Page 132 of Rum & Coke

“Oh yeah?”

Tessa smiled. “I can picture them like theGolden Girls.”

“Sophia needs someone. Hopefully, it will work out.”

“Yeah.”

We were silent for a few miles. “What do you want to eat?”

She thought for a moment. “Raising Cane’s. I’ve been craving it since that night.”

“What the lady wants, the lady gets.” I winked.

After going through the drive-thru, we headed toward my house. As we got closer, it dawned on me that I’d never had a woman over to my place before. Except for my housecleaner, of course.

“So, ahh—” I started as I pulled into my garage.

“Wait. Colton doesn’t have his nightlight. He can’t sleep without it.”

A thought popped into my head as we sat in my SUV in the garage. “I have an idea. Let’s get inside, eat, and all that needs to be done before bed. I’ll take care of it.”

“I don’t even have clothes or anything.”

“You know who would bring you clothes?”

She stared at me for a beat. “Who?”

“Your best friend.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell. “Here, call her. Ask her to bring you some clothes. I’ll grab Colton.”

Tessa smiled and took the phone. “Okay.”

While she made the call, I carried Colton and the food into the house. “So, buddy, this is where you’re going to live. It’s not like your two last places, but we’ll have fun. I love your mommy more than anything, and all the bad stuff is behind us. I’m also your teacher, and I’m going to teach you everything. Starting with volleyball.”

I sat Colton in a chair at my kitchen island and took out the chicken strip meal that was his. When I got up this morning, I thought I would watch Tessa marry the devil. Instead, she was back with me, and I was feeding her son fried chicken.

Today was amazing.

I hungup the phone after talking to Melony for ten minutes. She was getting both Colton and me the necessities and then she would be on her way.

When I walked into the house from the garage door, I walked into a kitchen and stopped at the sight. Vinny was sitting across from Colton, both of them eating chicken, and my heart swelled. I’d seen them eat together before, but it still made me happy. The longer I stared, the more I thought about how this could have been my last three and a half months.

Instead, it wasn’t.

“Come on. It’s getting cold,” Vinny stated with a mouthful of food. In the time I was on the phone with Melony, Vinny had changed into a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top that displayed his muscles. I’d missed those arms.

I grinned and moved to him, grabbed his face and planted my lips on his.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Everything.” I moved to my seat to see a T-shirt and a pair of boxers sitting next to my food.

“I figured you’d be more comfortable in that instead of my jacket until Melony gets here.”

“See?” I beamed. “You’re the best.”

“The best is yet to come, sweets.” He grinned at me and then took a bite of his chicken.

God, I hoped he was right.