Page 559 of One More Kiss

Andrea

Across the small park,Maddie laughed loudly, pumping her legs like crazy as she urged the swing to go higher and faster.

“Careful!” I called out the obligatory warning knowing she wouldn’t heed it anyway. But it at least made me feel useful, because God knew I could use a little pick-me-up right about now.

I hadn’t seen Mick all day, and after the way I’d stormed off yesterday, I wasn’t sure I would see him again. I felt cold all over, ashamed of the way I’d automatically assumed the worst. After everything that had happened with Blaze I knew I was extra sensitive about substance abuse… But I also had to admit that Mick was nothing like Blaze. He’d been completely upfront with me from the very beginning, telling me the truth about his stint in jail when he very well could have kept it a secret. He’d trusted me with his past, so I would need to do the same.

Maddie yelled something from her position on the swing, but lost in thought, I didn’t immediately make out the word. I was just about to speak when my attention was suddenly diverted to the man approaching the park, and the words halted on my tongue.

Mick smiled at Maddie as she hopped off the swing and ran toward him. “Mick! Are you feeling better?”

His brow momentarily creased in confusion, but he quickly cleared it away. “I’m much better, kiddo, thanks for asking.”

“Good.” She smiled up at him. “Wanna see how high I can swing?”

“Of course.”

Rooted to my spot, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. I stared at him as he slowly approached, his gaze darting between myself and Maddie. He stopped a few feet from the bench where I was seated, then met my eyes and held them. “Can I sit down?”

It broke my heart that he even had to ask. Swallowing down the emotion clogging my throat, I nodded and slid over a few inches to make room for him. He nodded once, then took a seat, his attention focused on Maddie. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, a strained smile stretching his lips as he watched her. “You’re doing awesome!”

I could hear the false joviality in his tone, and it ripped my heart to shreds. Although he kept his gaze focused forward, he turned his head slightly toward me as he spoke. “I need to explain—”

I shook my head. “You—”

“Please.” He swiveled to face me, his eyes haunted. All I could do was nod, and he blew out a breath. “That guy you saw yesterday? I grew up with him. He was there the night the house burned down.”

I opened my mouth to tell him it was okay, but he continued before I had the chance. “I haven’t seen him since that night. But he showed up out of the blue a couple days ago. He needed a place to stay, but I turned him down. That was before I knew about the drugs.” His expression implored me to believe him. “I’m not into that shit, I swear, and I tossed him out as soon as I found out he had them. I can’t go back to jail, especially not over something so stupid.” He shook his head emphatically. “Besides, I never liked pot when I was a kid, and I sure as hell don’t want anything to do with it now.”

I laid one hand on his arm. “I believe you.”

His chest rose and fell on a rush of breath. “You do?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I was just so caught off guard, seeing the stuff on the table. When Tito answered the door it was like high school all over again.”

His head dropped a bit. “I’m sorry. Tito told me you knew each other.”

“Unfortunately.” I nodded. “He used to run with Blaze for a while.”

“I…” He hesitated, seeming lost in thought. “I didn’t know.”

Of course he wouldn’t; he’d been in jail. “I owe you an apology for freaking out yesterday.” His lips parted to speak, but I squeezed his forearm, stalling whatever he was about to say. “I made assumptions based on my past, and it was wrong. I should have listened to you, should have trusted you. I apologize for jumping to conclusions.”

His face softened. “I would have done the same thing in your shoes. It killed me to think how you felt seeing that.”

“You know what’s crazy? It wasn’t even about the drugs. Not really,” I clarified at his confused look. “Don’t get me wrong, I hate the idea of using, but what worried me most was losing you. All I could think about was you getting caught, and—”

My words jammed up in my throat as tears burned the backs of my eyes. For hours I’d lain awake last night thinking about everything. About Blaze. About Mick. About Maddie and how very much I wanted all of us to be a family. Maybe it was stupid of me, because I hadn’t even known him that long, but I realized that I was head over heels in love with Mick. And I didn’t want to live without him.

“Sweetheart…” One large hand cupped my face and gently directed my gaze to his. “Unless you ask me to leave, I’m not going anywhere. I will always be here for you.”

He brushed away a tear that had squeezed from the corner of my eye. “I’m not going to lie and tell you it’ll be easy, because I can’t. Sometimes I feel like this world is a completely different one than I left, and I have so much to learn.” His gaze darted toward Maddie. “I don’t know the first thing about kids, and the idea of raising one scares the hell out of me.”

I knew it was going to be a huge adjustment for him—for all of us, really—but he was an amazing man, and if he chose to stay with us, I knew we could make it work. “For our sake, I hope you decide to give us a chance.”

His eyes slid back to mine. “All I can think is—what happens when she finds out about me? And God forbid, if she ever—”

I shook my head, cutting him off. “She won’t. You know why? Because you’ll tell her the truth, and she’ll understand why it’s so important.” He still looked worried, and I smiled a little. “We all make mistakes; she knows that. Regardless of what happens, we’ll get through it.”

His hand slipped around to the back of my head, and he stared into my eyes for several long moments. He looked like he was just about to speak when Maddie’s voice floated toward us.

“Mick!” Rushing forward, she grabbed his hand. “Come play with me!”

We shared a rueful smile, and I nodded in encouragement. Mick stood, then reluctantly followed Maddie toward the merry-go-round, and I draped my arms over my middle. He might not know it now, but he would be a good father. To Maddie, as well as the baby we’d made together.

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