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“Your ex isn’t insane?” I asked.
“Not like Marina. Tiffany is…” He paused, searching for the words. “She just wasn’t meant to be a mother. I loved her, and I still care for her, but that might just be because she’s Kane’s mother. I’ve been trying so hard to get her clean and into Kane’s life but she makes it impossible.”
At our table, Luke pulled out a chair for me, and as I sat another glass appeared in my hand.
“Clean?”
“After Kane was born, she rejected motherhood so fast. Went back to partying and everything. Her old ways from before I met her. We broke up when I saw Kane and found out she had cheated, but I still tried to be there for him. It was me they called every time she got arrested and when she was declared unfit, I fought for him. I’ve been paying for her rehab for years trying to help her.” Theo stopped a passing waiter and requested a scotch.
“That’s amazing,” I gasped softly. “He wasn’t yours and you fought for him anyway.”
“He’s my son, no matter what anyone says,” Theo shrugged.
“No wonder he thinks you’re Batman,” I chuckled. “He thinks you keep people safe, and you adopted him like a little Robin. It’s so cute.”
“I hadn’t thought about it like that before,” Theo grinned, taking a sip.
“What about you?” I turned to Luke. “Any volatile exes I need to be aware of? I should start charging.”
“No. Flora and I…” Luke sighed deeply. “Flora wanted a green card. That was it. I was too slow, apparently, and when Ava was born, she thought that would secure her a place in the States without me. Sadly, it doesn’t work like that.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry.” I reached across and gently squeezed his arm.
“It’s okay. She’s back in France and I try to keep her in communication with Ava, but I won’t allow anything serious until Flora commits to being there for her.”
“Wow.” At a glance, it was too easy to wonder what they had done to be left single with the children, but each of them had their own pain, their own private battles outside of Helix where they were just trying to do the right thing. The growing attraction to each of them was rising.
“What about you?” Luke asked.
“Yes,” Theo added, “any exes we need to know about?”
This was my chance to tell them about Felix. But just as I considered it, I caught myself. Felix was everything I hated, and the moment they learned what he was like, what I wasreallylike, and the things I had done… I couldn’t imagine them being as forgiving.
After all, I looked after their children. They had all fought against people with drugs and more in their background to keep their kids safe, and while I was a changed woman, Felix was a risk. He was a dark shadow, and on top of that, I didn’t want them to pity me. I didn’t want to see that warmth change to sadness when they learned I was little more than his punching bag.
“No one important,” I grinned, and I reached for their hands. “Come on, let’s dance!”
The night passed in a whirlwind. Dancing and celebration flowed along with countless glasses of champagne. I grabbed a new one every time a stranger stopped me to offer congratulations on my engagement, something I accepted with a smile. I wasn’t going to blow the secret, but the constant attention was smothering. I lived my life on the fringes, not slap bang in the center. Dancing with Theo, Luke, and Jax proved the best distraction especially when I turned things a little saucy as we twirled past Marina. I moved and flowed until Felix was gone from my mind and this fantasy had replaced him.
A world of sparkling riches, festivities, and a loving, warm family.
As the night drew to a close, I ended up in Jax’s lap panting from the dancing with one sleeve from the dress dangling down my arm like a ribbon. My cheeks were rosy and my heart full as I played with the buttons on Jax’s shirt.
I just caught the glance he gave to Theo and Luke, then he wrapped a strong arm around my waist and stood.
“Come on Summer, let’s get you home.”
“No,” I whined, “I’m having such a good time!”
“How much have you had to drink?” Luke chuckled.
“Same as me, no doubt,” Theo grinned.
“Besides,” Jax added as we headed toward the door. “I didn’t say the fun had to end, did I?”
18
SUMMER
