Page 15 of Unrivaled

His face brightens even more. “What is it? What is it? Did you get me a toy?”

Laughing, I set the drinks on the coffee table so I can put down my bag and jacket. “No, baby, it’s super yummy hot chocolate. You can drink it on the couch, but you have to be really careful not to spill, okay?”

He nods eagerly, and I hand him the cup with a straw sticking out of the lid.

“Remember Mommy’s friends from last night? They’re here too, and they have some snacks.”

His dark eyes get round with excitement, but he’s too busy sucking down his hot chocolate to respond.

There’s a quick knock on the storm door, then Autumn pokes her head in. “Hey, is it okay if we just wander in?”

“Of course, come on in.” I wave a hand from my spot on the couch, beckoning them inside.

Jackson follows Autumn through the door, and they set the bags of pastries and their respective cups on the coffee table. Autumn sits on the floor and starts unpacking the bags while Jackson claims my dad’s armchair.

Mom comes in and kisses Ben on the head. “I’m off to work. Your dad should be home about three.” Waving at Jackson and Autumn, she says, “It’s nice to see you two again. Make yourselves at home and feel free to get refills from the kitchen.” She drops another kiss on Ben’s head and one on mine before leaving.

“Your mom’s so sweet,” Autumn says, brushing crumbs from her hands onto a napkin on the coffee table. “That’s great she’s here to help with Ben. I bet that makes a world of difference.”

“It really does. I don’t know how I’d manage without them. I know not everyone who finds themselves pregnant in high school has as much family support as I do.”

Ben hands me his empty cup and snuggles into me.

“Where’s his dad?” Jackson asks from his spot, his voice lacking the light chit-chatty quality that Autumn and I just had.

Freezing, I glance between him and Autumn. Her brows pull together as she glances at Jackson, like she can detect the tension coming off him too. Jackson’s usually pretty quiet and easygoing, though he’s gotten a little more talkative since we’ve spent time together working on our scene. But the dark, serious edge to his question has me narrowing my eyes.

“Oh, he’s not in the picture.” I try to play it off like it’s no big deal that the boy wonder quarterback that everyone loves abandoned us. Like acid doesn’t burn its way up my throat just at the mention of his name. “We’re fine just Ben and me and Gramma and Grampa, right, Benny?” Because we are. Grayson made his choice. And I made mine. I want nothing from him anymore.

Ben nods against me, his head burrowing into my armpit. I jiggle him. “Hey, let’s try and go potty alright?”

Without waiting for his answer, I stand and carry him to the bathroom, needing a second away from Jackson’s probing stares. I get Ben situated in the bathroom—thankfully he actually needs to go and doesn’t object—and with a murmured, “Be right back,” I head for the living room, ready to tell Jackson that he needs to save those questions for when Ben’s not around at least.

But it seems like Autumn’s doing it for me, because when I’m almost back to the living room, I hear her hissing, “Dude. What the hell? You sound like her dad, and I’m pretty sure she already has one of those. She doesn’t need you interrogating her about her life and reproductive choices.”

From my spot just inside the hallway, I can see the stubborn tilt of Jackson’s chin. Neither of them has noticed me. “My sister’s a single mom,” he says, “but my niece’s dad is very involved. I’m just wondering why it’s up to Tiffany to take care of her son all by herself.”

“She’s not all by herself. She has her parents. And again, it’s not your business. Unless you think that kid is yours, you should stay out of it.”

His lips press together, like he wants to say something but is stopping himself.

Stepping into the room, I hold up a hand. “I got this, Autumn. But thank you.” Hands on my hips, I face Jackson. “Ben’s dad is not in the picture. And that’s all you need to know. Please don’t bring that up again in front of my son.”

Before Jackson can respond, Ben calls me from the bathroom.

I hit Jackson with another patented mom-glare. “Drop it, Jackson. I know you think you understand because of your sister, but like Autumn said, it’s not your business.”

After helping Ben finish in the bathroom, we resettle on the couch, but conversation never resumes the light and easy quality it had before Jackson ruined it. I’d thought he was a pretty good guy, sweet and kinda shy. But him pushing like this, stepping out of line, reminds me that he is friends with Grayson. What’s that old saying? Birds of a feather flock together? Grayson’s a douche. It’s not a big stretch that Jackson would be too beneath the shy exterior.

After a few minutes, Autumn checks the time and stands, gathering her things. “Well, this was fun, guys. I’m glad we did it. But I have yet another class, so I need to head back to campus.”

She puts on her jacket and waves at Ben, giving him a big sunny smile. “Bye-bye, Ben! It was great to see you again!”

He lifts his chin from the blankets and says, “Bye,” in his sweet little voice.

Autumn starts gathering up her trash, but I wave my free hand. “I’ll get it. Don’t worry about it.”

“If you insist,” she says, still stuffing everything into one of the paper bags so it’s easier to take to the trash can later. With one last, “Bye!” for everyone, she leaves.

---