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I throw my arms up in the air.
“I’m not doing this anymore. This game is dumb.”
Noah laughs. “You’re the one that says never to give up, Mama.”
“I’m not giving up. It’s just no fun whenever the book nerds gang up on me,” I grumble.
I’m just kidding. I love that he and his father are getting so close. It warms my heart every time I see them together.
“I’m always on your side, Mama,” Noah says sincerely. “But I’m also on Mike’s side.”
I stare at him and shake my head. “Unbelievable.”
Michael laughs. The action transforms his entire face, giving me a peek at the dimples on his cheeks. I get to see them a lot more these days. He’s always happy around Noah. He raises his hand for a high-five, and Noah slaps it with a smile.
“Can we have some ice cream?” my son asks.
“No,” I tell him. “It’s too late for ice cream.”
His lower lips wobbles and he turns to Michael, giving him his best puppy-dog eyes. Michael clears his throat and turns to me.
“It’s just a little ice cream,” he says with a small smile.
I glare. “It’s seven p.m., Mike. He can have carrots instead.”
Noah looks horrified. I laugh silently before getting to my feet and heading into the kitchen. I need some water. I pour some into a cup and turn around to find Michael watching me from the doorway.
“Hey,” I say. “What’s up?”
He walks in and leans against the counter in front of me.
“You remember we have a yearly charity gala at my house, right?”
“Yeah, I do. Those parties were the best. Tia and I went all out every year when choosing our outfits. Then we would sit in a corner and make fun of all the snotty rich people every night. I met my first boyfriend at one of those,” I muse.
I was fourteen; he was sixteen and lived in Springfield. For some reason, we believed we could make our relationship work despite him living so far away. I spent so many nights calling him and even managed to convince a seventeen-year-old Michael to drive myself, Tia, and Matt over to Springfield, so I could see him. Then I found out he was cheating on me and got my heart broken. Michael punched him in the face and Matt kicked him.
I smile at the memory. Michael’s jaw clenches.
“I remember that. Anyway, the gala’s coming up in a week and I was hoping you would come. Mom wants it to be Noah’s formal introduction to the family. An announcement of some sort that he’s a Crane.”
I’m silent as I let that sink in. I guess it makes sense. People in town are curious. There are whispers about who Noah is and how he’s related to the Cranes. I guess it’s time to silence those rumors once and for all. God knows I can’t bear another question about Noah’s father.
“Alright. It sounds like a great idea, but Noah doesn’t like crowds,” I tell him.
“He’ll only be there briefly. I’ll introduce him as my son and then we can take him up to his room at the mansion. He can spend some time there playing. You could stay with him if you want, or you could come down and enjoy the party.”
I bite down on my bottom lip.
“Do I have to attend?”
I really don’t know if I can stand the question or the judgment from the elites of Illinois.
“It’ll be fine, Christine. I’ll be right beside you,” Michael says softly.
Our relationship is nothing more than a partnership right now, but sometimes I catch him watching me and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. We both know that we have a conversation that’s long overdue but neither of us knows how to bring it up.
I want to ask why he slept with me. Did that night really mean nothing to him?
