“Ugh!” Erin threw back her head in disgust, but grabbed her bag before she marched out of the room.
Small victory.
When she heard the low drone of the dryer come on upstairs, she allowed her thoughts to wander, let the anxiety come in to tease at her again. Had she and Aidan been loud enough for Erin and Mom to hear last night?
She didn’t really want to know, especially as the back door opened with an incoming gust of cold air, sweeping Helen inside like a fallen leaf.
“Goodness, it’s getting cold out there!” she exclaimed, muttering a loudbrrrrras she pushed the door to. Her narrow face was red from the wind and her eyes looked wide and harried as she shrugged out of her jacket. “Your sister’s home, I see.”
“Home, but not happy about it.”
“Yes, well.” Helen sighed, shoulders drooping. Then she stiffened, eyes sliding over to Sam. “Your gentleman’s coming to dinner, right?”
“You wanted him to, so yes,” Sam said, knowing her smile was thin. “Although the ‘gentleman’ part is debatable.”
Helen studied her, gaze troubled. “You know I trust your judgement. You’ve always been a practical girl.”
“Mom.”
“But this…Aidan. He doesn’t seem like the sort of boy you’d attach yourself to. He’s very…” She gestured, grasping for the words.
“Tattooed, disreputable, and ill-advised?” Sam finished.
Helen nodded and looked sheepish. “I hate to say it, but yes. He does. I don’t hold that against him, you understand, but I…”
“Don’t get it?” Sam guessed. “I don’t really either, Mom. It’s one of those things I can’t really explain. I like syrup on my bacon, and I like Aidan Teague.”
“You’ve…slept with him.”
Sam didn’t know how uncomfortable this line of talk would get. She and Mom had never discussed men or sex before, aside from the obligatory “talk” when she was growing up.
“I have,” she said, because there was no answer to give other than the truth.
Helen let out a slow breath. “I’d like to get to know him better.” She gave Sam a brave smile. “I’d like to give him a chance.”
Sam’s heart squeezed, gladness spilling through her. “Thank you.”
~*~
Aidan stopped at the package store and bought a decent bottle of Pinot Grigio, forgoing the beer he wanted to get for himself when he opened his wallet and saw how few bills remained.
What a perfect predicament he was in. Pregnant ex-fuck buddy, blackmailer, hovering traitor label, and a girl who deserved the world that he knew he’d never be able to hold onto. What a charmed life he led.
Tonya had been on his mind, unwillingly. After Sam left Dartmoor that afternoon, he’d run into Maggie on his way back to the shop. Not accidentally, he would learn, as she’d grabbed his arm more forcefully than Sam had and steered him down toward the other end of the parking lot.
“Your sister and I went to see Tonya,” she’d said.
“What? Why?”
“To make sure she’s telling the truth about being pregnant – she is, by the way, you can’t fake that morning sickness look – and to convince her not to give the baby up for adoption.”
“Mags.” He’d hissed through his teeth, suddenly sick to his stomach and mentally flailing. “If she doesn’t want it, I can’t make her keep it. And I’m not gonna try tobewith her.”
“God, I hope not. No, you’re going to gain custody of the baby.” When he’d begun to protest, she’d spoken over him. “And if you for some reason you can’t be its father right away, Ava and Mercy will take it.”
The notion had hit him like a punch and he wasn’t even sure why. Something about Ava and Mercy…He was the kid’s father, and he was treading water, helpless and stupid, but his sister had no problem taking on the baby, whether it was hers or not. Decisive, like her mother. And he was…uncertain. Likehismother.
Disgusting.
