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When I finish, Tanner gets a washrag and wets it before handing it to me to wipe my mouth. “Nah, I don’t think they’ll scare me off either. I used to be one of those crazy kids, so I know all the tricks. I have a leg up on them.”
We walk back to the couch, and I lay at one end, trying to get comfortable. Tanner covers me up with a blanket and hands me the remote. I don’t get very far into picking something to watch on Netflix before I fall asleep with the remote still in my hand.
When my eyes finally open again, I see something that makes me thinks I’m surely still dreaming.
Tanner with my three boys. All of them sitting around the coffee table with a Monopoly game going in the center. A Harry Potter movie is on the TV, and all of them look completely enthralled by what’s happening on the screen.
I wasn’t sure if inviting Tanner in was a good idea, but it looks like I had nothing to worry about. I try not to make any noise because I want to take in this moment without any interruptions.
Joey looks up at Tanner and pulls on his sleeve. “That dog has three heads.”
“I know. His name is Fluffy.”
Joey starts laughing. “That’s a silly name for a dog with three heads.”
My heart melts a little when something on the screen startles him, and he climbs into Tanner’s lap.
How does this man have such unbelievable magnetism toward everyone he spends time with? I told myself that there was no way I was going to fall in love again, yet I felt comfortable with Tanner almost immediately. And now, my kids seem to like him, too. They aren’t grilling him or being mean or difficult.
I half expected to wake up to Tanner duct taped to the chair while the boys destroyed the house. Don’t get me wrong—I love my children. Overall, they’re good kids, but when they get a chance to cause some mischief, they typically don’t pass up the chance. After all, they are just little boys who are trying to have a good time.
But here they are. On their best behavior.
With the man that I love.
Whoa, did I really just think that?
I think I did.
And I think it’s true.
I’ve been working so hard at keeping my two lives separate, never figuring that the two might fit together so seamlessly.
Chapter Twenty-four
Tanner
Okay,Erin’skidsaregreat. Our meeting went far better than I ever could have expected. When Erin texted and told me she was sick and was worried about taking care of the kids, I thought helping out was the least that I could do.
Thankfully, the job I was on was just about over, and I thought the guys could handle things without me. When I called to tell my boss I was heading out early, I also told him that I needed a change. Being on the road so often isn’t working for me anymore.
At first, he brushed it off and acted like he didn’t want to hear it, but when I brought up the fact that I was getting poached by another local company, he changed his tune. Thank goodness because I can handle a little bit of travel, but the days of being gone two whole weeks at a time have to come to an end.
Maybe I’m counting my chickens before they hatch here, but I’d like to be home more for Erin. It’s hard to put down roots when your feet aren’t firmly on the ground. When I first started this job, the travel was only supposed to be temporary. I worked for John, my boss, when I was in high school, and he hired me full-time right after I graduated. His plan was to have me travel for a year or so and then transfer me into more of a managerial role. But one year has turned into almost seven. I’m ready for a change.
I plan on telling Erin all of this when she gets feeling better. Right now, her head is spinning enough without me dropping any big information on her.
I came here with the mere intent of dropping off some pizza and other supplies, so I was floored when Erin invited me in. The boys were all relatively quiet until their mom fell asleep, and then the questions started.
Alex asked, “Are you in love with my mom?”
“Yeah,” I told him. “But I haven’t told her that yet, so let’s keep this between us boys, okay?”
They asked me what I did for work and what I liked to do for fun. I felt like I was on the most important job interview of my entire life.
Chris seemed the most hesitant to give me any type of a chance, but when we were alone in the kitchen together, he decided to open up a little. Turning to me, he says, “Look, I don’t care what you and my mom do, but please promise me that you’ll treat her right. My dad always treated her like shit, and she deserves better.”
I’m completely shocked—not about the fact that a thirteen-year-old just used the word ‘shit’, but because this kid is able to see how his mom was treated. Guess it’s true that kids pay attention more than you think they do.
