Page 39 of Feels Like Love
“I’m changing my password.”
“Oh, come on,” I teased, snapping a few more. I loved seeing her like this—so carefree and playful. So utterly herself.
“Bennett,” she chided, resting one hand on her hip, camera in the other.
“Tell me about River,” I said, and immediately, her face broke into a smile.That’s it!I took the shot, hoping I’d captured it.
“You know all about River,” she said, and I took some more. Candid photos. Beautiful photos. I was totally saving these for myself to look at later.
“I know, but pretend I don’t. Pretend I’m someone you’re on a date with and I want to know about your son.”
“Okay.” She inhaled, her expression pinching.
I lowered the phone. “Wren?”
“Yeah?” she chirped.
“Why do you clam up anytime I mention a date or ask you to practice? You react as if I’ve told you you’re going to have a root canal.”
“Because I start going over all the scenarios in my head, overthinking things, afraid I’ll say something stupid.”
“Why don’t you stop thinking of everything that could go wrong and start focusing on everything that could go right?”
“I just…haven’t had the best luck when it comes to men.” She sank down onto one of the cushions that lined the built-in table in the corner of the deck. Liam and I had helped build it a few summers ago. I’d surprised her with the white twinkle lights, knowing she’d love them. And I’d been right.
“I know.” I took a seat next to her. “I know I wasn’t around when everything went down with Kade, and I’m sorry.”
She toyed with her camera, though it was off, the screen blank like her expression. “I appreciate that. Though, it’s not like you could’ve done anything.”
“I disagree.”
She rolled her eyes but kept her attention focused forward. Not on me. “As much as you and Liam and everyone in my family would love to beat the shit out of Kade, it’s not worth it.”
“He took advantage of you.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It’s in the past. What’s done is done.”
I gnashed my teeth. “He should be paying child support.”
“I’m glad he’s not.” She turned to me, fury in her eyes. She’d switched back on, toggling from sad single to protective mama bear. “I don’t want that emotionally abusive asshole anywhere near my son. He signed over his parental rights years ago. That’s more important to me than all the money in the world.”
“I—” I shook my head, taken aback. “Wow. I didn’t realize…”
“What? That Kade wants absolutely nothing to do with River? That I’m going to have to explain that to my son one day? I’m going to have to make sure he understands that it has nothing to do with him and everything to do with Kade. And I’m going to have to make sure River believes it.”
Well, fuck.
She stood, her expression hard. We’d been having such a good time, and I’d ruined it. I’d pushed her when I shouldn’t have.
“Wait.” I grasped her wrist, holding it lightly so she could leave anytime. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I need to do a few things before River gets back. I’m sure you got at least one photo we can make work.”
She turned and headed for the house. I briefly considered following her but decided better of it. I’d pushed her hard enough. I needed to back off. If not for her sake, then for my own.
Chapter Ten
“Hey, B!” River said, skipping into the house.
