Page 57 of Owned

I frowned at the opposite wall, thinking about what to say to Cait since I wasn’t sure what Rowan had told to her. Probably nothing about Charlotte or the whole baby thing, so maybe I didn’t need to get into that. But obviously she needed to know that Rowan and I were together, and that Rowan would be moving in with me.

“I met Rowan a couple of weeks ago,” I said into the silence. “And I thought you needed to hear it from me, but she and I are seeing each other.”

“Seeing each other?” Cait echoed, clearly not understanding.

I wasn’t going to give her the details — that wasn’t anyone’s business except Rowan’s and mine — but there was no point in hiding that we were sleeping together.

“As in fucking,” I said bluntly. “Rowan wanted to tell you herself, but I thought you and me needed to have that conversation without her.”

“You’re what?” There was shock in her voice. “Atlas, she’s nearly twenty years?—”

“Younger than I am, yes. I realize that.”

“But…you and I were married and we—” She broke off abruptly.

“I know what we were. Believe me, I know.”

Another silence echoed.

“Did you force her into it?” This time there was a hint of Cait’s old spirit in her tone, the fighting spirit that Rowan had inherited from her.

“No, of course not.” Cait’s questions were valid and there was no point getting pissed off with her about them. “You know I’d never do anything like that.”

“But she’s so young. She knows nothing about men and I?—”

“She’s strong, intelligent, stubborn as fuck, and she knows more than you give her credit,” I snapped, suddenly irritated on Rowan’s behalf. “It was a mutual decision.”

“I…don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. But you should know that I’ve asked Rowan to move in with me.”

“Move in with you?” Again with the shock. “But what about me?”

I knew why her first thought was not about Rowan but about herself. She’d had years of leaning on Rowan for support, so it would take her a while to get used to the idea that her daughter wouldn’t always be there every second of the day.

“I’ll figure something out,” I said.

“Oh?” There was a hint of sharpness in her tone. “Like you did when you left?”

I sighed. “Cait, you know why I left. We were never a couple that way.”

She said nothing for a long moment. “I suppose that’s not fair of me,” she murmured at last. “No, we weren’t, but…she and I struggled, Atlas. We’re struggling still.”

“I know that. Rowan’s told me about it, and I’m going to help you, okay? But you need to know that Rowan will not be dropping everything every time you need her. It’s time for her to live her life, Cait.”

For a minute I thought she might protest, but she only said, “I worry about her. It wasn’t my choice that she put everything on hold for me, but I couldn’t…” She let out a breath. “Well, there’s no point rehashing things. I’m doing better than I was, but I still need support and Rowan’s been the only one who can help.”

“Not anymore. I’m going to make a few calls and someone will be in touch with you soon. Rowan will probably call you today herself, but I swear to God if you give her any shit about me or living with me, I will not be happy.”

“Okay,” Cait said, sounding subdued. “Atlas… Be good to her, please. She deserves more from her life than being a nurse to me.”

“Yeah, she does. She deserves a lot more. But don’t worry, she’ll get it.”

And I meant it. She would get everything she deserved and more.

After I’d finished with Cait, I made a few other calls then went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Rowan. I was going to give her breakfast in bed while we discussed Charlotte and what to do about her.

Obviously going to the fertility clinic was now no longer necessary. Hell, Rowan could be pregnant right now given the number of times I’d been inside her the night before, satisfying my hunger for her.

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