Page 147 of Beauty
We can’t touch. I can’t show her or anyone here how much she means to me. And that hits in a way I’m not comfortable with.
My disappointment over that is momentarily forgotten as Ollie launches himself at me. “Daddy, we won! I can’t believeyou’re here. This is the bestest day ever. Can we get pizza? And ice cream?” His eyes are wide and his cheeks are flushed with exertion and joy. “Can we go to the park? And then tonight, can we watch a movie?” He doesn’t even pause to catch a breath before turning to Jen. “I can sleep at Dad’s tonight, right? Because he’s here and he’s never here for my games. Please, Mom?”
My heart cracks at the desperation in his voice. My son shouldn’t have to beg to spend time with me.
Fortunately, Jen is ready with an answer, saving me from having to disappoint him before I disappear again. “Sorry, bud. We promised Nana we’d come over for dinner, remember? But Dad is picking you up tomorrow. I’m sure he’d be happy to take you for ice cream then.”
Ollie’s face falls. “Nana’s house smells like moldy cheese.”
I pull him in tight and whisper, “We can have all the ice cream and watchSpidermantomorrow night.”
He gasps and rips himself from my hold. “Sienna’s here. Can she come over for ice cream andSpidermantoo?”
Jen raises a brow, tamping down on a smile.
Jen may be the only person who knows exactly who Sienna is to me. As soon as I realized that she would be spending time with Ollie, I told Jen about her, as well as my hopes for the future. We agreed years ago that if I dated anyone seriously, I’d talk to Jen before introducing that person to him as my girlfriend.
“We can ask her,” I tell him.
With a fist pump, he darts for her. When he flings himself at her and she wraps her arms around him, my smile grows.
“She flew you home to be here?” Jen stares at the two of them, a genuine smile on her face.
Relief washes over me. We may have had the conversation, but this is the first true interaction Jen has witnessed. “Yeah, she knew how much I wanted to be here.”
“That’s sweet.” She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “Just?—”
The reticence in her tone causes dread to build in my gut, but she puts me out of my misery quickly.
“Just be careful. Ollie is really attached, and it looks like you are too.”
“As far as he knows, she’s just my neighbor and my friend.”
Jen huffs. “Nothing gets past that boy.”
With an uncomfortable laugh, I drag my hand down my face. She’s not wrong. “Got it.”
“I want this to work out for you,” she says, her tone softer. “But until you guys go public and have really tested this relationship, I’d rather he not get any more attached. It’ll hurt him if it doesn’t work out.”
Frustration mixes with understanding. I get it, but… “There’s no testing this relationship. She’s it. She’s the one I’m going to marry. I didn’t say a word when you told me you planned to marry Ted and raise my child with him. I jumped through the hoops you set to make it work and I moved halfway across the country so he could accept a job offer.”
Her eyes go wide and she sputters.
Before she can put her thoughts into words, I hold up a hand. “I’m happy we’re here. Boston is my home too. But so is Sienna. And for the last six years, I’ve proven to you that I’d do anything to keep Ollie well adjusted, happy, andsafe. The last thing I’d ever want is for him to get hurt.”
“I know.” She gives me a conciliatory smile. “I’m sorry. You’re right. And for the record, I’m happy you’re happy. She seems wonderful. Truly.” Her gaze turns to the field where Sienna and Ollie are chatting. “I’ll take him for pizza and ice cream with the team and have Ted take Lily to dinner at his mother’s.”
“Thank you.” I blow out a breath, relieved that he won’t be completely let down. That he won’t miss out on anything more. Then, while Jen wanders off to find her husband, I stride toward my two favorite people.
My heart twists as they smile and chat easily with one another. Ollie is beyond smitten with Sienna. Just like me.
Beckett beats me to them, his oversized dog dragging him around and stopping to lick Ollie’s face. My kid laughs and pushes at the beast unsuccessfully, so Sienna kneels and helps him escape. As Beckett tugs on the leash, his eyes stay fixed on the two of them, his expression thoughtful.
Jen’s right. We need to get ahead of this. We need to tell her brothers and hope like hell they’re okay with our relationship. Because I’m not giving up any of this. We’ll be a family, Sienna and Ollie and me.
It’s the only future I’ll accept.
After the charity skate, we’re forced to spend the next few hours rubbing elbows with donors. The whole lot of them are pompous assholes who donated so they’d feel important rather than because they actually want to do any good.
