Page 93 of The Troublemaker
“How did you sleep?”Holly asks.
“I slept really well.”Like a rock.I think it’s been five years since I’ve had sleep like that.Do I tell her that her son might just be my security blanket?“Thanks again for taking him last night.”
“No problem.He slept through the night but woke up early.I think he’ll probably go down for an early nap.”She plates the pancakes and more eggs and hash browns and toast.“Easton told me you had already given him scrambled eggs.I hope that’s okay?”
I pour myself a cup of coffee.I could get used to this life.Does Easton know how lucky he has it?My mom has never made me a meal in my life.We always had “people for that.”
“It’s great.This is really nice.Thank you.”
Holly smiles at me the same way she has since she arrived.As though she’s over the moon for Easton and me.If she only knew the truth.
“I’m happy to help.”Her hand runs down my arm, and her gaze falls to my sweatshirt.“Oh, that’s an oldie.”
I look down at the sweatshirt I took from Easton’s closet.Lake Starlight High School Baseball.
“I tried to give this away once, and he wore it the rest of his visit, even on the plane.It was busting at the seams.He’s sentimental about things like that.”She turns and refills her coffee.
I wonder if I should change.Easton might not want me to wear it, but if I go back in there, then he might wake up.And if I take it off, I’m in a cami in front of his mom.The safer bet is to keep it on.
I fix myself a plate and go to the table, sitting next to Tanner.Again, he stretches his arms out and opens and closes his fists.I take one of his cute pudgy hands and kiss it, which appeases him.
“Let Mama eat,” Holly says.
I freeze with my fork hanging in the air.She must notice, because she corrects herself right away.
“I’m sorry.That’s my fault.It’s just that both incidents, the baby and the marriage, happened so close together, and you’re so good with him, and he obviously views you as his mom, but I heard you and Easton refer to you as Hadley, so I apologize.”
“It’s okay.Thank you.”I don’t know why, but this whole exchange makes me feel as if an arrow is lodged in my chest.
Holly leans back in her chair and sips her coffee, staring at her grandson.“Easton said he’s trying to find the mother.That the one lead didn’t turn out, but there’s another person he might hear from when he and his cousins were in Cabo for a bachelor party?”
I should probably leave this for Easton to talk about with her.“Yeah.”
She doesn’t say anything, continuing to sip her coffee.“Hey, do you mind if I go to the bookstore with you?I’ve been dying to see it after the proposal.And Austin said he’ll watch Tanner until we head to the game.”
What I’m really thinking is that I might need a breather from this situation.I mean, if Tanner was mine and my marriage to Easton was real, I’d want her to come, but I’m afraid I’m going to mess up something I say to her.
How on earth do compulsive liars function on a daily basis?
“Of course.Are you okay to walk?And we can take Tanner.He loves the store.”
She waves me off.“I’m sure you need a break.”
It would be nice, but I don’t mind having Tanner around.I find him to be an easy baby.Sure, he has his meltdowns and stuff, but we’ve gotten into a good routine.
“I’ll go get ready then.”
“Eat!”She waves.“I’m happy to just be here after having to wait so long.I wanted to come right away, but Easton kept pushing me not to.With Harper due any time, it made more sense to wait.I think this is good for him.He needed a little more responsibility.”
The bedroom door creaks open before I can respond, and Easton walks out shirtless in a pair of shorts.
Just kill me now.If he hadn’t sounded so tortured last night when we were talking about the sexual tension between us, I would think he was doing this on purpose.
Tanner goes crazy when he sees Easton, his feet bouncing, his butt coming off the high chair, screeching for Easton to come to him.
“Good morning.I smell breakfast.”He smiles at his mom and goes over to Tanner.“Morning, buddy.Grandma take good care of you last night?”
He kisses him, but Tanner whines when Easton goes to walk away.
