We’d tried that before, but the lack of stability hadn’t gone over well with Dylan, which led to a few behavior problems. So we’d ended the split time, opting for something a little more stable schedule, and we’d worked out the issues with Dylan. Zac still did most of the heavy lifting there just like he had then. Basically, he’d said he should’ve been the bad cop and me the good, with the occasional walk on the bad side, because Dylan was going to be with me the most.
The fact that we could now switch weekends as we pleased and hadn’t seen any recurrent problems meant splitting up the weeks was just around the corner. I didn’t want any more time away from Dylan than I already had, but Zac wanted more time with him. Couldn’t blame the guy.
Tegan sent me a text in the late morning telling me he’d had a great time last night and wanted to know when I was available to do it again. I wasn’t sure and told him as much. This was supposed to be my weekend with Dylan, but now he was staying with Zac. Did that mean that next weekend was my weekend or his? I didn’t know.
He said to let him know when I knew.
If I’d been bolder, I would’ve invited him over tonight. Instead, my no-Dylan Saturday was spent cleaning out his room and catching up on the laundry. I’d let myself get too far behind. My one bit of distraction came when Laney sent me a text. When I saw Rhian’s name at the top of my screen too, I knew it was a group text.
So? Laney asked.
What? I responded as if I had no idea what she referred to.
I could answer for her, Rhian offered.
Spill! Laney demanded.
My fingers froze over the letters on my phone, stuck between demanding that Rhian not say a word and demanding she spill everything related to her brother. Please don’t, I decided to tap out instead.
Then give us your version. Rhian didn’t say it was an ultimatum but that was the feeling I’d gotten. Either I tell them or she will.
Dinner. Movie. Kiss goodnight.
That’s all you’re going to tell us? Laney punctuated it with a pouting emoji.
For now, I told them. Can we talk more when we’re all together?
Fine, Rhian said and I could’ve sworn I heard her sigh in that one word. You’re lucky Porter and I have plans for tonight otherwise I’d already be at your house.
I snickered to myself and let the conversation come to an end.
After finishing up the cleaning, I ordered Chinese food and ate in front of the television. I was in bed ridiculously early. It was a nice, easy day.
It took all of my willpower to wait until the afternoon on Sunday to head over to Zac and Laney’s. I had absolutely nothing going on and was anxious to be around other people. Dylan and I didn’t need to leave right away. We’d hang out for a while, but I’d be around friends. Actual adults.
As it hit one o’clock, I grabbed my purse and left my apartment for Zac’s.
Ten minutes later, I came to a stop in front of Zac and Laney’s house. Porter, Zac, Tegan, and Dylan were in the front yard playing catch. They were all wearing old, weathered baseball gloves with the exception of Dylan. His looked brand new, which made me assume Zac bought it for him. They each had big smiles on their faces, even though they were clearly all talking and damn, I wanted to know what they were saying.
Then Zac said something to Dylan and from the looks of it, he was setting our son up to catch the ball. Predictably, Porter tossed the ball, but more surprisingly, Dylan caught it. The three grown men around him erupted in a round of cheers. Zac scooped him up and put him on his shoulder. They celebrated as if he’d just won the World Series and to Dylan, he just had.
After watching them celebrate, I pushed the door open and got out of my car. They all turned my way as soon as they heard it shut. I hadn’t parked right in front of their house. There wasn’t any room.
“Hey, Maddie,” Porter called out. Zac and Dylan waved from where they were, but Tegan jogged over to me.
“Hey,” he said when he got close.
“You can’t kiss me,” I said quickly.
His brows slammed down and he said, “Wasn’t going to. Dylan’s right there. You decide when he’s ready for any PDA.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Seriously?”
“Why does that surprise you?” Now he sounded a little annoyed. It really shouldn’t have. Tegan had been the most considerate person I’d ever met up until now. Maybe it was the caregiver part of him.
“No. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” Still, he stepped closer to me. I could feel the heat of the day radiating off him and into my skin. “It’s good to see you.”
“I wish you could kiss me,” I whispered before Dylan hit me like a ton of bricks. “Hey, buddy.”
“Do we have to leave yet?”
“No. I thought I’d hang out with Laney and Rhian for a while,” I told him then decided to add, “There something the girls want every detail about.”
Tegan snorted. I’d said that last part for him anyway and he knew precisely what I was talking about.
“So I can still have guy time?”
I laughed, as did the rest of the guys. That was what Zac always called it.
“Yeah, bug, you can have guy time until they kick me out. Then you come with me.”
He turned around and ran back to Zac and Porter while Tegan and I began our walk back toward the house.
“Oh, heads up,” Tegan said right before I began my climb up the steps. “I had a little chat with Rhian yesterday. She knows I know.”
“And I need a warning why?”
“Because she’ll expect me to retaliate and might be cagey.”
Whatever that means, but I nodded and went into the house anyway.
Laney and Rhian were on the couch laughing. The TV was on, but since it was a commercial, I had no idea what they were watching.
“Hey, Maddie,” Laney said through the last of a laugh.
Rhian’s head spun around toward me then she hopped up and backed away. “I’m sorry.” She put her hands up in front of her. “It was a prank on him, not on you.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not mad, but you almost ruined a perfectly good date.” I dropped into the chair by the couch and crossed one leg over the other.
She groaned. “Yeah. He told me. And I know he’s going to do something awful in return.”
“Should’ve thought about that before you did it,” Laney told her.
“You know I don’t think that far ahead with these things.”
“You should start.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Rhian,” Porter called from outside. “Bring your girls out here.”
“What could they want?” Laney asked but was the first out the door. Rhian and I followed.
“What’s up?” Rhian asked him.
“Dylan wants to go swimming,” he told her.
“Uh… ”
Laney gave her friend a big smile. “I think that sounds great.”
“Great?” Rhian countered. “There’s water there. He could drown me. Or kill me in some other way, tie a brick to my ankle and drop me in the middle of the pond. No one would find me for weeks.”
Her boyfriend looked at her as if she was crazy. “Who could do that?” Porter asked. Rhian pointed at Tegan. “Why would your brother want to kill you?”
Rhian glanced from her boyfriend, then back to her brother. Apparently, she hadn’t told Porter about her prank.
“She pulled a prank,” Tegan answered for her. “But it almost ruined my date the other night and she’s expecting some payback.” They’d all known he and I were going out on Friday. There was no need to mention me in front of Dylan. Then he shrugged. “I’m over it, though.”
“Sure, you are,” she muttered.
“See? He’s over it.” Porter was like a kid with his excitement. “Come on. Pond?”
Rhian groaned and rolled her eyes. “Fine. But I shouldn’t be going anywhere because I can’t seem to keep my head strai
ght. I might just get lost.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Yesterday, I forgot that I put cookies in the oven and tried to burn the house down. This morning, I left my curling iron on. I never do shit like that.”
“Maybe you’re nervous about starting work next month?”
She shrugged and said, “Maybe.” But I wasn’t convinced. She sounded a little more worried than that to me.
“Laney?” Porter asked.
“Oh, I’m in.”
“Maddie?” he asked.
“Yeah sure. I have to run home to get my stuff. I’ll meet you there.” Dylan ran up to us and cheered when Zac said we were going. “You want to go with me, Dylan, or ride with Dad and Laney?”
“Dad,” he answered immediately.
I nodded because I’d known the answer before I’d asked. Dylan loved us both, but since he got less time with his dad, when Zac was an option, he was the choice. Didn’t bother me a bit. Besides, I’d take longer than they would because being a mom meant making sure I had extra of everything for my kid.
“Then I’ll go do that and meet you all there.”
The chatter behind me grew distant as I went over to my car and climbed inside.
It wasn’t hard to find my favorite swimsuit, blue with white polka dots, because we went to the pond all the time in the summer. I threw it on and then a coverup, same color blue as the suit, that looked like a dress. A pair of slip-on sandals and I was set. All I needed after that was a bag with the essentials. A tube of sunscreen, a few snacks, bottles of water, and towels. Enough for more than just Dylan and me though I’d share with anyone.
Then I made the short drive over to the pond. Predictably, the gang was already there.
When I got over to them, Rhian was standing as far from her brother as she possibly could have.
“Did you put sunscreen on him?” I asked Zac once I set everything down.
“Always do.”
“Sorry,” I told him. “I have to ask.” Zac knew and I didn’t have to explain it to him. Yet as I pulled my coverup over my head, I felt like I did need to.
“That’s fine. We’re going in the water.” Laney, Dylan, and Zac ran into the coolness with nothing but laughter around them.
“What’s going on here?” I asked the rest of them. “Why’s she standing all the way over there?”
“Awaiting retribution.” Rhian pointed to her brother.
Trying to hide my chuckle was useless. She knew I was laughing as much as I did.
“Come here for a minute,” Tegan said as he took my hand and led me away from our spot. We rounded a large tree before he stopped and walked me back against it. “I need to kiss you for a minute. That OK? Dylan can’t see us.”
I nodded quickly and that was the encouragement he needed. Those soft lips were on me, but while they were soft, the intent behind them was firm and demanding. His hand slid down to my hip and since I’d taken off my coverup, it was his skin on my skin.
He moved closer until there wasn’t any daylight between us and his erection was prominent against my stomach. That hadn’t taken long. Tegan fisted his hand into my hair and pulled my head back to deepen the kiss, his tongue gentle exploring my mouth until he’d stolen my breath.
He’d kissed me good and long the other night, but that had been a first kiss. This was something else.
“Wow,” I said, sounding as breathless as I felt.
“I agree.” He kissed me quickly again. “This bikini is driving me insane.”
I looked up at him with wide innocent eyes. “That’s the reason I bought it.”
He growled and dropped his forehead to mine where he held for several moments.
“We better get back,” I finally told him.
Tegan nodded and took my hand as we headed back. He held on to me until we were close enough for Dylan to see us then he dropped it and settled it onto my back. Less conspicuous.
Once we got back to the group, Tegan popped up beside Rhian. She startled and hopped to the other side of Porter.
Porter snorted and said, “Do you think I’m going to protect you from your brother?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head, the dark blond curls flopping around with the movement. “Sorry.”
“You’re a terrible boyfriend.”
“I told you that before we got together, so that isn’t a surprise,” he said. Rhian scowled at him. “How about this? If I think he’s going to do actual physical damage, I’ll step in and kick his ass.”
“You could try,” Tegan said with a steady voice.
I wasn’t sure who would win a fight between the two of them, but looking at them side by side, my gut instinct told me Tegan would. But I didn’t think it’d ever turn into a physical fight. Tegan wasn’t going to hurt his sister.
Rhian groaned. “Fine.”
We spent the rest of the day shifting from playing in the water to lying on the beach and soaking up the sun. Sometime around dinner, I offered to run to the store for more drinks as well as everything we’d need for sandwiches. It wouldn’t be the most extravagant dinner, but nobody was ready to leave. Tegan insisted on going with me and pulled me over to him as soon as we came to a stop in the grocery store parking lot. He proceded to kiss me for a good fifteen minutes. Without Dylan around, we were able to hold hands and be close.
I knew I’d tell Dylan that Tegan and I were dating at some point if things got serious but now wasn’t the time. He’d grown used to Ian being around and then it had ended. The loss of Ian wasn’t something that bothered the little guy much. They’d had such little interaction that Dylan hadn’t gotten attached. I didn’t want to have a revolving door of men in my son’s life and next time one was there, it was going to be the right one.
Chapter Ten
Dylan slept like a log after our time at the pond. Hell, I did too. Then I had the late shift most of the next week. I still hadn’t gotten back to Tegan about when we could go out again because I’d forgotten to ask Zac what we were doing about the switched weekend. Still, Tegan and I talked on the phone every day for at least a few minutes. It was like teledating. I couldn’t try to sneak in a quick outing on the weekdays because I worked until eight, which meant I dropped Dylan off to my mom around lunchtime, and Zac would pick him up when he got out of work around three. Then I got Dylan up after I got out at eight.
There was no time for anything else.
By Thursday, I was exhausted. At least I only worked until seven and there was no picking up my kid because I’d dropped him off at my mom’s house on the way in and it was his normal Thursday stayover with them. I didn’t know how long that would last—my parents may eventually get too old to have them all there, even when the kids would be older—but for now, it was a godsend.
I’d had my phone at my station all day and it buzzed several times. I didn’t check it, though. There’d barely been time to inhale a sandwich from the deli, let alone text Tegan back. In one he said he didn’t expect an answer since I was at work but wanted me to know he was thinking of me.
It wasn’t until I was done for the day and in my car about to drive home that I had a chance to call him back. My little Ford Focus had the hands-free built-in so I could talk while I drove safely.
“Hey, baby.” Tegan’s voice filled my car.
“Hi. I thought I’d give you a call on my way home since you sent several texts today.”
“That a problem?”
“Not at all. I was just swamped and couldn’t respond until now.”
“That’s fine. I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you,” he explained again. “Rough day?”
“Not bad,” I told him. “Just long and I can’t wait to get home and take my shoes off. Probably eat some Cheetos. It’s all day on my feet, which is the worst part, but it’s not bad or anything. I do love what I do.”
He snorted. “Cheetos? For dinner?”
“I don’t think I have the energy for anything else.�
��
“That’s not the healthiest choice or most filling.”
“I’ll eat a banana with it.”
“Well, that makes all the difference,” he said.
I only lived about ten minutes from work, so I pulled into my parking spot in the complex both relieved to be home but not quite ready to say goodbye.
“Listen,” I told him before shutting my car off. “I’ll send Zac a text tonight to figure out what he wants to do about the weekend. If I know him, he’ll still want this to be his weekend and we can go out again if you still want to.”
Tegan snorted again. “Want to. Please.”
“I’ll let you know, OK?”
“Sounds good.”
We said our goodbyes and I ended the call.
Inside my apartment, I dropped my purse by the door and headed straight to my bedroom, where I could get rid of the day by changing into pajamas then ran a brush through my hair. Just being out of my shoes felt amazing.
I was about to grab my deliciously unhealthy meal when someone knocked at my door. There wasn’t anyone I was expecting, but Laney and Rhian sometimes came by unexpected.
“Oh, hey,” I said when I opened the door and Tegan was on the other side. My stomach warmed and completely forgot about the Cheetos waiting in the kitchen. He was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, nothing special, but they looked amazing on him and he had a bag in each hand.
“Brought you dinner,” he said, holding up the bags.
“Come in.” I waved him in and stepped aside so he could get by me, then shut the door behind us. Didn’t want to let the air out. “You brought me dinner.”
He nodded. “Mexican. Do you like Mexican?”
“I’m not picky.” I cocked my head to the side and asked, “Is Mexican healthy?”
A deep chuckle warmed my skin before he spoke. “Healthier than Cheetos and a banana.”
“We can eat in the living room because I need to be more comfortable than the ones at the table. I’ll go grab drinks,” I said. He went the way I pointed while I headed to the kitchen. “Hey,” I called out. “Do we need plates?”
“Up to you, but not really,” he called back.
Hard to Say Yes (The Fallout Series Book 3) Page 8
