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Alone, with tears on her cheeks and smudged mascara under her eyes.
Chapter 13
Melissa
Everything is shit.
Total shit.
But even though it’s at least partly due to the man standing in front of me, I can’t bring myself to be angry with him.
It’s not Aaron’s fault.It’s the crazy world’s fault and Ben’s fault andmyfault for not standing up for myself the way I should have.
But when Ben and Radcliffe ambushed me at work, I was so shocked, so caught off guard, that before I knew it, I was agreeing to let them keep Chase for the next few days.I told myself it was just a few days and that this crazed fan they’re worried about materializing would prove to be a nothing burger and everything would be fine.
Then, I got into the car to head home alone and cried my eyes out.
“What’s wrong, Mel?”Aaron asks, cupping my cheek in his hand.“What happened?Is Chase okay?Are you okay?”
I try to hold it together, but my face crumples and my voice cracks as I say, “Ben took him.He doesn’t think it’s safe for Chase to be here while half of Wisconsin wants to beat the snot out of you.”
Aaron looks like I’ve punched him.His expression is so stricken, I hurry to assure him, “I told him it was fine.That no one even knew you were here and that Wisconsin fans are all talk, anyway, but he was scared.When he’s scared, I can’t get through to him.”I sniff, tearing up again.“And stupid old Radcliffe was there, acting like we were in the middle of a code red zombie containment crisis or something and making everything worse.I swear, that man isn’t as nice as he pretends to be.He acts like all he wants to do is help, but hishelpfeels bossy and smothering and bad.”I swipe at my cheeks.“I’m not just saying that because I’m jealous that he landed a dessert deal with the biggest frozen food distributor in the Midwest.I mean, I am jealous, but that’s a totally separate thing.That’s professional.This is p-personal.”
“Fuck that guy,” Aaron says, scowling as he brushes my hair from my forehead.“You’re right.We’re perfectly safe.I haven’t told anyone I’m here except my family and this is just sports shit-talking that will blow over in a week or two.Kreicheque will be out for a few games, his pay will go to the emergency assistance fund, and we’ll all move on with our lives.”He sighs and smooths the dampness from my cheek with his thumb.“But we can fix this right now.Call Ben and tell him that I’m moving back to Gram’s.I’ll call a cab and be gone by the time you get back from picking Chase up at his dad’s house.”
I shake my head.“No, I don’t want you to go.That isn’t fair.I offered you a place to stay and things have been working out really well.Besides, Chase is still dying to watch Finding Nemo with you.And build more block towers.”
His brows pinch closer together.“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.I don’t want to upset him by changing plans and going to get him now, anyway.Radcliffe promised him savory crepes for dinner to make up for missing dirty green beans and he was so excited.”My lips curve even as fresh tears press at the backs of my eyes.“I swear, that kid’s going to be a chef or a food critic or something when he grows up.I’ve never met a toddler who gets so excited about exotic foods.”
“He’s a special kid,” Aaron says, his gaze softening.“And you’re a special mom.You’re doing a great job with all this.Sharing custody and being a single parent and all the rest of it.”
I feel my lips tremble, but I can’t seem to make them stop.That was just so…exactly what I needed to hear.“Thanks,” I finally croak out, starting to cry again in earnest when Aaron pulls me against him with his good arm.
“No, I’ll hurt your neck,” I murmur, but when he keeps me pinned to his chest, I don’t fight back.It feels too good to lean on someone else for a little while, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
“You won’t hurt me,” he says, his hand rubbing gently up and down my back.“I’m tougher than I look.We’ll figure this out, don’t worry.I’ll call my friend Pete in the morning.He used to work with the Bad Dog PD before he quit to start a private security firm.He might be able to help me get your house on the cops’ welfare check list.Having a cop car driving by a couple times a day would probably ease Ben’s mind, right?”
“Probably.”I burrow closer to his warmth, wishing he didn’t smell so damned good.Like soap and cedar and…icing?I pull back a bit, lifting my gaze to his.“Did you make a cake?”
He smiles and clucks his tongue.“Oh, sweet, innocent Melly.Of course not.I don’t make desserts.I order them delivered to my mouth.Or, in this case, con my sister into bringing them over.”His voice takes on a tempting tone as he adds, “She brought the gourmet kind you like and there are still three left.You could have them before dinner.Orfordinner.I won’t tell anyone.”
My eyes widen as I try to decide which I’m more excited about—the fact that Aaron’s face is just a few inches from my face or the gourmet sugar therapy in the other room.
I mean, obviously it’s Aaron.He’s so sexy and strong and there for me in a way I never would have imagined.But I can’t have Aaron, at least not long term, so…cupcakes it is.
I pull back, clearing my throat and trying to pretend that I don’t want to lean back into his arms and stay there for the rest of the night.Or worse, the rest of my life.“I need cupcakes before dinner.”
“Then cupcakes you shall have,” he says, taking my hand and leading me down the hall.
“I might need all three of them.Just for me.No sharing.”
He glances over his shoulder with a smile.“I wouldn’t expect anything less.Where do you stand on coffee this late in the day?Want me to make a pot or will you stick to chamomile tea with your sugar?”
I pull a face.“Coffee forever, man, any time of day or night.Chamomile tea smells like a diseased ass covered in flowers.”
Aaron laughs hard, hard enough to make the first easy smile of the evening curve my lips.
