AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sure, honey. How’s Sienna doing?”
“Better. She and her mom talked, and her mom’s gonna lay off the dating app for a while.”
Zoey hid her dismay at the answer. “Really? Doesn’t that make her mom sad?”
Hazel raised an eyebrow. Damn, where did she learn to do that like such a grown-up? Her daughter folded her arms, Zoey-style. Oh...that’swhere.
“Didn’t you just say it was a mother’s job to keep her children safe and happy?”
“Well, yeah, but...moms like to be happy, too.”
She knew Mike was frustrated with waiting to tell Hazel. But it was bad enough that Zoey had allowed her marriage to fail. That she’d lost Hazel’s childhood home. That her daughter was dealing with so much upheaval in her life. She couldn’t, in good conscience, bring more stress into this house by sayinghey, I’m dating Mike McKinnon and we’ve been shagging in Pop-pop’s old office! Cool, right?
They’d have to wait just a little longer. Hazel lost interest in the conversation—she was too busy checking out her new bejeweled bed. At least the bedroom was a win.
Zoey told him her decision that evening, out in the repair shop. “So you see, Mike, I can’t addmoreinto her life right now.” She’d just finished what felt like a lame explanation, and she couldn’t see his face to see how he was feeling about it. She was wrapped up in his arms in their desktop nest in the shop. Her back to his chest as he leaned on the cushions in the corner. His legs were wrapped up and over hers, entrapping her completely. It was usually her favorite place to be, but this conversation had her on edge.
“I’m not sure what you’re saying, Zoey. Are we...done?”
“No! I don’twantto be done.”Please, no.“Unlessyouwantto be? We just have to keep it quiet awhile longer...maybe a long while. I think we can do that, don’t you?”
“Oh, we definitelycando it.” He kissed her hair. She smiled—he wasn’t angry if he could still crack jokes. “But I gotta be honest, I’m not thrilled about the Hazel situation.”
She stiffened. “This isn’t aHazelsituation, Mike. She’s a thirteen-year-old kid and she hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just...when do you think she might be ready for you to be dating?” He shifted his weight, holding her securely against him. “And how’s she going to feel if she finds out on her own? Or finds out you’ve alreadybeendating for a while without telling her?”
“We’re not dating.” The denial came automatically.Datingwas something public and official. They weren’t doing that. But now it was Mike’s body that went very still behind her.
“As much as I love the feel of you naked against me, I want to have youdressedand against me—withme—too. I want to be a part of your whole life, Zoey. And that includes Hazel. You know I think she’s great. And she seems to think I’m a relatively acceptable adult. Can’t we at least try...?”
She didn’t answer right away. She wanted to be with him outside of the bedroom, or this old office, too. But that was what she wanted as awoman. Themomin her made a promise that had to be kept. She turned her head and looked up into Mike’s eyes.
“Look, I don’t know how to do this. She’s already worried she’s becoming less important in her father’s world because of Genna and the baby.”
“I thought she liked Genna?”
She reached up to touch his cheek. “You can like someone and still be afraid they’re taking your place.”
He frowned. “But she won’t think I’m doing that. I’m a guy. I’m...”
“You’re yet another person invading the threesome that used to be her family—Chris, me and Hazel.” She sighed, her heart heavy. “Thirteen is an awful age, and she’s going through an awful time right in the middle of it.”
“So you’re sacrificing your happiness...”
“Mike, my happiness will always come second to hers.” She shifted to look straight into his eyes. “I’m falling for you. I can’t afford to lose you as my friend, and I don’t want to lose you as my lover. Please be patient a little longer.”
He put his own hand over hers on his cheek. “You’re falling for me, eh?”
Despite the tension between them, she couldn’t help laughing. “Are those the only words you heard?”
“Those words matter the most to me.” His eyes darkened with emotion. “I’m falling for you, too. I’ll be patient, but babe, you can’t segregate yourself into two different people—Zoey the woman and Zoey the mom. Hazel deservesallof you, and frankly, so do I.”
She turned again, leaning back against him as he held her tight. “Let me at least get Hazel past Chris’s wedding this weekend before we talk about bringing you into the picture, okay?”
“That’s fair. How’s she doing with all that?”
“Surprisingly well. I’ve got to say, Genna has been great about including her in all the plans. The four of us had breakfast together last week at The Spot, and it was...fine. Weird, but okay. I had to set aside the fact that Chris left me for this woman. That they were sleeping together for months before he asked for a divorce.” She paused, swallowing back the stinging pain. “And there I was, drinking coffee right across from her. For Hazel’s sake.”
