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“You’re getting warmer.”
“That’s not ano.”
“If I tell you, then how will I make an excuse to bother you at work?”
I chuckle and sip again. “Maybe that’s what I should have done when I went to see Everett. I should have brought treats.”
“That seems to be the way into most people’s hearts,” she says with a nod. “Next time you drive eight hours one way to talk to the father of your child unannounced, bring treats.”
“I can’t believe how he acted about everything. I was right to keep him away from Owen. Can’t have someone like that in his life all the time.”
“Aria.”
“Why are you using that tone with my name?”
She huffs, then looks down at her coffee cup. “Sorry. Reflex. As protective as I feel about Everett—I mean, I see his points on a lot of this, but I’m more protective of you and Owen. I realize Everett is technically my family now, but you two have been here for me a lot longer than him, and—"
“What are you beating around the bush about?” Her tone has me worried.
“Just that, you might not need to worry about whether Everett will want to be in Owen’s life. And that might be a good thing.”
“How’s that?”
This time when she sighs, a poof of her breath shows in the morning air. Must be getting colder. “Cormac says that Everett—good heart that he is—is also someone you can’t count on. He says his baby brother will never grow up. He doesn’t have it in him to settle down. And he’s never seen a responsibility he didn’t try to duck. Being a dad has never been in the cards for him.”
Her words hit my gut like a stone. I can’t tell if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, though. If he’s irresponsible enough that his own brother talks like that about him, then it’s likely true. Cormac isn’t one for exaggeration. Given that’s the case, then maybe I’ve dodged a bullet with Everett. Maybe it’s all for the best that he stays away.
But even just thinking about that hurts.
It’s silly really. I shouldn’t be this emotionally invested in someone like Everett MacMillan, father of my child or not. But I want him to be the stand-up guy my son deserves. I want him to be capable and strong. Responsible. Someone who is in it for the long haul, not just the good times. Someone Owen can count on.
Instead, I have the guy who gave me his middle name and no last name to hide from his own parents because he knew they wouldn’t like his choices. Boy, I can really pick ‘em.
“Thank you for telling me, Lily.”
“It’s just that…I don’t know.”
I frown. “What is it?”
“Everett is a screw-up, and those are my people, so I feel bad even saying all that about him.”
I cough a laugh. “What?”
“I’ve seen countless Everetts in my kitchens over the years, Aria. Screw-ups, degenerates, the people no one else likes, those are the people I usually hire, because they make the best food. You learn to work around their quirks, and your customers thank you for it.” She stares over the playground. “I hate that he’s screwing this up. That he’s not ready to be a father to Owen, or to be more to you—"
“We are not a thing. Don’t worry about that part of it.” No matter what dirty fantasies played out in my head on the drive to Maine.
“Not to mention that I feel partially responsible for how he found out about things.”
“Partially?”
She smirks. “Given all the details, I will only accept partial credit on this particular screw-up, thank you very much.”
I can’t help but smile. “Okay. Fair.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
