Page 43 of Dirty Puck

I’d never met either of my grandmothers and I only had seventeen years with my mom. Meeting Claudia remained one of the biggest blessings of my life.

“Sit, Ma,” Reece ordered as he grabbed my hand and the bags to show me the room we’d be sleeping in—onlysleeping. If he thought for a minute that I’d be down for a fun-time frolic, then sorry about your luck there, skippy. Not in his mother’s house.

The room he led Claudia to held a queen bed and enough room for a twin mattress. The room that he brought us to… “A California King? Really?”

He shrugged. “I like the room when I sleep.”

“Then you should be sleeping alone.”

“I’ll amend. I likeusto have room whenwesleep. Better?”

“You didn’t know me when you bought this bed.”

“I know you now.” He pulled me in close and before I had the chance to argue, he held a firm grip on the back of my hair and at the small of my back, pressing his lips to mine. I melted into him without a thought.

“A-hem.” A voice cleared and I stepped back to turn to look at the doorway. Char smiled at us, that happy mom glint in her eye shining brightly with hope. “I have coffee brewing,” she said. “What are we thinking for dinner?”

“I know exactly what to get. She’s trying Uncle Joe’s while she’s here,” Reece replied.

“What’s Uncle Joe’s?” I asked.

“Best damn pizza you’ll ever put in your mouth.”

“It is the best,” his mother said.

“You have a pizza place called Uncle Joe’s? How cute.”

“Nope. That’s not the name of the shop.”

“You have an Uncle Joe who makes pizza?” I’d never pictured Reece’s family but I guess it just surprised me that he had an uncle in the restaurant business.

“He’s notmyuncle. He’s everyone’s uncle. Fuck, I don’t even know if his nameisJoe. That’s just what we all call him.”

When I laughed, he pulled me against him again. “Benny like plain cheese?” he asked.

“Pepperoni and mushroom, just like his momma.”

“Done.” Reece gripped my hand to walk me toward the door with him. His mother left the room first and as we passed by Claudia’s room, we saw Benny on the bed, listening to her read.

“He’s such a sweet boy,” Char said after we entered the living room.

“He’s my angel. I never knew I had that much love in me until Benny was born.”

“Do you think you’ll ever want any more?”

“I don’t know. But probably one more someday. I’d likeBenny to have a sibling, someone in his corner when I’m no longer around. To tell you the truth, the thought scares the crap out of me.”

“I understand that. When Baker was growing up, I was a single mother, too. We were all we had and the idea of leaving him alone in the world terrified me. Given Benny’s issues, the worry must keep you up at nights.”

I rolled my eyes to the heavens, shaking my head because she’d hit that one spot-on.

“Not anymore,” Reece said. I looked at him quizzically.

“Not anymore?”

“You have me. Benny will be well taken care of. You won’t have to worry about his future. He’ll have a caring one.”

Oh, Reece, that’s sweet, but the money you promised was for Benny’s therapies. We’ll need way more than that to put away for his future.Of course, I’d never say that in front of Char. She needed to believe that this thing between us was real.

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