“No. All he said was he wanted a chance. And I agreed.”
“Piper—”
“He may have encouraged me to talk with you. To mention this.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be in the middle, baby,” I said, brushing some hair off her face.
“I’m not. I swear. I asked Dad if he’s going to marry you when he first came by a few weeks ago. I know he wants to . . . is all I’m saying.”
“Piper.” I blew out a deep breath before continuing. “Look, this can be confusing, I’m sure. You’re reunited with your dad, and I’m glad, but that doesn’t mean this is some fairy tale where he whisks me away. We have to think about Tyler. And me. And Aston’s kids. And maybe he doesn’t want to marry me . . .”
I rambled until there was a knock at the door. Based on the guilty look on Piper’s face, I realized my thirteen-year-old daughter was running the show.
“Shoot,” she mumbled.
“What now? Please, God, don’t say what I think you’re going to say,” I said, looking down at my worn denim shirt and jean cutoffs I’d changed into after work.
“I kind of forgot to mention that I invited Dad to eat. Mara and Little A were going with Denise to see their mom, and he was all alone,” she said, giving me puppy-dog eyes before she ran to the door.
“Piper,” I said through gritted teeth, and then plastered a smile on my face.
Her dad walked through the door like he owned the place. Holding out his hand to me, he smiled and said, “Aston Prescott. Nice to meet you.”
I was a goner.
“Hi, Aston.” I pulled my shit together. “Good to see you.”
“Not as great as it is to see you.”
I never understood the expression “he drank me in” until this moment. That was exactly what he was doing . . . I felt myself pour into his body.
“Piper invited me, so I couldn’t say no.”
I nodded. “And the phone? You couldn’t say no to that either?”
“Let me explain,” Aston said, coming close.
“You don’t have to. No worries, seriously. Plus, I need to finish this salad.”
The closer he got to me, the more I felt myself caving. I wanted him to hold me. I needed him to tell me everything was fine. Better than fine. Good or great.
My heart beat furiously at the idea of the two of us really being together.
“Are you starving, Pipe?” he asked.
“Piper,” I said, correcting him.
“Pipe’s okay, Mom.”
When did I lose control?
“Um, I have homework. ’Bye,” she said, slipping out of the kitchen.
I turned toward Aston and gave him an accusing look. “You two are in collusion.”
“We are. Why? Because my daughter is smart, and she knows what’s best. I want to be with her mother, and she wants that too.”
“Aston,” I said, unable to come up with a better response.
“Don’t. I’ve given you space, and now it’s time to let me back in,” he said while his finger traced its way up my arm, stopping to tap over my heart. “In here.”
“You’ve always been there. You never left,” I said, having a weak moment.
“I know. We were meant to be together, and now we are. We will be.”
“What about your dad?”
“Fuck him. I’m done with him.”
“You can’t just say that. You did whatever he wanted for years.”
“I did. My mom told me to, and I jumped. It was wrong of me. I should’ve made you the priority.”
“Whatever. I can’t have this same discussion again. It happened.”
“Know this, Peter’s out of our lives. We’ll keep in touch with Nan, though, if that’s okay?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She just saved your behind. Of course.”
“Exactly, and here I am. I want to start over, but with all these feelings. Let them grow.”
“Well, there are a lot of kids between us . . .”
“Pretty sure Mara and Little A are happy about us getting together. They love your kids, and they’re down to one visit per month with Cass. It’s all she wanted, and it hurts them a lot.”
“What?” I felt the blood drain out of my face. “What kind of mother does that?”
“Cass. And Tyler is part of the gang. He’s dealing with Seth moving on, so we’re an island for him.”
“Does everyone know about that but me?” I asked.
“You’ve kind of been off doing your own thing. Taking space and all, babe.”
I shrugged. “I needed it.”
“I get it.” He tugged me into his embrace and placed his lips on mine. “I want you, all of you. You, your kids, my kids, and maybe a pet,” he mumbled into my mouth.
Rather than answering, I kissed him back.
We stayed like that for a while . . . kissing, taking our time exploring, our feelings growing, just like he said.
Finally breaking away from the kiss, I said, “Um, but we’re still going to discuss the phone.”
“Bex, I have a lot of money—”
“It’s about parenting together, Aston.”
“But you weren’t talking to me.”
I sighed. He had a point.
“Still, you should have waited until we could discuss it.”
“Again, I’m sorry. But I have the money to do it, and they’re my kids to spoil, and I will. I’m going to spoil you too. Seriously, you need to get over this. I know you work, and I’m proud of you, but I can do what I want.”
“Oh God, stop, and let me go make this salad.” I couldn’t get into this debate with him at this moment. He’d go right for my work, its safety, et cetera.
“Go right ahead, but know this. I’m smoking a cigar after we eat, and then I’m spending the night.” His hand brushed my wrist, and he pulled it up to kiss it. “Got that?”
“Maybe,” I said.
He shook his head and winked, signaling he didn’t fall for my hard candy-coated exterior.
Aston
We ate dinner as a foursome that evening, but Little Aston and Mara’s absence weighed heavily on me. They should have been there, enjoying this with us, instead of worrying about their mom. I might have tons of money
