Page 34 of Three Not-So-Little Words (The Lawson’s #3)

thirty-four

Worth a Shot

Drew

R onnie and I spent most of our weekend in bed. We’d fuck, sleep, and then order food. It’s like we couldn’t get enough of each other, and we were in our own little world and shut out everything else.

I can’t deny how crazy I am about her. And it’s not just because of the sex.

Sure, that’s fantastic—the best I’ve ever had.

But I’m falling for her in the moments outside of that too.

The way she throws her head back when she laughs.

The way her nose crinkles when she smiles.

The way she has a quick quip for everything.

No matter what happens, I feel like my life will be better for knowing her.

Hell, I’ve only been away from her an hour, and I’m missing her already. We talked about her coming over for dinner this week. As much as I love that idea, I don’t want to push her. With Ronnie, I know if I do, I’ll push her right out the door. No way do I want to do that.

A knock on the door tells me that Colton is home, and my weekend free of responsibilities is officially over.

I open the door, letting Colton and Sandy come inside. This time, he doesn’t seem to have a bunch of extra goodies with him. It’s probably a good thing. I don’t know how many giant teddy bears this house can hold.

“Hi, Dad!” Colton yells as he runs into his bedroom.

When Sandy looks at me to silently ask what he’s doing, I say, “No clue. When he gets home every day, he goes in here. It’s like he has to make sure everything is exactly where he left it.”

She nods. “Going to be a perfectionist like his mother was.”

“Lord help us all.”

We walk further into the house, and I tell her I’ll make us some tea.

As I get started, she says, “I’m sorry I had to bring Colton home early last weekend. That stomach bug hit me out of nowhere.”

“No worries. Like I said, you taking him is a big help, and any time you need to bring him home, feel free. I’m sorry for not answering your texts.”

She shakes her head like it’s no big deal.

As I’m making the tea, she says, “Colton told me you had a visitor last weekend.”

Her words pause my movements. I brace myself to be read the riot act.

“What exactly did he say?” I ask, trying to feel out the situation.

“That your friend was in your bed.” She smiles while I feel my face getting red.

“Oh.”

That’s it? That’s all I can come up with to say?

We both sit silently, trying to feel each other out.

Finally, Sandy breaks her stone facade and starts laughing. “Oh, calm down, Drew. You should see the look on your face.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Why on Earth would I be mad?”

“Because I’m somehow disrespecting Natalie or something. I don’t know.”

“Drew, Natalie has been gone for over a year, and you weren’t a couple before that for quite some time. I don’t expect you to live like a monk the rest of your life.”

“Really?” I ask in disbelief.

“Of course. When Natalie’s father died, I eventually started dating again.”

I am even more shocked than I was fifteen seconds ago.

I must show it all over my face because she says, “Yes, I date. I’ve even had a couple of serious relationships.”

“How the hell did you balance dating with trying to be a good mom?” I blurt.

“Well, Natalie was already grown when her father passed. She was already raised.”

“Oh,” I say, trying not to sound disappointed by her answer.

“Are you having doubts about your abilities as a father? Or your newfound relationship?”

“A little bit of both.”

“I don’t presume to be an expert in these things, but I know a little bit.

Being a parent is hard. Almost everything about it is hard.

When I was younger, I thought kids should not only come first but be a parent’s only priority.

It took me having my daughter growing up to realize that it’s okay to be a person too—not just a parent. ”

“It’s all uncharted waters,” I tell her. “The woman I’m seeing is new to the thought of commitment, and having a kid adds to the shock of it all.”

She nods. “Got it.”

“I’m trying to take things slow…for everyone involved. I certainly didn’t expect that to be the first time the two of them met.”

“I don’t think anyone would want that meeting.” She laughs.

“Do you think I’ve scarred him for life?”

“Well, when he told me about her, he started by saying she brought pizza for dinner. He didn’t bring up the other thing until later, so I think you’re fine.”

“I don’t want him to ever forget his mom or think I’m trying to replace her.”

“Just do your best to keep her memory alive. That’s really all you can do.”

Sandy and I talk a little while longer before she heads home for the evening. She may not be my mother or even my actual mother-in-law, but there’s something about her that’s oddly comforting. I’m glad she’s a permanent fixture in our lives now.

After a wrestling match with Colton, it’s time for a bath and then getting ready for bed.

As we watch a nature documentary, Colton asks me what I did while he was gone.

“Not much,” I reply. “Ronnie and I hung out a little.”

He asks, “Did you eat pizza?”

“No pizza, but we did have some Chinese food.”

He smiles. “With fortune cookies?”

“Of course! Do you know what mine said?”

“What?”

“It said I have the best kid in the whole wide world.”

He grins. “Nuh-uh.”

Deciding to see how he’s feeling about my new relationship, I ask, “So, how would you feel if Ronnie came over for dinner sometime this week?”

“Would she bring pizza?”

I guess pizza is all a six-year-old cares about.

“I don’t know that we could always eat pizza, bud,” I tell him. “But maybe I could cook something—one of your favorites.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Okay.”

Was it really that easy?

Since I’m on a roll, I figure I’ll try to get him to sleep in his own bed tonight.

I doubt that will go as well, but it’s worth a try.