Mila sniffles and looks up at me. “Yeah?”
“Totally. But that doesn’t mean your momma doesn’t want to see you and your brother. As I get older, I’m starting to understand that parents aren’t perfect. They try really hard. Like when you were trying to do that cartwheel the other day. Even though you didn’t quite nail it, you gave it your whole heart, right?”
Nodding, she sniffles again, but her eyes don’t look quite so downcast anymore.
“So we have to cut our parents some slack. Give them a break sometimes because everyone makes mistakes.”
“Okay.”
I run my hand gently across her back, wanting to soothe her. “But if you ever need to talk about this again, you can always talk to me or your daddy. He loves you so much, and I know your momma does too.”
She nods against me, and I kiss the top of her head.
Someone clears his throat, and I look up to see Ethan leaning in the doorway, his solemn expression telling me he heard the conversation I had with his daughter.
I stare at him while I whisper to Mila. “I think your daddy could use a hug. What do you think?”
Her head whips around, and a second later, she’s bounding into his arms. He’s so sweet with her, so tender and reassuring that the sight of him snuggling her close makes my breath catch.
I start to wonder, if he’s that gentle with his daughter, maybe he’s the type of man who could be gentle with my heart too.
* * *
The five ofus head for Ethan’s enormous four-door truck. Logan yells “shotgun” and grabs the passenger seat, but Ethan smacks him with a baseball cap. “Where are your manners? You should let Tori sit up front.”
Logan nods and starts to get out.
“It’s okay,” I yell from the other side of the cab. “Really. I’ll sit between the kids. It’s easier for me to fit back here anyway.”
Once Cody is all buckled in, I’m debating how the hell I’m getting into this huge vehicle myself when a hand on my hip makes me turn. I’m finally face-to-face with Ethan after this crazy day where I’ve been making myself nuts debating what’s going on between us.
He gently pulls me away from the truck and half-closes the door behind me. “Just wanted to thank you for what you told Mila earlier.”
“No problem.”
There are so many things I want to say, but with his family waiting for us a foot away, now’s not really the time. Instead, I stare at his broad chest, at the tats that extend down both arms, and I shiver when I remember how it felt when he touched me.
I kick the ground between us, feeling too awkward to look him in the eyes. “You know, the Astros lost despite that grand slam.”
He hums in the back of his throat. “I have a feeling they’re not the only ones who lost out last night.” His rough palm slides up my arm. That sexy voice drops to a whisper. “Let’s talk later, okay? I think I need to apologize.”
That makes me pause.
Does he want to apologize for things that almost happened or for letting things get that far?
Does he want to apologize for not coming back out to the living room?
Or worse, am I all wrong about him finalizing his divorce and maybe he’s getting back together with Allison so he feels guilty for flirting?
The younger version of me would blurt out that this whole thing is fucking confusing me. That I know I shouldn’t be so wrapped up in whatever we’re doing, but I can’t help it. That this is the very reason why I shouldn’t do relationships.
But I can’t ask the questions burning my lips because the kids are within earshot, and it would be irresponsible to freak out in front of them.
Biting my tongue, I nod and tuck my hands into the back pockets of my jeans and hope I’m not headed for a repeat of last summer.
Ethan
The whole drive, all I can think is I must’ve said the wrong thing, because I meant to show Tori that I genuinely like her and want to spend time with her outside of whatever family things we do with my kids. Sure, I’m just finalizing my divorce, so I can’t get too serious, but we’re two consenting adults who have to spend a lot of time together. Why not enjoy that time and see what comes of it?
