Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Can I sit here?” I tip my head back and look up into the bluest eyes in the country.
“How did you know we’d be here?” I scoot over, making room for Drew.
“Caleb invited me yesterday,” he says. “It wasn’t hard to figure out where you’d be. Is it okay that I came?”
“My son will be thrilled.”
“How did you sleep?” he asks, passing me a cup from Starbucks.
“I actually slept like the dead.” I sip the coffee and look up at Drew in surprise. “How did you know how I take my coffee?”
“I read the sticker on yesterday’s delivery,” he replies easily, watching the boys run around on the field. “How are you today?”
“I’m fine. A little tired and a bit mentally drained from all those people, but otherwise, no complaints. How about you?”
“Same as you.” He frowns when he sees Caleb fall, but then relaxes when my boy gets back up again and continues down the field. “Where’s his dad?”
“I’m surprised that wasn’t your first question last night.” I take a sip of my coffee and sigh. “Caleb’s dad wasn’t a bad guy. I was rebellious in high school and in college. I loved dating guys that my dad didn’t approve of. Theo definitely fit that bill. He was wild and loud and silly. But he could be really sweet and kind, too. I got pregnant at twenty-one, and boy, did that piss my dad off.”
“Was that the goal?” Drew asks evenly.
“Probably, at that time. I liked making my dad mad. It was the only time he paid attention to me. I made it clear that I’d be keeping the baby, but Theo wasn’t ready to be a dad.”
“He split?” Drew asks.
“Kind of. He and I broke up, but he still took an interest in the baby. He helped with things, but I didn’t need or want his money. He loved holding Caleb while he slept. And I didn’t mind having him around.”
“So, where is he now?”
Watching my son laugh with his friend, I blow out a breath. “Well, he got mixed up with some bad people, developed a drug addiction, and overdosed when Caleb was three.”
“Jesus, London, I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.” I smile over at him. “I really am sorry that Caleb won’t ever know him because, despite the demons he fought, he was a good person. But we have Rome in our lives, and he’s a great male figure for Caleb.”
“What about your dad?”
I snort and shake my head. “He may have a house here in Seattle, but we don’t see him much. My dad would say that’s not true, and I think that he loves Caleb as much as he’s able to love anyone.”
“You and your dad have a…different relationship.”
“Yeah. We do. This is a really deep conversation to have over soccer.”
That makes Drew smile. “Sorry, I just had questions.”
“I don’t mind answering them.”
“I want to see more of you, London. I want to see a lot more of you.”
“Okay, I’m not saying no, but I am going to warn you that my life is complicated, and I have a kid. I’m a mom, Drew. That comes first, always.”
“I get that and respect it. What are the other complications?”
“I don’t want to disrespect you in any way, but my dad won’t like it.”
Now he laughs and drags his hand down his face. “I think that’s a first for me, but would it offend you if I say I just don’t give a flying fuck if your dad likes it or not?”
“No, it doesn’t offend me.”
“Does it bother you if your dad doesn’t approve?”
“No, I just know that he might try to make waves. He thinks I should be with, and marry, a man with a certain status. Oh, God, not that I’m suggesting we’ll get married or anything, I’m just saying. I mean, of course, we’re not getting married. You hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I don’t plan on getting married today, but who knows what might happen? And lastly, what will your dad do if you don’t end up with someone he approves of?”
“He could cut me off.” I tap my chin, thinking it over. “I don’t think he would, but he could. And that doesn’t scare me much because I have businesses of my own, not to mention plenty of investments and wealth that don’t depend on him in the least, but I’d worry about Caleb. Although, it could be good for us to continue to pretend to date so that he doesn’t try to hook me up with another of his smarmy, rich friends.”
“Is that what you want? For it to be fake? I just told you that I want to see more of you, and I didn’t say anything about pretending.”
That makes my stomach flutter. “Why? Why do you want to see me?”
“Because you make me fucking crazy, but then you turn around and make me laugh. I’ve seen you in three different looks in the past twenty-four hours, and I can’t decide which is the hottest. You look amazing in those professional suits you wear to work, but then last night, you were the sexiest woman in the room in that dress that just screamed to be ripped off and tossed onto the floor next to the bed.”