Page 125 of That Girl
Connor looks down at his food and shrugs. I lift his chin with my finger. “Always speak your truth, Connor.”
He shrugs again and says, “Maybe she can be Lillie’s mommy, too.”
The thought of Ben and Aurora together has me about to strangle my coffee cup. “What do you mean, bud?”
“Lillie doesn’t have a mommy just like me. Maybe Rora can be both our mommies.”
I touch my forehead to his little one. “Oh, sweet boy. You have a heart the size of Texas.”
He looks down at his chest and I laugh, gathering him in my arms for a hug. “I love you, you know that?”
“I love you too, Daddy.” He squirms to be put back on his stool.
I cup his tiny face. “You know that Aurora isn’t your real mom, right? Your real mom is up in Heaven.”
He nods. “I remember. You said she was sick.”
“That’s right. But she loved you very much.”
“Okay,” he says, simple as that. “But if Rora wants to be my new mommy, then I’ll have two mommies.”
Who am I to argue with a five-year-old’s logic? Aurora was right, however. I need to start doing more so he has a stronger connection with Candace. I’ll ask Aurora tonight if we can begin making the scrapbook she suggested.
“Are you done with breakfast?”
He grabs his glass of milk and sucks at the straw, smacking his lips when done. “Yep!”
“Good boy. Go brush your teeth and I’ll grab you some clean clothes from the dryer so we can go outside and play.”
He hops off the stool and holds up his hand for a high five. When I go to slap it, he pulls it away, laughing, “Too slow!”
I grab him, tickling his sides until he snorts. When the doorbell chimes, I sit him over my shoulders and walk us out of the kitchen. Connor is pulling my hair like the reins of a horse and laughing hysterically. I’m hoping Aurora has come back. Along with our talk tonight, I’ll give her a key to the house. I open the door wide, but it’s not Aurora.
“Hey, Prez. What are you doing on my doorstep this early in the morning?”
I’m completely surprised that he’s here, and at this time of the morning. He and I are still not back to where we need to be. I hate the tension that exists between us. I’ve missed him and Dustin, and I hope like hell that I can mend what I broke so I can have both of my best friends back.
Prez looks up at Connor, then back at me, lips curling in a snarl. I never noticed Shelby was with him until she comes barreling up the front steps. She must have followed him here since her car is parked behind his in my driveway. I texted him and Dustin my new address a few days ago, hoping they would take it as a sign that they were welcome anytime. But I have a sinking feeling this unexpected visit is for reasons that I’m not going to like based on Prez’s angry glare and the way Shelby is frantically pulling at his arm.
“Prescott, stop,” Shelby says.
Do they know something about what happened at the center? Did Aurora call them?
“What’s going on? Did Aurora send you guys?”
Shelby’s head snaps to me. “Why would she do that?”
I pull Connor from my shoulders. Prez tracks him as I put him down and tell him to go get ready. As soon as he is out of sight, I step out onto the porch, leaving the door opened a crack.
“She just left. Austin called and said the center was vandalized.”
“What? When?” Shelby takes out her phone and starts texting.
Something like dread replaces the pancakes in my stomach. “That’s all the information I know. She told me she would call later. So, if you’re not here about that, then why are you here?”
“Is he mine?” Prez states in a deadly calm.
That dread quickly turns to what the fuck? “I beg your pardon?”
