For The Love of Easton (For the Love Of #2) - A.M. Hargrove Page 0,56
when have you become so negative?”
“Since people started making decisions for me without consulting me. Easton is my daughter and it’s my life you’re making decisions for. How would you feel if I did the same for you?”
“Yeah, about that. You pretty much did.”
He got a sarcastic laugh for that. “Me? How was that even possible?”
“Because when you were six, your birth mother decided she wanted custody. She did everything she could to get it, including taking me to court. I married your mom to prevent that from happening. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, a fake marriage, one of convenience. You can decide what to call it. However, we fell deeply in love and have been ever since. So I get what you’re dealing with.”
My mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. I vaguely remembered going to my birth mom’s, but we never really discussed it much. All I knew about her was she hadn’t gotten custody and that was fine with me, but I’d never known the details of my mom and dad’s dating history. Now that I did, no wonder my parents weren’t opposed to this marriage between Tristian and me.
“Heads up,” Tristian yelled, as the ball came our way and bounced off my head. I fell to the ground and Easton, Rey, and Tristian came running.
“Mommy, are you hurt? Do you want me to kiss your head?”
“I think I’m okay. Surprised more than anything.”
Easton was on her knees and kissed my head, then turned to Tristian. “I think you should kiss it too. When you and Mommy are married you can kissy-face all the time.”
Perfect, just perfect.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tristian
How could I refuse the demand of an adorable six-year-old? The kissy face part made me laugh, but the expression on English’s face sort of scared me. Nevertheless, I knelt down and kissed her forehead. There was a red spot where the ball had smacked her. Rey had a pretty good cannon on her when she let loose. Too bad her aim was so off.
“Rey, you tell Mommy you’re sorry and kiss her head too.”
“Sorry, English, about the ball, but it’s a hard no on the head kiss,” Rey said. “I’ll let Tristian handle that for me.” She winked at me, the little devil.
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” English said as she stood. “How can you soccer people stand to head the ball? That hurt.”
“We’re more prepared for it than you were,” I explained.
“I guess.”
“Mommy, you want some ice?” Easton asked.
“Thank you, honey, but I’m good.”
Beck eyed us all with a satisfied grin. I wasn’t sure what that was about, but at least English didn’t act as though she wanted to murder me anymore.
“Hey, everyone, I’m going to put the steaks on in a minute. Kids, go wash up,” Beck said.
“Rey, will you make sure Easton scrubs her hands?” English asked.
Rey nodded and off they went. Easton babbled all the way until we couldn’t hear them any longer.
Instead of waiting, I figured I’d get it over with and jumped right in. “Are you still super angry with me?”
She let out a long breath. “I’m not exactly sure what I am at the moment. I’m somewhere between confused, conflicted, and angry.”
That gave me hope. “I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yes, because so am I. When I found out the entire family fortune was left to me, I was stunned. I had never been involved in the family business, so why me? My brother explained that my father admired the way I’d made a success out of my photography business, even when he didn’t think it was possible. So I was stuck with everything, like it or not. I wanted to hand it over to my brothers, but the way it was set up, I can’t. And I can’t inherit if I’m single. So yes, I do understand, because I’m feeling the same things, but for different reasons.”
“Do you even like me?”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“I like you a lot. Why?”
She glanced away and answered. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because any woman could fill my shoes right now.”
“Not the way I see it.”
“I have a serious dilemma.” She ran her fingers through her blonde waves. “Let’s say I agree. My daughter is crazy about you. What if things don’t work for us? That leaves me with an extremely difficult decision on my hands. Not only will I have to withdraw from the marriage, I’ll also have to take Easton away and that would break her heart. My decision doesn’t involve one, but two people.”