Page 31 of Healing Hearts
“I’m oddly flattered right now that I’ve made your pussy purr,” I say, splaying my hand across my chest. “Do you think it’ll develop claws too?”
“Trent!” Emily says, but it’s half-laugh, half-scold.
“In all seriousness, I know this is just a means to an end, but I really am flattered that I get to be that guy.”
“Do not get weird on me,” she says, giving me a light punch in the arm. “It’s probably just because I trust you. I know I can trust you.”
“Em, you cannot say shit like that to me and expect me to be cool about it. You’re firing fucking arrows right to my heart.”
“Yank out the metaphorical arrows, and let your heart harden over the next few days before we see each other. Cupid’s arrows, real or pretend, are not allowed.”
“Noted,” I say, and I draw her back into my arms for another hug and a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be back to my flirty, hard-to-take-serious self next time you see me.”
“I hope so,” she says, pressing her cheek against my chest. “I’ve missed that guy.”
I don’t know if I’ve missed him, but I’ve definitely missed this—Em in my arms as that familiar little sigh of contentment escapes her.
Chapter Fourteen
Emily
Lila is home for the weekend, so we’re all gathered at my mom’s house for a catch up and then a multi-family dinner. Trent and I agreed to announce his purchase of Mullen Mechanics with help from “investors” tonight and to drop the potential bomb that he’s going to rent my spare room while he gets his feet under him.
Now, I just have to tell everyone I’ve decided to go with a donor without somehow giving away the fact that none of this is exactly how it seems.
I’ve never liked lying, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m not good at it or because the potential for hurt seems greater.
Lila wanted some girl time before everyone got together for dinner. Maggie, Mia, Penny, my mother, and I are all gathered in the living room, sipping tea and coffee, catching up on where everyone is at.
I have no idea how much Trent has told his mom, and I almost feel more guilty putting our lie out into the world with her here.
After Mia finishes talking about the process of getting her album ready to release on or near Victoria’s first birthday, Maggie shifts the attention to me.
“Have you decided what you’re doing, Em? Last time you were at the pharmacy, you were talking about searching for a donor again,” Maggie says.
“I’ve picked one, actually,” I say, hoping the half-truth doesn’t sound stilted.
“What?!” Maggie says, shooting forward on the couch. “And you didn’t show me?”
“Or me,” Lila says. “I told her I wanted eyes on that shit too.”
“I think,” I say, choosing my words carefully, “I’d prefer to keep the specifics private.”
“Which is her right,” my mom says when Maggie opens her mouth to protest. “We don’t need all the details to be supportive.”
“I think it’s really brave,” Penny, Trent’s mom, says. “Being a single parent is incredibly hard work.”
“I have a great support system,” I say, which is an easy truth. “Besides my family, your two sons have been so helpful.”
“Grady loves spending time with Amir when he’s not in New York City. I think he feels like he’s practicing for when we have kids,” Maggie says.
“I’m excited that Victoria will have at least one cousin close to her age,” Mia says.
“Are you going to have more children?” Lila asks Mia, taking a sip of her coffee.
“Someday,” Mia says. “But right now, we’re just figuring out how to be parents, how to be a family. I didn’t have the best example of either one growing up.” She takes a deep breath. “Tyler’s just so supportive and understanding.” She glances at my mom. “Joanna, you and your husband did an amazing job raising him.”
My mom preens a little bit, and her smile is wide. “I’m sure having two very opinionated sisters also helped.”
