Chapter Thirty-One
Riley
It turned out to be a good idea to join the event because even the equity partners were participating. They seemed to genuinely want to get to know the new hires.
"Look, the hours are still long, but it's very rewarding, and I'm not nearly as stressed as I was when I first started out. Probably because after so much experience, things become routine," Lilly, one of the female partners, said.
I asked her about her day-to-day activities, but I was still on pins and needles, waiting for Duncan's call. Finally, at nine o'clock, my phone buzzed. I was chitchatting with the other new hires and excused myself, going out on the balcony.
"Hey, how’s everything going?" I asked. "Is Jeremy awake?"
"No, he only woke up briefly, then fell back asleep. Don't think you'll get to talk to him tonight. But I just wanted to keep you informed so you don't worry."
"Thanks. I'm really glad you called."
"How’s the event?"
"It's good that I came. I like mingling with everyone, and even some of the equity partners are here."
"It says a lot about them that they like to personally meet everyone who starts. You're going to kick ass."
Every time he told me that, my heart soared. I had self-confidence, but it was different when he believed in me.
"I'll let you get back to it," he said.
"Can you call tomorrow morning and let me know how he feels?" I asked.
"Sure. Now, I want you to focus on mingling and not on Jeremy, okay?"
"I'll try," I said, but I knew I couldn't push him to the back of my mind just like that.
When it came to Jeremy, I couldn't compartmentalize.
The next morning, I was hoping to hear from Duncan as soon as I woke up, but I didn't.
I called him right as I left the house. I couldn't start my day without knowing if Jeremy was at least feeling better. Thankfully, he picked up.
"Hey," I said. "Good morning."
"Hi." He sounded absolutely exhausted.
"Oh my God, did I wake you up?"
"No. I didn't sleep much. Jeremy kept waking up during the night and throwing up. I even asked the on-call doctor to come. He's ruled out anything more serious than nasty food poisoning."
"Poor guy."
"Yeah. So, I'm going to spend the day with him at home."
"I can call in sick and stay with him as well," I said. "In fact, I'm going to do that."
"No," Duncan said sternly, almost making me wince.
"I can at least come and see him before I go into the office," I said.
"You’ll be late, Riley. It's your first month. What kind of impression will that make?"
"I don't care," I said. I knew I wasn't being rational, but the thought of being away from Jeremy when he was sick was simply painful. I’d never experienced anything like it.
“I do.”
“Fine, I won’t come now. But I’ll skip the briefing they wanted to do after hours this evening?—”
"Absolutely not. Listen to me, Riley. You just started a new job that you need to focus on. We can't hold you back."
"What do you mean?" I asked, leaning against the wall. "You're not holding me back."
Duncan huffed out a breath. "Promise me you'll go to work today and give it your best shot. That you will not spend any time worrying about Jeremy."
"But that's unfair," I replied.
"Listen to me, Riley. Law firms are like hawks. Every corporation is. They watch you closely when you first start. They need to see you at your very best. You can't be worrying about your boyfriend's son."
The way he phrased it made my heart hurt. Of course I wasn’t Jeremy's mom. I knew that. I just felt like I was.
"You said that this week is going to be brutal and that you’ll need to stay at the office every evening," he continued.
"I know," I said quickly. "But I didn't know that Jeremy would get sick."
"He's a kid. They get sick often." Duncan sounded calmer. "But this week I want you to forget about us and give it your best. Don't even think about asking your bosses to let you go earlier in the evening."
"I don't like the sound of that," I said.
"I don't like it, either, but it's necessary. The last thing you need is for us to hold you back."
"You're not," I replied. Why did he keep repeating that? "Send me text updates, okay?"
"I can do that. I promise," Duncan said.
My heart was still heavy as I hung up.
Duncan
"Dude, what the fuck? That's a shitty way to tell her not to worry." Griffin had dropped by this morning to discuss business with me after I told my brothers that I couldn't join them at the office.
"Huh?" I asked. I was completely wrecked. I’d slept maybe two hours combined the whole night, probably even less. I woke up often, and then I couldn't fall back asleep.
When Jeremy woke up and threw up again at four in the morning, I called the doctor. I feared he might need an IV or something. It happened so often when he was a baby, and I still had PTSD from it. But the doctor assured me that it wasn’t necessary.
"What's with all that talk about keeping her back?"
I shrugged. "It’s the truth. What do you think a boss would think if she told them that she's coming late because she needs to check on her boyfriend's son? Or that she has to leave early?"
"That's not the point. Obviously, you’re right. It's just, you know, you have no filter when you're exhausted."
"I'm not just exhausted," I said. "I'm demolished."
"Yeah," Griffin said, "I can see that. I shouldn’t have dropped by."
"I can’t even think about business. I'm going to lie down with Jeremy."
"I can call the family and have us watch him in turns."
I shook my head. "I appreciate that, but it's really not necessary."
He laughed. "Unlike Riley, we own our businesses, so no one can tell us off for taking time away."
I waved my hand.
"Is your nanny coming today?" Griffin asked.
"She was supposed to, but I messaged her this morning and told her that Jeremy's sick. I won't leave him alone with someone new when he’s feeling like this. I'll play it by ear."
"Well, whatever that ear says," he said, pointing at me, "make sure you don't scare Riley off. We like her. She's good for both of you."
"I know that," I said. "Stop giving me shit." I had no idea what had gotten into him.
After he left, I fell asleep right away.
Jeremy didn’t feel better Tuesday either. I told his nanny not to come by. I was going to spend every day with him until he got better.
"Okay, buddy. I think that's it for breakfast." He’d only had toast.
"Dad, can I have a pancake?" he asked.
I looked at him. "If you don't get sick for another few hours, then I'll consider it. How about that?"
"Okay,” he said. Then he put his hands under his chin, his elbows on the counter, as he looked up at me. "Dad, do you think I can see Riley today?"
I shook my head. "No, buddy. She's got a lot on her plate this week, but we'll talk to her on the weekend."
"I really, really like Riley."
I smiled. "So do I."
He straightened up. "Really? But then it's perfect. I like her, and you like her, and I know she likes both of us because I asked her, so that means she can be my mom. Don't you think so? My actual mom, not my Dublin mom." He said that as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Riley and I had planned to talk to him about our relationship when we were together, but the timing felt right now. He’d given me an in.
“Jeremy, let's go sit on the couch and talk a bit.”
"Am I in trouble?" he asked me timidly.
I realized that I only used that when I wanted to chastise him. “No, not at all. There are just some things I've been meaning to talk to you about for a while and never found the right moment.”
As we sat down on the couch, I looked for signs that he was about to get ill again. But he seemed in top shape so far. He'd even gotten some color back in his cheeks.
“So, as you know, Riley and I have gotten very close. We’re dating.”
Jeremy stood up on the couch abruptly so he was towering over me. Then he came right up to me, holding my head and laughing. "Yes, yes, Daddy, yes. I told Grandma that I wished you would find a nice lady like Uncle Chase, and you did. Riley is the best."
“I agree.”
"Then she can be my mom," he said. “When can she move in with us?”
"One thing at a time!" I patted the spot on the couch next to me.
He sat down, looking at me. "She will move in with us, right?"
"I’ll ask her."
"Can I do it?"
I laughed, but an idea was starting to form in my head. Now that I was talking to Jeremy, my neurons lit up out of the coma they'd been in.
Fuck! Griffin was right. I’d been harsh on the phone.
"Did you ask her to be your girlfriend?"
"What?" I opened my mouth and closed it again.
"Dad, you have to do it. That's what they say at school."
"Right," I said, trying to sound like I was on the same page with him. I didn't like for my son to see me discombobulated. He needed to know that I was in control of the situation and could take care of him. "She is my girlfriend," I assured him.
"Since when?"
"Why does it matter?" I asked.
“Because I want to know how long I have to wait to ask her to move in with us. Some of the kids at school were pissed that their dads asked their new girlfriend to move in too fast. But I wouldn't mind.”
I raised a brow. "Since when do you say ‘pissed’?"
Jeremy grinned. “I always say it when you and Riley aren’t around. Uncles Finn and Griffin don't mind.”
I was going to have a word with those two.
“We’re in no hurry. We need to wait for the time to be right.”
"Why do adults always say that?" He sighed dramatically. "It's so boring. Why wait when she can move in now?"
Because she has to want to. She has to be ready .
I didn't say that part out loud, though.
Mom dropped by later that afternoon. Unfortunately, Jeremy was asleep.
"Darling," she whispered, “I brought some snacks for Jeremy."
"Mom, he can't keep a lot down."
"No, these are special snacks. I used to make them for you kids when you were sick. They help an upset stomach." She put containers of Tupperware on the kitchen island.
"Thanks." I opened one and peered inside it.