Page 63 of Call You Mine
“Oh, no, that’s okay.” I wave my hands. “We don’t have too much to pack.”
“Maybe he can just stay and hang out?” Georgie offers, and it has me regretting both drawing the line and pulling her into this mess.
While I want her to feel comfortable with Anderson, especially since the three of us will be living under the same roof starting in less than forty-eight hours, I don’t want him to be another person who gets yanked out of her life without a moment’s notice.
Anderson must see my inner turmoil, even though I try to hide it from my features, because he helps me out. “We’llhave tons of time to hang out.” He gives Georgie that easy smile. “Okay, G?”
“Okay,” she says, drawing out the word, but I can see the ghost of a smile on her lips. “I’m going to finish my homework on the couch,” she says before gathering her binder and pencil case. “See you tomorrow? At dinner?” she asks Anderson as she passes him, and it has my heart unsure of what to do—skip a beat or crack in two.
“You got it.” He gives her a wink, and I have to resist the urge to clutch my chest. The two of them getting along and growing their own relationship has my chest feeling tight.
His gaze comes back to me, and he looks at me like he always does—like he wants to say more but doesn’t know if it’s okay. There’s too much in his eyes for me to decipher, the intensity of them forcing me to look away.
“See you tomorrow.” I echo Georgie’s words to him, standing up and pushing in Georgie’s chair before pushing in mine, making sure the two are perfectly spaced out around the dining table.
“Ava?” Anderson says, and I turn around to find his eyes still on me. “How did it go?” he whispers.
I shake my head, my eyes darting to Georgie.
Anderson nods, and I can’t help but notice how he looks almost defeated, like he knew asking me was a losing battle. He turns to head toward the door. I follow him, watching as he steps into his work boots.
“My mom wants to sign away her parental rights.” I don’t know why I say it. Maybe because, even with this line between Anderson and me, we need to be a team right now—appear as a united front. But the words wind me, like I’ve just been hit in the stomach. It should be painful, but it’s more cathartic than anything else, like sharing the burden, it lessens the load on my shoulders.
Anderson stiffens, and I hear his jaw click with howtightly his teeth clench together. “What? Are you fucking kidding me?”
I’ve known Anderson for almost nine months now, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him angry. He’s such a laidback guy with an easygoing, calm demeanor. Always laughing along when Emerson gives him a hard time or when Jack gets all annoyed with him—even though we all know it’s just an act. He’s always so patient with Evee and so kind with Rumi.
But anger like this? I didn’t even know he was capable of it.
And seeing it, on behalf of Georgie… I can’t even let myself finish the thought.
“I’m sorry, I know she’s your mom,” he goes on to say, I think because he takes my silence for something it isn’t. He’s trying to keep his voice quiet, but it rises slightly. “But Georgie deserves better than that.”
“Shh.” I hold my finger to my lip before pointing toward the living room. We’re hidden from Georgie in the entryway, but I don’t want her to overhear. “Trust me, I’m pissed too, but it just proves that this adoption is the right thing to do.”
Anderson nods, some tension lifting from his posture. “What did Patricia say?”
“She’s actually the one who told me. Once my mom signs the papers, all we have to do is get married, and Patricia is going to recommend approval for kinship adoption.”
“Damn.” Anderson shakes his head. “I didn’t expect it to be so—” he pauses, trying to think of the right word. “Not easy, but so smooth, I guess. I don’t know the right word.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I didn’t think the transition from the investigation to an actual adoption would happen so fast.”
Anderson nods. “Did she say anything else?”
“Just some other updates about my mom, who I didn’t even talk to.”
“Good.”
I raise a brow. “Good?”
“Yes, good. I know I don’t know the whole story, and it’s not really my place?—”
“You’re right,” I cut him off. “It’s not.” I can’t fight the defensiveness taking over, even though a small part of me likes the thought of someone protectingmefor a change.
“I just,” he pauses as his hand goes to the back of his neck, rubbing the skin. “I just don’t love the thought of you or Georgie being near her, not after everything she’s put you two through.”
I cross my arms over my chest, surprised by howgoodit feels to have someone watching out for me, even though it’s unnecessary. “I didn’t take you for the type to get all caveman-possessive at the drop of a hat, sunshine.”
