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“Can you at least park in my driveway while you sleep?”
He deserves some bonus points for trying, but I’m not going to cave, no matter what he says.
“Even though Nora fired me, I still have enough saved for a place. It doesn’t get me out of debt, and I won’t build a savings for a while, but at least I can afford a roof over my head.”
Rhett brushes his thumb across the crest of my cheek, closing the distance once more. “How much do you like me, Evie?”
“A hell of a lot,” I murmur honestly.
“Me too. Which means I’m not giving up on you. I’ll wear that sweet ass down one way or another.”
So distracted by our conversation, I don’t notice Tommy crossing the room until little hands pat my legs.
“Play fwucks?”
Rhett coughs to disguise a laugh. “We’re working on that t-r sound.”
I bend down to speak at his level, and he cups my cheeks in his little hands. My gaze snaps to Rhett’s to find him intently watching the exchange.
“Pwetty,” Tommy says and smiles a toothy grin.
“You trained him for this, didn’t you?” I ask his dad as I scoop the little boy easily into my arms.
“He’s just a smart kid.”
“Well, I’m keeping him.” I smile and sway as Tommy squeals like he did last night. Such an easy kid to please.
My thoughts drift to his mother, and a sadness takes the place of the happy. I hope she can find it in her heart to come back for his sake.
And if not, he might be better off without her. She’ll miss her chance, and a new woman will come along, fitting into Rhett’s side like a puzzle piece.
I’m just not sure if that woman should be me. The two of them deserve better.
24
Rhett
For the first weekend in a long while, I don’t have to participate in the custody charade. That doesn’t mean I don’t spend hours on Saturday anticipating Nora showing up out of the blue with a change of heart. I can’t say I wouldn’t welcome it—I’d rather have her involved in Tommy’s life than not at all. The woman and I are no longer meant for one another, haven’t been for a long time if I’m being honest, but Tommy doesn’t deserve her sudden abandonment.
Someday, my little boy will have questions about his mother, and the only answer I currently have is she didn’t want him. How fucked up is that? If we’re lucky, someone may fill the role, and he’ll never know how badly that desertion can feel.
Am I insane for thinking about a certain redhead in this scenario?
The same stubborn redhead who refuses to come over today because she needs space.
I get it. Losing this house and Nora was a huge blow to her income. Seeing the ledger Nora kept and the amount she was paying Evie, I can only thank God they happened to run into each other. Almost as if fate intervened and put Nora in her path, knowing full well Evie wouldn’t accept money from me. Somehow, my own accounts ended up funding her security deposit. Never mind the significant chunk Nora took out of them for other trivial shit. The court can sort out those details later.
After this weekend, I hope we have a lock on her own place and can start the process of moving her in somewhere safe.
If she didn’t need her vehicle for transportation, I’d set fire to her car so she can never sleep there again.
A text buzzes my phone while I sit on the floor and play with Tommy. I despise the memories this place holds, but I can’t deny the contentment I feel being home with my son. Despite the horrible eyesore décor. Nora hired an interior decorator to fill the space with stuffy pieces she thought elevated our status. Covering the walls in beer posters and naked chicks isn’t my forte, but I’d like to sit in my living room without feeling like my jeans might taint the furniture.
Living a simple life for the last however many weeks opened my eyes to a lot of things. One of the most important being I don’t need all this extravagance. Not for survival and sure as shit not for happiness. I’ve made it with minimal clothing, a place to fall asleep, and a good woman at my side to make me laugh.
I bypass the incoming text as the realization strikes hard and fast and find the contact for Nathan.
Me: Need your real estate agent info.
