Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
THEA
Staring at myself in the mirror, I grabbed my brush again and ran it through my hair. I had mostly straight hair, but there was just enough wave that it sometimes curled in weird angles. For example, right now.
It was flattening against the side of my forehead and then winging out. I dampened the brush and ran it through the wave just as Joe appeared. “Are you ready?”
He must have seen the frustration in my eyes. He stepped behind me in the mirror, sliding his hands around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. “You look beautiful. Why is your hair wet on one side?”
He dropped a kiss on the side of my neck. Even though I was unsettled and stressed about how I looked, that subtle touch sent a shiver through my body. Because it was Joe, and it was me, and that was how it was with us.
“It’s got this weird wave,” I said, gesturing to the offending spot in my hair.
Joe straightened and eyed my hair quizzically in the mirror. “I don't notice anything,” he finally said.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, you wouldn't.”
“Joey’s not going to notice your hair, like, at all, and neither are my parents.”
I took a shaky breath. “I know, but—”
“Sweetheart.” He turned me around by the shoulders. “Stop looking in the mirror.”
I peered up at him and took another shallow breath. “I'm nervous.”
“Really? I didn't notice,” he said, his lips curling at the corners.
“Joe.” I nudged him lightly with my elbow, right in his hard abs.
His gaze was understanding as he looked at me. “It's fine. I understand why you're nervous. I really do. My son might notice a number of things, but your hair is probably on the bottom of the list. Now, come on. We need to go pick him up.”
“Should I wait here? You usually pick him up, right?” I asked as he caught my hand in his and tugged me out of the bathroom.
Before we reached the door to his bedroom, he turned. “Yes, I always pick him up.”
“Should I wait here?” I repeated.
“No, I think you should go with me. I told Joey you'd be with me, and cars are very forgiving when it comes to chatting with kids.”
With his hand curled around mine, he led me down the hallway behind him. I went with a little resistance.
“What do you mean cars are very forgiving?”
“Because there’s not as much eye contact. It’s a small trick I thought I figured out myself. When I told my mom, she laughed because she already knew.” He rolled his eyes as he dropped my hand when we reached the kitchen.
He opened a drawer by the doorway into the garage, where he kept his keys and various sundry items. “They don't have to look at you.
Whenever he's in trouble for something, even if it's minor, it's the perfect place to chat.
I manufacture an errand, not like it's hard because my list of things to do is endless. That’s when we talk.
You'll be in the front seat. He'll be buckled up in the back asking tons of questions.”
“Sweetheart, I know you're freaking out, but it’ll be okay. Now, we're going to be late if we don't go.”
I reluctantly followed Joe into the garage and climbed into the passenger seat of his SUV. I laced my fingers tightly together in my lap and tried to quell the anxiety rising in wave after wave inside me.
Joe’s son was the most important person in his entire life, and I was about to meet him. This was so fucking stressful, and I didn't want to freak out. I had no idea how Joey's mom felt about my presence in Joe’s life.
Before I could think better of it, I blurted out my question. “Does Joey’s mom know I'll be there for the pickup?”
“Yep, already told her.” Joe paused as he tapped the button to close the garage door after he backed out. “She knows we've been seeing each other for months, and she knows that we dated in high school.”
“Do you two usually talk ahead like this?”
“I actually saw a therapist to help me figure out how to handle the whole co-parenting thing.
She said we should have conversations about all important matters, even if we couldn't get along. Honestly, we mostly get along. We’re not close.
I know that sounds weird, but it is what it is.
From the few other people I know who have to deal with custody stuff, I think it's probably better that we didn't have a relationship before. There’re no hard feelings about stuff.”
I had so many questions about Joey's mom, but now definitely wasn't the time. “Where do you pick him up?”
“The school bus drops him off at the garage. We used to do house drop-offs, but Joey would always try to get one of us to stay and hang out, and that's really not what I want. This keeps it clean.”
Oh. So many questions crowded my thoughts. I took another nervous breath as we reached downtown Haven’s Bay because that meant we were almost there. The main location for his garage was just past the downtown area.
He reached over, sliding his hand between mine, effectively unlacing my fingers. His touch was warm and reassuring, and my anxiety instantly let up inside. He came to a stop at a corner, and I glanced over to find his gaze waiting for me.
“It's going to be fine.”
“What if he doesn't like me?”
“He's six years old. He likes most everybody. You're the first woman I’ve brought to meet him, and he knows you mean a lot to me.”
I swallowed and took a breath because I couldn’t decide if that made matters better or worse. Joe simply held my hand and kept driving. Before I knew it, we were turning in at the garage.
He gave my hand one last squeeze before he parked and turned off the engine. I wasn't sure what to do. We hadn't discussed if I should get out of the SUV or wait here. Fortunately, I didn’t have to dwell long.
“Come on in. Joey will be hanging out along the edges of the garage where he's allowed. He'll be distracted and happy.”
“Are you sure I should come in?”
At his nod, I climbed out. Before we even got to the glass door that led into the back of the garage, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, then a little boy burst out of the door.
“Dad!” he called.
He bumped into Joe’s legs as Joe released my hand and leaned down to swing him up into his arms.
“Hey, big guy.” He lifted him before setting him against his hip.
Joe’s son turned to look at me. He looked so much like Joe had when we were in elementary school together that my heart lodged into my throat and emotion roared through me. Oh, wow. He was a miniature version of Joe.
“Hi,” Joey said, completely calm.
“Hi, I'm Thea.”
He wiggled, and Joe set him on the ground. “I'm Joey,” he announced as he took several steps to stand in front of me, holding his hand out formally.
I shook his hand, and he held it as he studied my face. “My dad loves you.”
“Oh, well, I know he loves you very much,” I returned.
“Of course, he does,” Joey replied matter-of-factly, so utterly confident in his father’s love for him that my heart twisted in my chest.
I couldn't help the little laugh that slipped out. “Of course.”
“He’s my dad. He's known you a lot longer than me, though.”
“That's true,” I agreed. “He's known me since kindergarten, at least.”
“Maybe before that. I think our parents might have occasionally gone to the same church,” Joe offered.
Another nervous laugh bubbled out. “It's very nice to meet you, Joey.”
A big smile broke across his face. “You too.” He held his hand up for what I assumed was a high five. I didn't hesitate and slapped my palm to his. “I like you,” he announced.
“You do?”
“Well, so far. You're pretty,” Joey offered.
Joey clambered into the SUV, sighing as Joe checked to make sure he was buckled into the booster seat.
Although I’d known he was a father since he’d told me, all of a sudden, it became real.
Before this moment, it had been an idea in my brain.
Now, the knowledge was concrete, and he gave off major dad energy.
I thought it was sexy. Not that I needed anything to make Joe seem sexier to me.
His easy confidence and protectiveness were just hot.
I climbed into the front passenger seat and promptly discovered why Joe said car rides were easy with kids.
If you could deal with the conversation, that is.
Joey talked almost nonstop. He wasn't even focused on me.
He talked about school, about some girl who he thought was annoying, his favorite class, and then his most hated class.
It was a lot. I just listened. A few times Joe caught my eyes and grinned.
I quietly took a breath and let it out, finally starting to relax. It was all going great until Joey tapped me on the shoulder, focusing his piercing gaze on me when I glanced back. “When are you and Dad getting married? Grammy said Dad's asking you.”