“You’re not intruding if I want you here. Come back inside so we can watch a movie.”
While I consider the best way to tell him no, Evan grumbles, “I’m sorry.” He purses his little pink lips and looks down at the floor. “My dad says I have to be nice to you.” Colt pulls me back inside his apartment.
“Apology accepted.” I mess Evan’s hair. He looks up and gives me a small but sincere smile. “As fun and as good as dinner was, I think you boys should enjoy some father son time.”
“I thought the three of us could watch a movie.” His arm drops from my shoulders and snakes around my waist. He lifts me off my feet and walks us back inside the apartment.
“Why don’t you go find a movie,” he says to Evan. “We’ll be right there.” The little boy runs off to do his father’s bidding. Once he’s out of sight, he turns his attention back to me. “I apologize in advance. I’m about ninety-nine-point nine percent sure he’s going to chooseAnnie. You can thank his maternal grandma for that.”
“I’m gonna go,” I tell him, unwilling to intrude.
His smile drops, and he lowers his head. He runs his big hands over his curly hair and sighs. “Please, stay.” He pokes his head down the hall and when he doesn’t see Evan, he says, “Come with me.” He takes my hand and pulls me in the opposite direction through a set of doors, leading to his bedroom. “It’s my fault. What just happened. Please don’t blame him.”
“I would never blame a five-year-old for anything.” He lets out a breath of relief at my words. “But what do you mean it’s your fault?”
He gestures to the bed, which is unmade, and I sit. He sits next to me, but our bodies don’t touch. “About a year ago, I was seein’ someone for a few months and things between her and Evan did not go well.”
I stand and look down at him. “What do you mean by did not go well?” I put a hand under his chin and force his face up to look at me.
“It does things to me when you get so protective over my kid.” He takes my hand and puts it to his warm cheek. “She didn’t take to him. We were supposed to go do somethin’. I can’t even remember what exactly, but she very bluntly asked if we could leave Evan at home because he annoyed her. He overheard, and although he would not admit it, he was really hurt by it. So, this behavior of his is because of me. Because I brought the wrong person into his life.” His shoulders hunch and I can sense the regret oozing off him. I take my seat on the bed and rub between his shoulder blades.
“I should punch you in the throat for bringing that woman around Evan.” I think my words shock him. His head shoots up and his mouth opens. His shoulders start to shake, and he drops himself on the bed and laughs. His shirt rides up, revealing his taut stomach.
“What did you say, darlin’? Did you just threaten me?”
“I’ll do more than threaten you if you bring some bitch around that boy again.” And because he continues to laugh, I hit him in the stomach. He snatches my wrist and holds on to me. “Stop tickling me.”
He pulls me on the bed next to him. “That night when we met at the club. You were so beautiful and sexy. Easily the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. Darlin’, you can’t feed a stray cat and expect it to stay away. You stick up for my son, I’m stickin’ around.”
“How was I supposed to know that would turn you on?” He kisses the inside of my wrist. “You are like a stray cat. I can’t get rid of you for nothing.”
I lie beside him and enjoy his rough, calloused hand caressing the inside of my wrist. Every few seconds he brings it to his lips and kisses it. “I understand how he feels, but I will hurt you if you do that to him again.” He lets out another loud cackle, stands, and pulls me into his arms. “And the next words out of your mouth better be that you showed that woman the door.”
He nods and says, “I did. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m very selective now. Case in point, this woman in my arms. Please, stay.” He pulls me closer and kisses the side of my neck while I run my fingers through his hair.
The bedroom door bursts open, and I jump out of his arms. “I thought we were going to watch a movie.” Evan walks over and takes Colt’s hand. “Come on.” I follow them out of the bedroom and back to the living room.
“What did you choose, Son?” Evan points to the television, and Colt mouths ‘I told you’ to me. “Why don’t you two start it and I’ll join you once I clean the kitchen.” Evan looks at me and nods, but I can sense the uncertainty coming from him, so I smile. He doesn’t smile back.
“I love Annie. I used to watch this with my siblings all the time.” That gets his attention.
“Does Alan likeAnnie?” he asks in awe. I nod, giving him my most serious face.
“He does, and he knows all the songs. We all do.”
“Me too. My grandma saysAnniewas my mom’s favorite movie.” He puffs out his chest in pride and understanding dawns. He has a special connection to this movie. “But Daddy doesn’t know any of the songs. He says Annie’s singing makes him want to get his shotgun and shoot the TV.”
Colt cackles, but I don’t share his amusement. “No guns. Ever,” I tell him. “I mean it. You better not have one in this apartment.”
He holds both hands up and says, “No guns, but you can’t blame a man for wantin’ to protect his sanity.”
“Grandma says Daddy’s singing is like six cats fighting in a sack.”
“I hate to break it to you, Son, but you get your singin’ skills from me.” He rubs Evan’s head and leaves us in the living room.
“You don’t need to be able to sing well to enjoy a good song. Come on.” I gesture for him to join me on the couch. I take a seat at one end, and he sits at the other, but he jumps off the couch before he can start the movie.
“I want some popcorn. You can have some too if you want since Daddy told me to be nice to you.” He stands there, probably unsure of what my reaction will be.
