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CHAPTERFIVE
Melody
When Lucas leaves with Aiden, I head into the living room to make a start on getting the television set up. My stomach swirls with nervous excitement at the thought of spending some alone time with Lucas, and I need something to keep me busy to stop overthinking things. I can’t deny I’m attracted to him. What’s not to like? He’s gorgeous. Tall, dark hair, eyes that I could fall right into, and if I’ve been reading him right these past couple of days, he’s attracted to me too. I just don’t know if I’m ready for anything yet. After my marriage breakdown and moving halfway across the country, should I just focus on me and Roman? He needs stability in his life, not another guy who’s going to get close to him and then up and leave.
“Is it fixed yet, Mommy?” Roman asks, and I pull my head out from behind the television. Before I can answer him, there’s a knock at the door.
“Come in,” I shout, knowing it’s Lucas. I can’t get to the door with the television balanced precariously while I try to fix cables at the back.
“Here, let me,” Lucas says as he walks into the living room and takes the weight of the television.
“Thanks. I think I’ve got the power cord in the right outlet.”
“Yeah, it looks good.”
He places the television back on the unit and turns the power on at the socket. I haven’t sorted out cable yet, so we’ll have to make do with DVDs for now. As long as Roman has something to watch, he’ll be happy.
“What do you want to watch, Rome?” I ask, knowing what his answer will be before I’ve even asked.
“Cars!” he shouts, and I laugh.
“I don’t know why I even ask. It’s alwaysCars.” I reach for the DVD case and slide the disc into the player.
“Is that your favorite?” Lucas asks, and Roman nods. “I’ve never seen it.”
“You’re missing out,” I tell him. “Carsis great.”
“Do you want to watch it too?” Roman asks shyly.
“I think maybe Lucas has things he needs to do, sweetheart.”
“I have some time, if it’s okay with you?” Lucas asks, glancing at me.
“Sure. I’ll leave you boys to it.” I smile and pass the remote control to Lucas. “Do you want a drink?”
“A soda if you have one. I’ll come and grab it.” He turns to Roman. “I’ll be right back.”
We leave Roman in the living room and head into the kitchen. “You don’t have to stay and watch the film, you know. I’m sure you have better things to be doing,” I tell him as I open the refrigerator and pull out two cans of soda.
He chuckles. “You keep saying I should have better things to do. I must be really boring because I don’t.”
I look him up and down, noticing, not for the first time today, how his t-shirt is pulled tight across his chest, his muscled arms bulging from the sleeves. “I’m sure you’re not boring,” I mutter, handing him the soda. “Do you mind if I carry on unpacking while you two watch the movie?” As much as I’d like to sit on the sofa with him and Rome, I need to finish unpacking.
“Of course not. I’ll watch the movie and then look at getting the smoke detectors replaced.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
He heads back to the sofa, and I listen with a smile as Roman animatedly tells him all about the movie and what happens before they’ve even pressed play on the television remote. I turn away from them and concentrate on emptying the kitchen boxes. There aren’t many. My kitchen in Kansas was tiny. There’s only me and Rome, though, so I don’t need lots of dishes.
Half an hour later, I’m done with the kitchen. I look around the tired space and sigh. It desperately needs a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Lucas was right. It’s looking a whole lot better since he straightened out the cabinet doors, but the peeling paint definitely lets it down. It’s clean in here, though, and for now, that will have to do.
“How’s the movie?” I ask as I walk back into the living room.
“Awesome!” Roman exclaims.
“Lucas?”
He looks at me and grins. “I like it!”
