Page 73 of Barron's Second Chance
"I can show you the text messages if you like?"
Please don't ask, please don't ask.
To say that the invitation to attend Eden's dinner was willingly extended would be an exaggeration. Technically he had begged her for an invite. But his mom didn't need to know that.
"No, I believe you, Son."
She still didn't sound convinced, but Barron didn't care. He was finally on his way to see his girl; nothing could sour his mood.
Well, except for seeing Rocker Boy tonight.
He glowered, flexing his hands on the wheel as carnal images of Eden and Rocker Boy started floating through his mind.
"Your Dad told me you two were starting to converse again." His mom's hopeful tone made Barron feel a little guilty.
He pretended to wipe his face as his mouth twisted in a grimace. Again,conversewas a strong wordand a bit of a stretch. To converse meant that somebody was actively participating in the conversation.
To be fair, Eden sometimes reciprocated his good morning or good night texts, probably because she felt sorry for him and was throwing him a bone.
But she was frustratingly radio silent whenever he prodded at her memory with little snippets of their past relationship. He didn't need to dig deep to remember them. They played like a slideshow in his mind most nights. Every night, really, since she'd been back.
All he wanted was to make her smile as he reminded her of their good times, how it had felt to be in his arms again. In love.
What he didn't want, however, was her thoughts straying into exactlywhythose good times had ended.
"Son?" His mom touched his arm when Barron hadn't responded.
He gave a grunt of acknowledgment. "Yeah."
"Well, I think it's lovely that you two are reconnecting."
He indicated to turn into Susan and Eden's street, relieved when he pulled up to their house. The drive wasn't long enough for him to get a proper grilling from his Mom, thank God.
As he pulled off his belt and climbed out, his Mom placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
Her gaze was steely and determined.
"Don't fuck it up, Son," was all she said before she hopped out and joined his dad outside.
"Yes, Ma'am," he murmured.
Knowing his parents approved of his renewed courtship of Eden bolstered his confidence in his quest to win her back.
He blew out a breath as he made his way toward Susan and Eden's front door. He had promised Eden that he would be on his best behavior - and he would be.
But that didn't stop the dark jealousy he felt bubbling away in his stomach at the thought of Eden staying here alone with Rocker Boy.
What if they rekindled their sexual relationship? Things were rocky right now with Eden. Better than what he had at the start but still not where he was hoping to be by the end of summer. He didn't know where they stood, so having Rocker Boy here essentially cock blocking him from wooing Eden properly made him frustrated and possessive.
That was why he had begged to come to dinner tonight. Sure, he wanted to meet Rocker Boy - about as much as he wanted to meet a black bear in the woods - but he also needed to be in Eden's orbit so that she knew how much he wanted to be in her life.
If that also meant Rocker Boy got a dose of his proverbial piss scattered around her, then so be it.
Behave, behave, behave; he chanted to himself as he took a few more calming breaths. Maybe he should take Ian up on his offer to teach him transcendental meditation. The stress of seeing Eden and Rocker Boy together couldn't be good for his heart.
As they approached the front door, it swung open before they could knock.
And there she was.
