by Eden Finley
“How did that happen?”
“She said something along those lines one day, and I never corrected her?”
“So you’re lying by omission.”
Shit.
I changed the subject. “Okay. Hypothetical here—”
“Like a real hypothetical or a hypothetical that means it’s happening but you’re not willing to admit it yet?”
“What’s the point of saying hypothetical if you’re going to call bullshit?”
He smiled. “Okay, fine. Shoot.”
“How would you feel if Reece and I ended up together?”
“Hypothetically? I’d kick your ass for moving in on my woman,” he deadpanned.
I cocked an eyebrow.
“Damn, I thought I was going to get a stronger reaction than that. In reality, it’ll probably be weird at first, but having you as a stepdad to my son wouldn’t be so bad. Better than Paul. Don’t tell Paige I said this, but oh my God, that man is the most boring man I’ve ever met. Plus, he hates me, so there’s that.”
“You’re banging his daughter. I think it’s in his DNA to hate you. And I’m definitely not getting ahead of myself with the whole stepdad thing. Reece still has to agree to date me.” In public.
He laughed. “Good luck with that. Hope you’re not asking for advice on what she likes, because fucked if I know anymore. I barely recognise the woman you walked in with tonight as my ex-wife. I mean, she was smiling. How in the world did that happen?”
I couldn’t stop a proud smile. At least I was making her happy. Even if it was a secret.
18
SPENCER
Cole’s words replayed in my head for an entire week. If Reece was with me for financial reasons, wouldn’t she be trying to get me to put a ring on her finger like Shayla was? Instead, she kept me at arm’s length.
I had to believe Reece didn’t have an ulterior motive or we’d never last.
Then why haven’t you told her you’re a millionaire?
Fuck.
I was still half-asleep when my phone rang on Saturday morning, and when I saw Reece’s name on the screen, I answered immediately. Not only because it was Reece but because she was at work and might’ve had an issue with the software.
“Hello?” I croaked.
“Shit, did I wake you?” Her tone was panicked.
“What’s up? Something wrong at work?”
“No. Cole called. Long story. His mother collapsed or something, and he’s at the hospital. Cody’s at soccer on his own with the coach and other parents watching him. Cole won’t be back in time to pick him up, and I won’t finish work until an hour after the game.”
I yawned. “So you need to leave work early?”
“Actually, I was hoping you could go to soccer and bring Cody home when he’s done. You said last week that I never leave him with you. This is me showing you I trust you.”
I smiled. Progress. “I’m on it. Text me where it is.”
The soccer field was a ten-minute drive away, so I arrived right before half-time.
I stood off to the side, away from the other parents. It was awkward at first, considering I didn’t have a kid in the game. I was half-expecting someone to approach me and accuse me of being a paedophile and stalking the kids or something.
But I was soon lost in the sport, watching Cody and feeling like a proud uncle … stepdad? I tried the word out on my tongue. I never imagined being a stepdad, and we were far from labelling me as one, but the idea didn’t freak me out like I thought it would. I’d known Cody all his life, and despite his supposed attitude with Reece lately, he was a great kid.
When he scored a goal, I couldn’t hold back my excitement, and I whistled and cheered.
When he saw me, his face fell, but he shook it off and ran back to his position. On his way, he was stopped by a slightly bigger kid who said something I couldn’t hear, and then my heart leapt into my throat when Cody pushed him so hard, he stumbled back and fell over.
I couldn’t hear the words being spoken, but I definitely heard a “Fuck you” from Cody. Their coach went over to break them up, and on instinct, I rushed to Cody’s side.
I had no idea what to do once I got there though. Yell at him for swearing and pushing another kid? That wasn’t my place, right?
“Cody, what happened?” I asked, instead.
“Who are you?” the coach asked.
“I, uh …”
“He’s my brother’s dad,” Cody said.
“Ah. Then you can take your stepson off the field.”
“Wait, he’s being kicked out of the game?” I asked.
“We don’t tolerate fights. He’s barred for the rest of the game, and if his attitude doesn’t improve, he might not make the team next season.”
It was a game for eight-year-olds, not the World Cup. I didn’t even think they kept score.
“I won’t have that type of language around my kids,” the coach finished.
I bent down to Cody’s level seeing as the coach didn’t care to find out what really happened. “You wanna tell me why you pushed him?”
Cody shook his head.
“You sure? Because I know you, and you’re not a violent kid. What did he say?”
Cody’s eyes widened, as if he was shocked I wasn’t yelling at him. In a small voice, he said, “He asked if you were another new dad because my mum’s a slut.”
My heart sank to my stomach and made me nauseated. “Right. Okay then.” I could barely contain my anger as I stood to face the coach. “You heard that, right? Is the other kid going to get kicked out too?”
“He was the one who was pushed over.”
“Because he called Cody’s mother a word I’m not going to repeat.”
We’d caught the attention of all the other parents now.
I scanned the crowd, noticing the mother or father of the other boy wasn’t coming forward. “Who’s his parent?” I asked the coach.
“I-I … I can’t give you that information,” he stuttered.
“Cody, wait here.” I headed for a group of five women huddled together who were staring at me with that bitchy smile teenage girls got when they were gossiping.
Seriously thought that shit stopped in high school. Obviously, I was wrong.
I cut right to the chase. “Any of you ladies the mother of the kid Cody pushed over?”
“Nah, you’re looking for Tori,” a blonde woman said. “She’ll be behind the equipment shed, smoking. She likes to get one in before half-time.”
So the kid knew the opportune moment to attack Cody—when his mother wasn’t watching.
“Seeing as I have to take Cody home now, I need you all to do me a favour. When Tori gets back, tell her she’s doing the female population a disservice by letting her son go around calling women sluts.” I went to walk off but turned at the last second. “Oh, and also add she’s a fuckhead too.”
Footsteps followed behind me, and when I turned, a short brunette was the one to break away from the pack. “You’re Spence, right?”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Yeah.”
“I’m Kathy. I watched over Cody until you got here.”
“And?” I was too pissed to care. Was I meant to thank her?
“About Tori. Well, she can’t exactly call Reece a slut when she’s a revolving door for men. She’s probably jealous because Reece seems to have these great guys fawning all over her.” Her eyes lingered over my chest and body and then back up to my face.
Is she flirting with me?
“Paul was a silver fox, and you know Cole, right?” she continued. “All the single mums were pissed when they found out Cole had a new girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry, but do you have a point?” Hurry up, woman.
“Oh, just that women talk, and it’s admirable for you to stick up for Reece, but that won’t stop the gossiping. And she did marry someone else while she was pregnant with your child. Kids overhear stuff. It’s not a big deal.”
&nb
sp; “So that gives her child a free pass to bully my kid?” Whoa, my kid? Apparently, when I was pissed, I got territorial. “Because his mum said Reece is a slut, that makes it okay?”
“You know Cody’s not yours, right? Or is he? Never know with Reece.” She cocked her head to the side.
I backed away and threw my hands up in the air. “And I’m fucking done.” I walked away again, but her voice trailed after me.
“So that’s a no for my number, then?” she called out.
If I wasn’t so close to the kids, I would’ve yelled a big “Fuck no.” I kept walking instead.
“Let’s go, Cody.”
He followed after me as we stalked our way to the car. “Am … am I in trouble?”
I let out a loud breath. “Not as much trouble as I’m going to be in. Let’s go get pancakes. I think we need to talk.”
19
REECE
I arrived home from work eager to hear how Spence handled Cody on his own. Hoping with all hope that Cody had behaved for him, I walked in to find Spencer sitting in the living room by himself. I wouldn’t have been worried, but his face was pale and he was wringing his hands together.
Uh-oh.
“Where’s Cody?”
“I forgot you asked me to go get him,” he deadpanned.
“You what?” I screeched.
He laughed. “Oh my God, Reecie, you make it too easy. But uh, you might want to sit down. Cody’s in his room on his iPad. I didn’t think I should’ve been the one to punish him, but I needed to talk to you, and it was the only thing I could think of.”
“Punish him?” She sat across from me on the couch. “Also, future reference, using the iPad is a privilege not a punishment.”
“Good to know. Umm, so at the game, he got into it with another kid.”
“Fighting? Was he defending himself or did he instigate it?”
“Depends on how you look at it.”
“Start from the beginning.” I sat on the armchair across from him.
“Apparently … well, umm …”
“Spit it out, Spence.”
“The other kid called you a slut, so Cody attacked him.”
God, even the kids are turning on me now.
I pursed my lips. “Okay.” I didn’t know what else to say because I couldn’t quite process it. A part of me was happy Cody defended me, but the bigger part was upset he was dealing with that in the first place. “Was it a yo mumma joke … or—”
“The kid asked if I was another new dad.”
“Oh.” My chest ached. I had a feeling the gossipy mother’s group I was a part of was salivating over my situation. If I was honest, had it not been me, I probably would’ve joined in.
It was easy to judge others when you hadn’t been through what they had. I couldn’t say I blamed them.
“So, after he got kicked out of the game, I took him for pancakes and we had a chat,” Spencer said.
I tried to hold in my chuckle. “You’re going to need some serious lessons in discipline when this one comes along.” I rubbed my stomach. “FYI, taking him for pancakes doesn’t send the right message for punishment.”
“Oh, I think enduring a conversation with me about how the word slut is a derogatory term for someone who sleeps around was punishment enough. Only, I don’t know if it was punishing me or him.”
I couldn’t stop my laughter now. “I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve been there for that.”
“Yes, well, that led to the whole ‘what does sleeping around mean?’ and I just couldn’t. I told him to ask his dad.”
“Good answer.” Sorry, Cole.
“But I did get some good stuff out of him, and I think I know what’s been up with him lately.”
“Oh?”
“Apparently, it wasn’t the first time he’s been teased over our situation. It kinda explains why he glared at me when I arrived to pick him up too. I think you’re right about him being confused.”
I sighed. “I thought that might’ve been the case, but when I’ve asked him about it—”
“He said he didn’t want you to cry.”
The fact my son was going through this because of my actions crushed me. The fact he was trying to protect me made my eyes well with pride, but it shouldn’t be his job to protect his mother. He was eight years old, for crying out loud.
“I’m sorry,” Spence said.
“For what?”
“For lots of things. Talking to Cody when it wasn’t my place, telling Tori she’s a fuckhead, and maybe going off on your friend who was either being super bitchy or trying to hit on me. I couldn’t tell.”
I gasped. “You didn’t. I mean, really?”
“It was Tori’s son who called you a slut, and then Kathy basically said you were one.”
“I can’t believe you did that. I’ve wanted to do that to those two for eight years.”
“I thought Kathy was your friend? She said she’s the one who was watching over Cody until I got there.”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t exactly call us friends. Our kids play together and go to school together. It’s all part of being a parent. Wait until our little one has play group.”
“Y-you’re not mad?”
I paused to really think about it. “I’m impressed. I mean, I wouldn’t expect you to punish Cody. Perhaps rewarding him with pancakes and his iPad wasn’t the best way to handle the situation, but it got him to open up to you, which I’ve been trying to get him to do for weeks. As for Tori and Kathy, I’ll apologise on your behalf, but I don’t care that you did it. You may want to learn to grit your teeth though. You’ll deal with a lot of bitchy mothers like them. And then the ones who are married will be worse, because they can complain to their husband, and then you’ll have him turning up on your doorstep. Especially if you call his wife a”—I lowered my voice—“fuckwit.”
“It was fuckhead, actually.” He grinned.
“Tomayto, tomahto. She deserved it. Bryant really called me a slut? He’s usually a nice boy.”
“He was only repeating what he’d heard from his mother.”
“And now I have to go and explain it to Cody.” I stood from the couch.
“Wait …”
I paused.
“You knew they were bitching behind your back, didn’t you? Why didn’t you say anything?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t want the look of pity you’re giving me right now.”
“Well, I get it now, okay? I didn’t understand why we had to remain a secret if we’re giving us a real shot at a future together. I didn’t realise what you’ve been going through in terms of us. Everyone has you under a microscope. If our relationship doesn’t work out, it’ll be hard on both you and Cody, and then you’ll have all those mothers weighing in as well. And our friends, and also everyone from work. So, I’ll stop pushing for more until we’re ready.”
I went the long way ’round so I had to walk past Spence on my way to Cody’s room.
Leaning down, I gave him a soft kiss on his lips. “You did good today. Thank you.”
***
“Hey, bud,” I said as I entered Cody’s room.
Yeah, he knew he was in trouble. Instead of fighting with me over shutting his iPad down, he did it immediately and sat up on his bed properly.
“He told you what happened today, didn’t he?”
“Oh, hon, even if Spence didn’t tell me, I would’ve found out from Bryant’s mother. Or your coach. But unlike them, Spence told me why you did it, and I thought we should talk about that.”
“Do we have to?”
Trust me, kid, I want to have this conversation as much as you do. “Yeah, we kinda do.”
“There’s nothing to tell. Bryant called you a name, and I pushed him for being a bully. You always tell me bullies grow up to be sad people in dead-end jobs. I just wanted Bryant to grow up to be happy.”
I smiled. Smartass. “You know bullying a bully doesn’t work, right?”
He shrugged. “Him
landing on his butt seemed to shut him up.”
Do not laugh. Need to not encourage that behaviour. Do not laugh.
Cody had grown up so much in the last few months. I knew it was a long time coming, and perhaps the events of him becoming a big brother made him suddenly older somehow, but with a flick of a switch, he was no longer my sweet, innocent boy. God, he was acting like a teenager more and more every day and he was only eight.
“It was still wrong,” I said.
“I know. I got mad. The kids at school think it’s funny that I’ve moved in with two stepdads this year. They keep joking you don’t know who the dad is. I hate them all.”
My heart broke for him. “But it’s best to ignore that sort of thing. As hard as it is, they will give in eventually. Especially if you don’t respond. And we didn’t lie to you, hon. Spence is the father of your brother. Some people just like to put others down.”
“Why?” His voice was so small, bringing that innocence I thought was lost to pre-teenagerism.
“Because it makes them feel better about something they’re not happy with in their own life.”
“That’s not fair.”
“No. It’s not. Even so, you’re still going to be punished for starting a fight. You’re grounded for two weeks. No more iPad and no friends after school or on weekends.”
“But—”
“I know your intentions were good, and I love you for it, but I don’t want you to become one of those sad bullies when you’re older.”
He blew out a loud breath and sank back onto his bed. “Fine.”
I picked up his iPad and headed for the door, but was stopped by his small voice asking, “Are you going to marry Uncle Spence?”
“No, honey.” I’ll probably fuck it up long before it gets to that point.
“Because … I’d be okay with it if you did. I like him. He gives me pancakes.”
I laughed. “Good to know.”
In an even smaller voice, he said “And he makes you smile.”
Spencer did make me smile. And he did it without trying.
“So do you. Even if you’ve been naughty.”
He grinned.
“Love you, kiddo.”
I got no response, but that was to be expected when keeping his iPad hostage.
