Page 37 of Heart of a Hero

“You did?” I gasped in mock surprise. “Was he the real Santa?”

She nodded solemnly. “Oh yes, he had a real beard and everything. I told him what I wanted for Christmas, but it’s a secret!” She put her finger to her lips, shushing dramatically.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics. “Well, I’m sure if you’ve been a good girl, Santa will bring you exactly what you asked for.”

As Taylor continued to chatter about her adventure with Santa, I glanced Nora and Mom. They were busy sorting through the bags, occasionally holding up an item for the other to admire. I loved seeing them get along so well. Turning to my dad, I noticed he was watching my mom. Nothing new. His gaze seemed to always follow her, even all these years later. They’d been together nearly thirty years now.

Mom came over to hug me and whispered in my ear. “You know, I always thought you’d be like the others and wait until your thirties to snatch up some eighteen- or nineteen-year-old. I think I’m proud you found someone only two years younger than you.”

Shit. I hadn’t even gotten around to asking Nora her age, but it looked like Mom had beat me to it. “Thanks.”

She leaned in a little closer and lowered her voice even more. “Did she tell you about Taylor’s dad?”

“No. Why?”

Mom leaned back, her eyes holding both sadness and a hint of anger. “Ask her. You need to know.”

Well, fuck. I’d thought Rex was the worst of Nora’s issues. Now I worried something truly awful had happened to her. Looked like we’d be having a long talk once Taylor went to bed tonight.

* * *

Nora

It had taken forever to bathe Taylor and get her calmed down enough to go to sleep. I felt worn out as I collapsed onto the couch next to Dawson. He’d seemed a bit off since I’d returned from shopping with his mom.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“I guess talking to Mom and Dad today made me realize there’s still a lot we don’t know about each other.”

“Like what?”

“Well… first off, you’ve mentioned having ex-boyfriends other than Rex. I’ve dated off and on since I was in high school, but it was never anything serious. Not until you.”

I smiled a little. “I like hearing that. Makes me feel extra special.”

“You are, but there’s something I need to ask, and I’m worried it’s going to upset you.”

I went still, knowing where this was going. “It’s about Taylor, isn’t it?”

He nodded. “Yeah. You never talk about her dad, other than to say he’s not in the picture. Taylor’s never brought him up. I think I need to know, Nora. Are we going to have another Rex situation on our hands in the future? Is he dead? In jail? It’s clear he’s not part of your lives, so I’m not worried he’ll show up and suddenly want to play daddy.”

I sighed. It didn’t surprise me he wanted to know. In all honesty, I’d wanted to tell him a few times but had worried how he’d react. I’d opened up to his mom a bit, but even she didn’t know my entire past.

“I got pregnant with Taylor when I was fifteen.” He tensed next to me. “Hey, it’s not what you think. It was consensual.”

“Jesus, Nora. You were a kid! How the fuck can be it considered consensual when you weren’t even old enough to drive?”

Not an uncommon reaction. “We were both fifteen, me and her dad. We’d been friends for a while, and Donovan was struggling to fit in.”

“Sex was the answer?” he asked.

“Yes and no.” It was only partly my story to tell. “Donovan wasn’t sure if he liked girls or boys.”

The anger slowly deflated from Dawson and he sagged against the couch cushions. “Oh. So you and he…”

“Yeah. We decided to try sex to help him figure things out, and I was honestly curious. I’d read a few romances, and sex seemed fun and exciting. It wasn’t. It was painful, messy, and over super fast.”

“And the verdict?” Dawson asked.

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