Page 53 of Tangled Emotions

Frank

In the past six weeks since I’d been in town, I’ve asked Edie out in texts, in person, and left her notes. For six weeks, she’s turned me down.

Tonight, Evelyn had a mischievous look in her eyes when she served me dinner and dropped that Edie was at the pub for a night out. She also added that after at least three drinks, Edie was a whole bunchmoreagreeable, too.

Holding her close while we danced made me want to cart her off like a caveman, rip her clothes off, and do unspeakable things to her body.

But after all her rejection, I had to wait until she was sober and told me what she wanted.

She lived about ten minutes from the diner, and it was the most awkwardly painful ten minutes of my life.

“You, uh, feeling okay there?” I glanced over in time for her to flip me off, making me chuckle.

Turning onto her road, I drove down to the apartment and parked her car in the driveway. I hopped out and ran aroundto help her open the door. She raised her eyebrows and slipped from the car.

Once she made her way to the front door, I watched her struggle with putting her key into the knob. She snarled at the door, and I wrapped my arm around her, ignoring her ire.

“Fuckin thing keeps movin’.” She grumbled as I took the keys from her and opened the door. I walked her inside to her apartment before she turned to glare at me. “What’re you doin’?”

“I’m going to make sure you get in bed safe and have what you need.”

“I’m a big girl.” She shimmied her body, daring me to look. “I can take care of myself.” Her lips pursed out, and she swayed on her feet, catching herself in the doorway.

“I’m sure you can, but I promised Enoch I wouldn’t leave until I knew you were settled.”

“Pfft. Whatever.” She grumbled as she made her way towards the small hallway.

“May I use your bathroom?”

“Sure.” Edie made some flipping motion with her hand as she disappeared.

I followed her to the small hall and saw a room across from the doorway. Being curious, I poked my head inside and saw a twin bed with aTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescomforter, toys, a small desk and realized this room belonged to a child.

She’s a mom.

Not wanting to be caught nosing around, I went to the bathroom and saw more signs of her child. Kid’s toothbrush and toothpaste, bath toys, cartoon character towel alongside her feminine choices.

Her body spray, deodorant, and hair care items.

I used the bathroom and went back to the living room to give her space while she got ready for bed. She stumbled past thedoorway and slammed the bathroom door before I heard the sound of running water.

Edie’s a mom.

Hopping up from the couch, I flipped on the light and looked around her apartment. Everything was tidy, and she had a wall tiled with photos. I recognized almost everyone in the pictures and saw her son from birth until …

Fuck. Edie’s not just a mom. She’s Matthew’s mom!

There wasn’t a strange man in any of the photos. Only her family and Matthew.

As I turned around, I saw Legos in the oversized chair, along with a book.

Her stand-offish personality when I first met her made sense now. I’d bet he bailed since he’s not in the picture and when you add that to a strange man coming in hitting on you, well, I understood.

Edith was protecting her son as well as her heart.

Glancing at the clock, I’d realized she’d been in the shower for almost ten minutes and I made my way back to the bathroom door. The water was still running, and I thought I heard a soft sob. I knocked softly and opened the door a crack. “Edie?”

“I’m fine.” She snapped, and I heard a bottle drop.

---