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I gave him a squeeze as he pushed his forehead against my neck.
“Okay.” He was so quiet I almost didn’t hear him.
“Come on, I’ll grab your cars,” I said, carrying him into the living room. I ignored Michael as he went into the kitchen and began cleaning up the coffee we’d left.
“Here you go,” I said, unzipping his little backpack so I could pour the cars onto the carpet. “How’s that?”
“Mama play?” Rhett asked as I set him on his feet.
“Not this time,” I replied. “But I’ll be right back, okay?”
He babbled something I didn’t understand, but in less than a minute, he was happily playing with the toys.
“I’m sorry about the stuff I said in the restaurant,” I murmured as I walked into the kitchen. “It was shitty.”
“Nova’s smart as hell,” Mick replied. “She’s savin’ up to go to school so she can cut hair and shit.”
“I’m sure she is,” I replied quietly as my stomach lurched. “She seemed nice.”
“She’s fuckin’ great,” he said, swinging the dishwasher closed. “And she doesn’t deserve people talkin’ shit, not even passive-aggressive comments about what she’s doin’ with her life.”
“You’re right,” I said, turning away from the window. “It was stupid.”
“Funny thing is, you’d like her,” he said, leaning against the counter. “The two of you are a lot alike.”
I really didn’t want to hear about howalikeme and the beautiful woman from the pancake house were, especially since Michael seemed to be a little too defensive of her.
“You’ve been weird all mornin’,” Michael said, watching me closely. “Havin’ second thoughts about comin’ back here?”
“Not at all,” I replied quickly, shaking my head. I glanced into the living room. Rhett was driving cars off the edge of the couch. “I’m glad we’re here.”
“You know I’d never do anythin’ to hurt him, right?” Michael asked seriously.
“Of course,” I replied hastily, turning to look at him.
“You were pretty damn quick to say I couldn’t have him on my own.”
I swallowed hard at the accusation in his words.
“He’s not ready for that yet.”
“Isheever gonna be ready?”
“Why would you even ask me that?”
“Just tryin’ to see where we stand,” he said flatly.
“We just got here, Michael,” I said, lifting my hands palms up. “Give him a few days at least.”
“I’m not plannin’ on takin’ him from you.”
My entire body flared hot and then instantly ice cold at the words. Maybe it was naïve of me, or just plain stupid, but that scenario hadn’t even occurred to me. Now that he’d said it, I couldn’t think of anything else.
He had a home. A job. A close-knit family for support.
I had a beat-up Subaru filled to the brim with Rhett’s things and a suitcase full of clothes.
“I’m a good mother,” I rasped, taking a step back toward the door. “I’m a fucking great mother.”
