Page 33 of Hash

That’s one thing I loved about him when we were on — I could be my authentic self. I never felt like I had to tiptoe around my unfiltered mouth. He could take everything I dished out and give it right back to me with the same energy.

Hash: Glad you like the flowers. See you tonight.

I stare down at my phone, confused.

See you tonight?

What the fuck is he talking about?

Me: Did I miss where we made plans?

Hash: No, I just told you I’m coming over.

Oh, no.

This is not how this is going to play out. I hit call on Hash’s contact. It rings twice before his smooth, deep voice greets me.

“Hey baby doll.”

“You can’t come over tonight, Hash. I have Cormac.”

“I want to meet him. I’m not trying to take him away from you or promise him anything. I just want to meet my son.”

“Our son,” I correct, a feeling I can’t quite place coming over me at saying that out loud because until recently he’s been just mine.

“Our son,” Hash repeats, his voice lowering.

“What happened last night can’t happen in front of him.”

“Babe, people argue; it’s part of life. If a kid never sees their parents argue and work shit out, how are they going to learn themselves?”

Well, I guess that’s true, but…

“I don’t think we need to start that lesson now. He’s just a baby.”

Hash sighs through the phone. “I promise we won’t argue. If shit feels like it’s too much, I’ll leave, okay? I just want to meet him, baby doll. Please.”

It’s the baby doll that does it for me every time.

I like to think I’m not a pushover, but all he has to do is call me by my name and bat those pretty green eyes at me, and I’m done for.

“Fine. But if we even come close to arguing, you’re gone.”

“I’ll bring dinner again. Don’t forget to bring my flowers home. I want to smell them in your place. Later, babe.”

“We don’t need to have—” I get out before Hash hangs up on me.

Pulling the phone away from my ear, I look at the screen, instantly irritated. I’m getting really sick of him hanging up on me.

“Everything all good?” Frankie asks as she cleans her station from Norma.

“I don’t know.” I sigh. “I think so. He wants to come over tonight to officially meet Cormac.”

“You knew that was the next step, babe,” Frankie says, her tone light.

“I know,” I groan as I lean up against her counter and cross my arms. “I just didn’t think everything would be so boom boom boom. It’s honestly all a little suffocating.”

“And there’s the fact that you’re not ready to introduce him,” Frankie adds.