Page 51 of Finding Us
Red turns her attention back to my son. “You’ve had your hair cut? You look so cute.”
I’ve had my hair cut too, but again, that goes unnoticed.
When Blake’s cheeks turn pink, I clear my throat, tugging at the tie around my neck. “Dad made me get it cut for my first day of kindergarten.”
“Wow, you’re first day of big school. How exciting.”
Blake tilts his head back, making eye contact with me. “Can Jazzie come and see my new school, Dad?”
“Maybe some other time, buddy,” I say. “I’m sure she’s busy today.”
Her gaze flicks back to me and I discretely shake my head, letting her know I don’t want her there. When she lifts her chin in defiance, my eyes narrow because I can already tell she’s going to challenge me.
“Actually, I don’t have any plans.” My brow furrows when she gives me a smug look, and I detest that my dick is turned on by this side of her. “I’d actually love to tag along.”
Blake seems completely oblivious to my displeasure because he punches the air and murmurs, “Yes,” under his breath.
I have a feeling this woman is going to be the death of me.
My hands are gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles have turned white. I can’t even tell you why I’m so mad. Is it because Red decided to come with us just to piss me off, or is it because she chose to sit in the back seat with Blake rather than ride up front with me? Either way, by the time we arrive at the school, my blood pressure has risen to a dangerous level.
Thanks to ourtagalong, we had to take the car instead of the bike. Which also means, I’m going to have to drop her back at the apartment building instead of heading straight to work. I should make her find her own way home.
I exit the vehicle, opening the driver’s side back door first. Jacinta gives me a strange look as she unbuckles her seat belt and hops out. I may be pissed at her, but I’m not a complete arsehole. “Thank you,” she says as I close the door behind her and walk around the back of the car to get Blake.
After I retrieve his bag from the boot, throwing it over my shoulder, the three of us head up the hill towards the school.
Blake moves between us as we approach the front gate, reaching for my hand first, then Jacinta’s. We share a brief look before she turns her attention to my son. “Are you nervous?” she asks.
“A little,” he replies.
She stops walking, crouching down to his height. “Don’t be, okay? I know it’s scary to do new things for the first time, but you’re going to have the best day and make lots of new friends.”
“Do you think so?”
“I know so,” she answers with such confidence even I believe her.
“What if the kids don’t like me?”
“Impossible. You’re the sweetest, smartest, and cutest little boy I know. I bet the girls in your class are going to have cartoon hearts in their eyes when they see you.”
When he gags, I chuckle. “Braydon says that girls stink.”
“I’m a girl? Do you think I stink?”
He leans in and inhales through his nose, and her eyes briefly snap to me. Is she thinking about the time I sniffed her underwear? My dick twitches at the thought. When I see the blush climbing up her neck, I know she is.
“You smell nice,” Blake says.
She smells better than nice, and I’m not referring to her perfume either.I still have her scrap of lace hidden in the back of my bedside drawer. Despite wanting to, I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away.
Her face lights up as she gently brushes her hand over his hair, and something inside my chest cracks. She’s really good with him, and I’m suddenly not so angry that she’s here. I try to be present in my son’s life and give him the love and stability he’s been missing, but that gentle feminine touch—the one Red’s showing him now—I’m not sure if I’m capable of that.
The sweet look she gives him as her hands move down to straighten his tie, has me wishing my own was crooked, just so I could get the same treatment. She’s so focused on him she probably wouldn’t notice anyway.
Standing to full height, she reaches for his hand again, and Blake rewards her with a full smile … it appears he’s the one with cartoon hearts in his eyes.
Who knew I’d be competing with my own son for her attention?
