Shock - Marie Johnston Page 0,40

wells in my belly before I force it back down. This isn’t a date.

No date has ever rocked my world like this.

“Food,” he says and turns the faucet off. He gives me a knowing look, water dripping down his face. “And I’ve gotta get more condoms.”

Chapter 11

Ford

It’s just a lunch date.

That’s what I keep telling myself as we grab some sandwiches. But I’m having way more fun than I normally do getting a fucking sandwich.

She’s thrown her hair up into a messy bun and she’s wearing a simple purple top with jean shorts. One time, she told me she loves wearing whatever she wants to now and not worrying about what’ll impress people or what colors go best with her skin on camera. Her pink lips wrap around a paper straw as she takes a pull from her lemonade. It brings me straight back to this morning in the shower.

Coming in her mouth is an unparalleled experience. Unless I count every other time with her.

Why is she different? Is it the friends and no expectations thing? I’m not around anyone who doesn’t expect something from me. I get it. That’s life. But only Mom and Lia expect me to be just me, without a fat paycheck and initials behind my name to define me.

“Don’t you have plans to help your mom today?”

I rip my gaze off her mouth. She’s eyeing her sandwich. Good. My lewd thoughts are probably etched all over my face. “She usually calls by Friday and she didn’t.”

“Maybe she’s worried about interfering with plans between us. You should call her.”

My mind takes a beat to register her request. I was so ready for something along the lines of Good, you’re a grown man. Your mom can take care of herself. Not encouragement to call her.

Cass resented Mom more each year we were together. She’s too dependent on you. Cass didn’t understand that Mom’s not relying on me. I just want to help her and be around for her. She has no one else.

“I’ll give her a call later.”

She lifts a shoulder. “You can do it now. I don’t mind.”

“You don’t?”

Her incredulous look says enough, but she still speaks around her bite of sandwich. “Why would I?”

“We’re hanging out.”

“I can help her out, too. Seriously, I don’t mind. Sundays off work are pretty mellow.” She takes a bite, crunching through her sandwich. She offered to help Mom. Just like that.

I don’t sense any hidden agenda. Because it’s Lia and she likes my mom and she likes lending a hand. Last month, she helped Mitch’s wife hang curtains because Mitch worked the weekend.

That’s what friends do.

She leaves her food alone and studies me. “Unless you don’t want to fool your mom any more than we need to.”

That’s my out. As much as I like her offer, that’s the problem. I like it too much. We’re sleeping together. Mom likes her and the feeling’s mutual. This could get too jumbled in my brain.

Yet the words to turn her down aren’t forming on my tongue.

My phone vibrates with a message.

Can you take Jayden again this afternoon?

I’m saved for a moment. “Excuse me for a sec.”

Lia waves me off and keeps eating.

I don’t leave the table, but I push my tray a little farther away. Of course I want to take Jayden again. I haven’t called Mom yet. Unless… Can I take him with me to Mom’s?

I hold my breath, waiting for her reply. Restricting Mom’s visits with Jayden has always been a major control point for Cass, a way to punctuate how betrayed she felt when I put Mom’s needs before our relationship.

Her message is quicker than I expected. That’s fine. Can you pick him up?

What made Cass turn this corner? Whether it’s single motherhood or that she thinks I’ve cleaned up my game, I don’t care at the moment. I finally get to not only have my son, but my mom gets to be a grandma. I grin up at Lia. “Do you mind if Jayden’s with us?”

“You get him again?” She sits back, stunned. “And she’s letting you take him to your mom’s?”

“If it’s okay with you.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I bailed on you last night.”

“For good reason.” Her gaze sharpens. “Do you want your own time with him? I don’t want to interfere with your mom’s afternoon. I know it doesn’t happen often.”

Weathering other women with my son is a new experience. Even if Cass hadn’t played her custody games with me, I would’ve been cautious about who I