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“Brooke, I’m scared as shit. If this doesn’t work out, my back will be completely covered in tattoos. But I’ll never regret it.”
I draw on his neck with my short nails. “Do you only color your skin when something bad happens? Because your arms are covered.”
He doesn’t speak, but he pushes something down his throat. Reed’s Adam’s apple doesn’t show but judging by his pained expression in his eyes, and the tightening of his jaw, there’s a story behind the pain. One he hasn’t shared with me.
“You can’t conquer your pain if you keep it inside.”
Immediately, I feel his muscles tense underneath me. His lids fall, and he attempts to move me from his lap. I hold onto his neck.
“Reed, whatever it is, I can handle it. Whatever you’ve been through, I can hear it. I can listen.”
He takes an agitated breath and rubs his thumb over my leg. “I can’t.”
“Have you told Harper?” I ask because I have feeling this is why they’re so close.
He gives me a nod.
I don’t want him to feel defensive, so I play with his hair, lightly rubbing the skin of his neck.
“Now isn’t the time. Go get dressed, and I’ll make you and Caleb breakfast.”
He lifts me up, setting my feet on the floor. “Do you have eggs?”
He doesn’t look at me, just walks into the kitchen—classic avoidance.
After I’ve thrown on leggings and a sweatshirt and packed my bag to go to the café, I find three plates on the small kitchen table. His back is to me, slicing an apple. The white shirt hugs his back like Saran Wrap—taut, showing every delicious muscle as he moves.
I place a hand on his back, and he jerks a bit before I slide my arms around his waist and lay my cheek against his back. “I’m glad you have her. But we can never be more than casual if you can’t confide in me.”
I push my hands against his abs, wordlessly asking him to look at me. When he does, I say with very little air, “If you don’t trust me, then I can’t let Caleb get attached to you. It’s not fair to him.”
It’s not fair to me either.
His throat trembles, and his jaw quivers like when you’re chilled to the bone. “Find someone to watch Caleb tomorrow. I’ll sleep until noon, then come over to my house.”
“Okay, I’ll try. I’m working with Harper and Logan on the fundraiser tomorrow afternoon. Nicole was going to let Caleb come over to play.”
“Ask her if he can spend the night? Or maybe Lettie could keep him again?”
I rub my lips together, mulling over the possibilities. “It’s a Saturday night, and Lettie has plans every Saturday night to get into trouble.” She’s responsible Monday through Thursday but on the weekends, she lets loose.
He tucks a stray hair behind his ear and slides his hand into mine. “What time will you be through at the theatre with Harper?”
“She said about three but if I understood correctly, she and Logan would be longer. I’m sure Nicole will let him stay until dinner.”
“That may be all the time you need to… okay, just come over when you’re done. I’ll give you my life history.”
Our eyes cling together as a feeling of dread seeps into my heart. Luckily, the cutest little boy turns the corner, screaming his name, not mine.
“Weed. Weed.”
Caleb can’t say his Rs yet. It’s adorable. He jumps into the powerfully built arms of my secret boyfriend. Reed ruffles his hair and explains, “I made breakfast for you and Mommy. You have to eat your apples if you want to be a hock… an artist someday.”
God, I’m falling hard for this man. He heard me, and he’s following my wishes to let Caleb love whatever it is that he loves. Right now, it’s dinosaurs,Cars,and building but tomorrow, it might be Spiderman, art, and soccer.
Caleb squints his eyes and pinches Reed’s cheeks. “I play hockey with my t-wex.”
“Or you can build hockey arenas. You’re good at building. What do you say we build one today instead of a fort?”
