened hand, I smiled and took it all in, even as the guilt crept in. Would my little boy hate me for keeping his father a secret from him? The thought paralyzed me. So much so that a car behind me honked. As embarrassing as it was, it got me out of my head for the moment.
