Chapter 32
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
LINC
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Tessa asks me.
It’s been two months since the disastrous Saturday night with my family. We’ve been juggling video calls and flights to spend time with each other while I keep the promise I made to Roman to finish the European office.
Tessa, on the other hand, has spent that time finishing the renovations in her home. She only has the kitchen left to finish, and she’s graciously allowing me to help her with it. Because the woman still won’t agree to move into my apartment yet.
Which I understand. Her independence is part of what I love about her. But I don’t love trying to cook on a stovetop that should have been condemned during the last century, or sleep on the fucking floor because she can’t decide what bed frame to buy.
On the plus side, she went to see her gynecologist the week after the family party. He ran a lot of tests and found no problems .
She also met with her ex-husband last week. To tell him that she planned to properly introduce me to Zoe as her boyfriend. She tells me it went as well as expected, which is Tessa’s code word for fine.
“I don’t know if I’m ready,” I tell her in answer to her question. “Are you?” I’ve got a French comic book in my hand. According to the guy selling them in a shop down the road from the office in Paris, this one is a collector’s item. And I’m not above buying my girlfriend’s kid’s affection.
“Well it’s too late to back out now.” Tessa nods at the windshield. We’re sitting in my car outside the school. I arrived from Paris last night. And I spent it alone in my apartment because it’s Tessa’s week with Zoe. And this morning I met with Roman and told him the Paris office should be completely up and running within two weeks and I’ll be staying in the US after that.
I also gave him the resumes for five European PR professionals who are looking for their next career move and have the right kind of experience to hit the ground running with the Paris office.
We’ve agreed that I’ll go back to my old role for now, which will require a lot less travel now that we have a second office. But in reality I’m still trying to decide what I want to do in the future.
Zoe hugs her friends and smiles when she sees Tessa leaning out of the window, waving at her.
“Hey,” Zoe says, pulling the back door open and throwing her backpack on the seat. “I didn’t know you were coming to pick me up, Linc.”
“I bought you a gift,” I tell her, handing her the comic book.
Her eyes light up. “No way.”
I shrug. “Way.”
Her eyes meet mine and she laughs. “So are we doing this?” she asks .
“Doing what?” Tessa looks over her shoulder at her daughter as Zoe sits down and closes the door. She buckles herself in, then picks up the comic book again, thumbing through it.
“Doing the whole you and Linc are a couple thing,” Zoe says, sounding almost bored. “Just promise me I’ll get the biggest room in his apartment and I’m fine with it.”
Tessa’s eyes meet mine. She looks amused.
“I was at least going to take you out to dinner first,” I tell Zoe.
She grins back at me. “Didn’t you tell me not to let strange guys buy me dinner?”
“I’m not a strange guy,” I point out. “I’m your new daddy.”
Zoe makes a gagging noise. “Don’t ever say it like that again.”
“Daddy Linc?” I suggest.
She rolls her eyes at me.
“Just Linc. And that room is going to be mine, right?”
“We’re here to talk to you about us dating. Not moving in together,” Tessa says. “We’re not doing that yet.”
“I already knew you were dating.” Zoe sighs loudly. “Can’t I at least get something good out of this?” She’s smiling though, and I know she’s kidding. “I’ll tell you what, if you give me the biggest room I’ll call you Father Linc.”
“That makes me sound like a priest,” I laugh.
She shrugs. “If it fits, it fits.”
“We’re not moving in together,” Tessa tells her, exasperation in her voice. “You need some time to get used to this first.”
“No I don’t.” Zoe shrugs. “I need to move into a huge apartment with a huge TV.”
“Zoe!” Tessa shoots me a ‘help me’ look.
I shrug at her, because she knows I want us to live together .
“Can I ask for one more thing?” Zoe says, as I start up the engine, because all the cars in front of us have already pulled away. And to be honest, I need something to eat.
“What is it?” Tessa asks.
“When you two get married, can I wear a tux instead of a pink dress? And if you have a kid, can I name it?”
“We’re not getting married either,” Tessa says uneasily.
“Yet,” I add, because yeah, we are. Sooner rather than later.
Tessa’s eyes meet mine. She looks genuinely surprised.
“I’m an old fashioned guy,” I remind her. Tessa bites down a smile.
“He hasn’t even asked me,” Tessa tells her. “Calm down. We just wanted to tell you we’re seeing each other, if that’s okay with you.”
“It’s fine.” Zoe shakes her head, looking down at the comic book. “Stop making a big deal out of it.”
I start to laugh, pulling out into the traffic. We already decided where we were going to eat. A little Italian restaurant I love called Il Piccolo. It’s been run by the same family for years. First the grandpa, then his son. Now the granddaughter runs it.
It was the place Mom used to take us when Brooks and I were kids. Dad was all about fancy restaurants, Mom was all about great food.
I’m excited to take Zoe and Tessa there.
“Can you put some music on?” Zoe asks. “The Linebackers if you could.”
Tessa’s still smiling. And so am I. Because this kid is completely unpredictable but she’s a blast.
I get the feeling life will never be boring with her around.
One Month Later …
TESSA
“Oh my god, that was so good.” I finish the last forkful of spaghetti and my eyes catch Linc. He’s beaming because I think I love this restaurant as much as he does. We came here to celebrate his return from Paris for good. Il Piccolo has turned into our celebration location. “But I’m not sure I’m going to be able to walk after all this food.”
“We can roll you home,” Zoe says.
“It’ll take a while,” Linc replies.
“Okay, we can roll her back to your car. And then you can lift her in because you’re her boyfriend and that’s a boyfriend job.”
Linc’s eyes meet mine. Damn, I love this man. And I love the way he and Zoe get along so well. They’ve spent most of the meal talking about some computer game that’s taking Zoe’s school by storm. It involves fighting dragons and befriending elves, or something. I kind of tune it out and watch the two people I love the most bond in the sweetest of ways.
“What are you smiling about?” Linc asks, his voice soft.
“I’m happy,” I tell him. And it sounds so simple, but it’s not. Happiness is complicated. It can feel out of reach.
For the longest time I wondered if I’d ever feel it again.
And yet here I am, enjoying an evening in New York in a pretty little Italian restaurant, with my stomach about to explode, not because I’m having a bad period but because I’m having great food.
It doesn’t get much better than this.
“Oh god, she’s getting all sentimental,” Zoe says. “Watch out, she’ll start crying in a minute. ”
Linc opens his mouth to respond but then his phone starts to ring. He pulls it from his pocket and groans.
“It’s Roman.”
“Take it,” I tell him. Because he’ll be distracted if he doesn’t. And we’ve finished eating anyway.
He nods. “Thanks.” He heads outside, swiping the screen to accept the call.
The server comes over. “Can I get you anything else?” she asks.
“Can we take some cannolis to go?” I ask. Zoe’s been eyeing them all night. And I’d love to try one, but later. “Six assorted ones. And the check please.”
“Of course.”
“Linc’s gonna be mad at you if you pick up the check,” Zoe says. The girl can read my mind. But I’m not going to let him pay for everything. I still like my newfound independence.
I shrug. “He’ll learn to live with it.” He’d better.
“I like him,” she says. And it makes my heart clench.
“You do?”
“Yeah. He’s good for you. He’s funny and he has great taste in comic books.” Her face suddenly turns serious. “I think he’ll be a good addition to the family.”
And now my chest feels as full as my stomach. “You know you’re my number one, right?” I say softly. “You’ll always come first.”
“That’s fine until I go to college.” She nods. “But after that you’re gonna have to let me go. I’ll be an adult. Doing adult things. Probably things that I don’t want my mom to know about.”
“Zoe!” My mouth falls open.
“It’s true. I’m glad you and Linc have each other. It takes the pressure off me.” She shrugs. “By the way, I’m staying at Maisie’s tomorrow night. She’s having a sleepover. So you and Linc can do all the embarrassing things you want without me there to supervise.”
I start laughing. I can’t help it. “Sometimes I can’t decide if you’re my daughter or my mother.”
“Tonight I’m your daughter. Because I can’t afford to pay for dinner.”
Linc walks back in right as I’m signing the check. He frowns. “This was supposed to be my treat.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I’m just trying to buy your affection.”
“By affection she means sex,” Zoe says.
I shoot her a look. There are some things kids can’t say out loud. This is definitely one of them.
“Sorry.” But she doesn’t look it.
Linc grins. “Come on. Let’s get you both home.”
The family comes out of the kitchen and Linc hugs them all, before they swamp Zoe and I with hugs, too. The granddaughter gives Zoe the bag with the box of cannolis, and then the three of us walk outside into the early evening air.
Linc puts one arm around my shoulders, and the other around Zoe’s as we walk to his car that’s parked up the street.
To a casual bystander we must look like any other normal family. Eating early, then heading home for the evening.
“What did Roman have to say?” I ask him. In the excitement of leaving, I’d forgotten to ask about his phone call.
“He just wanted to update me on how the European office is going.”
I look up at him. “And?”
He smiles softly. “And he’s happy with the new guy. He’s already bringing in new business.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“So do we get to move in with you now?” Zoe asks. “Because I seriously need to start packing if we do. I have a lot of stuff.”
“That depends on your mom. Whether she’s ready.” His voice is even. He’s not making this a big thing, which I appreciate so much.
In another month I should have the remodel finished. The kitchen is already underway. Whatever happens, I’m going to keep it. Linc wants me to as well. I’ll either rent it out, or he can move in with us.
It’s my choice. That’s what he says.
But the idea of this big man having to share my small bed and the three of us all trying to use the bathroom or get breakfast together in the morning just doesn’t make sense. Not when his apartment is so much bigger.
My one reservation is Zoe. But she’s right. I have five more years of her, and then she’ll be grown. I can’t be leaning on her to be my support. Not the way Linc’s mom did with him.
“Mom?” Zoe says. And I realize we’ve reached Linc’s car. She’s standing in front of us. Linc’s arm is still around my shoulders.
“Sorry.” I smile at her. “I was just thinking.”
“I know.” She rolls her eyes. “Have you stopped now?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I have.”
“Good. So are we moving in with Linc or not?”
I look at the man who’s changed my life. The one who I know will be there for me and Zoe, no matter what. His gaze is easy, but I can tell he wants to know, too.
So for once I put my heart before my head.
“Yes,” I say firmly. “We are.”
Before I can say anything else, Linc swings me into his arms, his mouth pressing against mine as Zoe lets out a whoop. His kiss is soft, and I can feel his lips curling into a smile beneath mine.
“Thank God,” he says. “Now let’s go home.”
“To whose home?” Zoe asks. “Yours or ours.”
He reaches out to ruffle her hair. “Same thing, kid. Same thing.”