Page 30 of Make Me

“I told her no. I don’t want to see her. At least not now. I told her I’d reach out to her if I change my mind.” She moves closer, and on instinct I put an arm around her. Other than Aunt Mae, I don’t think anyone has ever been on Laci’s side. If I only do one thing right in this relationship, it will be always taking her side.

“On your terms. Always,” I tell her. She smiles, and her body sags in relief.

“I wish I could have the type of relationship you have with your mom with mine, but I have my aunt. She’s the mother I’ve always wanted and needed. When I found out I was pregnant, I had hoped my mom would hug me and tell me everything was going to be okay. In my fantasy, she would take me in her arms and ask me what I wanted to do, and she’d support whatever decision I made.”

“I understand that. You were only twenty-one years old.” I pull her closer and kiss her temple.

“Where’s your father, Laci? Has he ever been in your life?”

“I never knew him. She would never tell me anything about him. I don’t even know his name. I asked Aunt Mae about him, but she has no idea.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I stopped asking my mother years ago, and I’ve accepted that I’ll never know.”

“We can get a private investigator and try to find him,” I suggest. She wraps an arm around my waist and cuddles in closer.

“I’m happy with my life. It’s perfect,” she says, and I nod, deciding to drop the subject. “The thing is, I don’t regret everything that happened because I got Ivy out of it. I love her, and I have since I found out I was pregnant. I was scared, but I always wanted my baby. Idoregret not standing up for myself about getting married. But there were some positives with that too, despite living in a shitty basement apartment. I learned that I could be independent and take care of myself. My mom always made it seem like I’d fall flat on my face if not for her. After Brian died, I supported myself and Ivy. It was hard, but I refused to take anything from my mother.”

“Did he leave behind any life insurance?”

“He did, but the policy was in his mother’s name, and she took everything.” She shrugs, and a fat tear falls. “She said I was responsible for his death, and if I wasn’t such a horrible wife, he wouldn’t have needed to cheat. After that, I refused to take any more of her calls. My mother brought her over to my apartment one day so she could see Ivy. That was when I decided to cut my mother out of my life. She’s toxic, and I don’t need that. The last time I talked to her was a few months later, and I let her know I was moving here. I told her not to contact me anymore.”

My heart breaks for her, and when her tears start to fall, I pull her into my chest and let her cry. The sobs nearly bring me to tears as well, but I hold her and rub her back until her cries subside.

“Do you think I’m a bad person?” she asks, her voice small.

Chapter 19

Laci

He tucksme back into his side and plants soft kisses on my forehead.

“I think you’re a strong person who’s been through a lot. You went to someone you trusted for advice, and she didn’t have your best interests at heart. Despite that, you survived, and you’re here taking care of yourself and Ivy. You have an incredible heart, Laci Hogan. There isn’t a single part of you that’s bad.” I exhale, put my arm around his torso, and just absorb his warmth.

I’ve never had a man in my life like Cooper. He sees beyond the scared woman who showed up in Oak Bend months ago. If he hadn’t, we wouldn’t be where we are right now.

“I hate that last name,” I tell him. “I’m only keeping it so that I have the same last name as my daughter.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that, Laci,” he says.

“A part of me still feels guilty for cutting Mom out of my life, especially since Aunt Mae let it slip that her husband is seeing another woman, but I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Part of that is because of you.” When I say the last part, he squeezes me to him. “But the truth is, even before that, I felt free. As soon as I decided to move here, and I let my mother know it, I felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her, but I don’t want her around me and especially not around Ivy.”

“I think you’ve made the right decision,” he says. “You do what’s best for you and Ivy.”

“You’re the best boyfriend I’ve ever had,” I joke.

“And the first,” he reminds me. “And hopefully the last.” My laugh dies, and I slowly turn to look at Cooper. He’s turned to his side, and I do the same, putting us face to face. He runs a finger along my ribcage, and for the first time in a long time, I’m not self-conscious about my naked body. “I love you, Laci. You came to Oak Bend, and it was like the sun finally came out after years of rain. And I know you’re probably not ready to say it back, and I understand. I told you when we started this, we’d go at your pace. I’ll wait for you as long as it takes.”

He finishes talking, and my eyes bore into his. He stares at me, unsmiling. I put my hand over his heart and feel its steady but rapid pace. He looks down, and a piece of his hair falls to his forehead. I swipe it away and wait for him to look at me again. Last year, I would have run as far and as fast as I could at the thought of a relationship. But that was the old Laci. This Laci knows what it’s like being with Cooper, and she doesn’t want to go back.

“I know you’ll wait, but I don’t want you to. I’ve never been in love before, Cooper, but I know that I love you too.” He frames my face with both hands and looks into my eyes.

“How do you know?”

“You make me feel safe. I can’t wait to see you at the end of every day. You’re so good with Ivy, and you’re always,alwayson my side. You listen without judgement, and you give me more joy and happiness than I ever thought possible. I’m not one of those sappy girls who believes in fate, but I think I came to Oak Bend for a reason, and that reason is you.” I bite my lip, but the tears I try to hold at bay still fall. He pulls me closer and gives me a kiss so tender and so full of love. When he finally ends the kiss, he wipes my tears and wraps me in his arms.

Exhausted from our love making and conversation, I fall asleep, naked and content in the arms of the man I love. When I wake up hours later, I’m alone in my bed. When I grab my phone to check the time, I’m shocked to see that it’s already past eight o’clock in the morning, but I sigh in relief because this is my day off. I look down and find myself wearing one of Cooper’s oversized tee shirts. He must have put it on me after I fell asleep.

I stretch like a cat and smile at the soreness between my legs. The only downside to this morning is that Cooper is already gone. Since Ivy appears to still be asleep, I take a quick shower. By the time I put on a pair of jean shorts and a tee shirt, I hear laughter in the house.

I step out of the room and put my hand to my mouth to silence my laugh. Ivy is doing one of her famous ballet pliés. Once she’s done, she waits and stares at Cooper. He copies her move. Ivy claps. Even Sam lets out a bark of approval. I can’t help the laugh that escapes when Cooper mimics Ivy’s curtsy next.

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