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“Deny it all. Tell everyone Taylor’s a jealous ex and that we’re just friends. Tell them whatever would help make this go away. I don’t care. We can love you in secret for now if we need to, Olive.”
His words washed over me and left me feeling dirtier. We weren’t doing anything wrong. Hiding and pretending like it wasn’t happening was affirming that what we were wrong. I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t lie and hide and pretend to be celibate to earn anyone’s respect. No matter how good I tried to be after getting pregnant, I was always a whore. Hiding them wouldn’t take back what triggered Taylor’s parents.
“No.” I stretched taller and pressed my lips to his. He pulled back almost immediately and put a few feet of distance between us. I tipped my head up to the sun and took a deep breath. “I won’t hide. We’re not doing anything wrong.”
The bell behind me rang and Jesse’s laugh filled the air. It soothed my ragged edges and I took a deep breath. I wasn’t going to lose my son. Blowing that breath out slowly, I felt my shoulders lower and my neck unclench. I’d been hurtled back to my teenage years for a bit, but I was back. I wasn’t going to let a little man like Taylor hurt me again.
“Get in the truck, little dude. We’re going to talk to your mom for just a second. You can have my phone and play that bubble game you love for some reason.” Caleb lifted Jesse into his booster seat and then caught Andrew’s keys so he could start the truck. “Buckle up, dude.”
That was the man that people were making a big deal out of me allowing near my son. Caleb had gone from terrified of Jesse to being so kind and caring with him that I could see he loved Jesse. And Jesse loved him.
Andrew’s voice was grim as he spoke. “We have to break up.”
52
***Olive***
Threeheadsjerkedaroundto Andrew. Jack held up his hands and shook his head. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Taylor’s parents are filing for custody.” Andrew rubbed his hands together like it was cold out, his nerves getting the better of him.
“Of Taylor? Who the fuck do they think wants him?” Caleb paused. “You don’t mean they want custody of Taylor. You mean…”
I watched his eyes move to Jesse in the back seat and go wide. “It’s not going to happen.”
“No, it’s fucking not. No goddamn way are they taking him from us.” Caleb swallowed and cleared his throat. “From you. I know I can’t claim him, but I love him, Olive.”
“He would want to be claimed by you. By each of you. Which is why I’m not pretending to break up with y’all to appease whatever pearl clutchers that are watching. This is me. I’m in a relationship with three amazing men who treat my son like he’sours.” I wiped away the tears that managed to spill over. “I’ll figure it out. I’m not losing Jesse. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to prove-”
“Everything but distance yourself from us.” Andrew shook his head at me. “This is the kind of thing that a judge is going to look at and see a giant red flag. You welcomed three non-familial men into your son’s life, Olive.”
I recoiled like he’d slapped me. “Are you kidding me?”
He growled. “I don’t feel that way. If you get a judge that does, you’ll lose that little boy, Olive. We need to put distance between us. I can’t be responsible for you losing him. He’s your whole world. The way you light up for him… I won’t be part of something that tears you away from him.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “You’re not the only one in this relationship.”
Caleb shook his head. “No. I can’t leave Olive.”
“It doesn’t have to be forever.” Andrew sounded desperate to make us see his side. “Jack?”
I turned to Jack and knew he’d disagree with Andrew. “Tell him, Jack.”
He looked down at the ground and scrubbed his hands over his face. “I agree with Andrew.”
I took a step back and shook my head. “What?”
“My mom lost custody of me for six months when I was a year younger than Jesse. Her own parents thought they were doing it for her own good in their fucked up thinking. That was the worst six months of my life. My mom’s, too.” He looked at Jesse and then at me. “I don’t want this, Olive. I just couldn’t live with myself if either of you went through that because of me.”
I pressed my fist against my stomach as it churned violently. “Don’t do this.”
“It’s not forever.” Andrew reached out and pulled me into a hug. “Come on, Olive. You have to know this is what’s necessary.”
I kept my arms at my sides and felt brittle. “If you’re letting me go, let me go.”
“It’s for your own good, Liv.” Jack blew out a harsh breath. “Please. Just… It’s for you and Jesse. You can’t hate us for that.”
I pushed away from Andrew and pushed my hair behind my ears. “Everyone seems to know what’s best for me. That must be nice. Caleb? You, too?”
