Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mikki sat on the couch in Alyssia’s office, legs crossed, and laptop balanced on her knees. She had a friend—Jaycie—on speaker, but mostly what echoed through her phone was the clacking of keys.
Alyssia scrolled through lists of supplies—purchases she needed to grow the shelter. Tate was working his contacts to find a storage facility for his hardware. So many servers had to be on and online all the time, and they needed a secure location to live in.
It was the same scene as it had been for almost two weeks, and Alyssia found it comforting. That, and—now that she was back on daytime shifts—she loved waking up next to Tate, regardless of whose place they stayed at.
Tate reached around Alyssia for a pen. He brushed his lips over her cheek before scooting away again, and going back to his pacing and whatever he was looking up on the tablet he held. Heat flooded Alyssia’s face when she realized Mikki was watching, mouth twisted in amusement.
Mikki shook her head and turned back to her work. “You two are cute.”
“Are they at it again?” Jaycie’s teasing voice came over the phone.
Alyssia flushed at playful exchange. She needed to meet more of Mikki’s friends.
“Like, non-stop.” Mikki glanced at Alyssia again. “I don’t know why Jared’s still grumpy about it.”
Alyssia tucked away the sliver of hurt at the reminder.
He’d told Tate he was okay, but he still snarled when he saw the two of them together.
She knew it would take time, but Jared still meant the world to her.
She couldn’t ask for a better older brother.
“It’s probably hard to get if you don’t have siblings. ”
Mikki shrugged. “I guess. Personally, I think he’s just jealous. When Holly and Robert find out, he’s going to have to share the ‘when are we getting grandkids’ conversations with you.”
“I don’t envy that,” Jacyee said. “Dealing with developers is all the exposure to children that I want.” She had been vague about what she did, but apparently it had to do with video games.
A nervous pit sank into Alyssia’s gut. It had been there a lot lately. A hint of nausea that surged at certain times of the day, then ebbed again as she lost herself in work.
Sweet, heartfelt confessions of love were one thing, but it wasn’t like they were even living together yet, let alone having a children conversation.
It was true; Tate said he wanted to be her future, but they hadn’t talked about things like that.
And as much as she wanted kids, she wasn’t sure that fell in line with his vision.
She risked a glance at Tate. He stared at his tablet, his face a flat mask, and his finger tapping on the screen.
“I’m pretty sure he’s not jealous.” Tate finally looked up. “Really? You get the grandkids question already? You’re not even married yet.”
Mikki held up her left hand and wiggled her fingers.
The overhead lights sparkled off diamonds.
“I’m just saying, join us for Sunday dinner holding hands, instead of sitting at opposite ends of the room pretending you don’t see each other, and things will change.
It’s not like it’s a big deal, we’re just running out of polite excuses. ”
“Kids aren’t in your future?” Tate asked.
Alyssia tried not to pick apart his question. There was no reason to analyze the words, examine them for inflection. That wasn’t uncertainty or disgust she heard in her voice.
“I don’t know.” Mikki turned her attention back to her work, typing as she talked. “Maybe. I know, he’s ten years older, they’ve been waiting for a long time, but we’re not sure if we want to do that.”
Alyssia hadn’t ever heard that from Jared before. Not that they spent a lot of time talking about his baby plans. Still, she’d always just assumed it was something she’d do, it was something Jared would do. “So are you saying you’ll never…?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’ve still got time, and we’re still having fun, you know?”
“I completely understand.” Tate was making scrolling motions on the screen now, instead of random taps.
Currents of uneasiness rocked through Alyssia. “Which bit?” She tried to keep her tone casual. “The not knowing for sure, or the ‘it’s probably never going to happen?’”
He looked up, and his gaze met hers. “I have a press release explaining your situation with Thompson’s dog. Something to help you change the perception of the shelter back to positive. Do you want to hit up the online news outlets with the information, or stick to local television stations?”
“Online too. Everyone who’ll listen.” She squashed her rising disappointment.
She shouldn’t jump to conclusions. It wasn’t as if he’d said it was never going to happen.
And again, it wasn’t even like they had moved that far in their relationship.
But she’d struggle to make things work, even with him, if kids weren’t an option.
Had he really thought this confession of love thing through? Had she?
She’d never kept what she wanted from her future a secret. Was she overreacting, or was this just one of many things they were about to clash over?
“So.” Jaycie’s voice was loud and hollow. “Speaking of media outlets, any news on Thompson?”
Tate shook his head. “Certified mail says he received the letter.” They’d decided to give him one more chance to rescind the stories about the shelter, and to drop the lawsuit.
To issue a public apology, and then just let the issue die.
The alternative wouldn’t quite be as brutal as what he’d done to the shelter, but it certainly wouldn’t paint Thompson or his local TV station a good light, and Alyssia’s attorney already had a counter-suit drawn up if needed.
“No response. He won’t take my calls, and has refused any in-person meetings. ”
“Bryce Thompson was not available for response,” Jaycie said in chirpy voice.
Alyssia stifled a laugh when the Mikki woman flipped her hair over her shoulder, and adjusted an invisible jacket. It was Mikki and Jaycie’s anchorwoman impersonation. Mikki played the face, and Jaycie provided the voice. They’d been sliding into it off and on for days.
“So, we crucify the bastard.” Tate tapped out something on the screen in front of him.
“You’ve got one more avenue.” Alyssia didn’t want to bring it up. Tate would hate the idea. But she still felt like Thompson deserved a chance. His kid didn’t. That sadistic fuck needed to pay, but just because his dad was delusional didn’t mean he should lose the things he’d worked for.
“No, I really don’t.” Tate rubbed his eyes. “All right, fine. She’s out of town until Friday, though. I’ll talk to her then. She’s not going to listen. Especially when I tell her we don’t need Skriddie’s hardware anymore.”
“I’m missing something,” Mikki said.
“His mother has certain ins with Mr. Thompson,” Alyssia explained.
“They’re fucking. Have been for years.” Tate made himself comfortable in a nearby chair.
Mikki’s brows rose. “And I thought my family was dysfunctional.”
“You have no idea.”
Alyssia frowned at the resignation in Tate’s voice.
The entire evening of conversations was just one bad reminder after another.
A nudge, asking if she and Tate knew what they were doing.
Or worse, reminding her this may be far more temporary than she’d like.
She didn’t want to think that way, but every time she banished the insistent voice in the back of her head, it pecked at her resolve until it was free again.