Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Let’s Wing It
~~Drakos~~
Time has a way of bringing clarity to the stickiest emotional situation. I’ve had four days to think about everything, and that time away from Portland gave me much-needed space to distance myself enough to make rational rather than emotional decisions.
We won the first game of Round Two and lost the second. I played pretty well considering the upheaval in my personal life. Now we’re back in Portland, and I’m ready to take action.
Aria and I haven’t communicated since she threw me out of her apartment, butt naked. I’m pissed at her right now, and it’s better I stay away from her, but I’m not staying away from my son.
Fuck her if she has an issue with it. Wild gave me the name of a good attorney, and I have an appointment with him in two weeks. I want to get through this next round first.
Regardless, I’m not going to poke the bear. I watch from the tunnel rather than the bleachers, positioning myself in such a way that Aria can’t see me, but Noah can.
I’m hurt by Aria’s deception, but I can’t lie. I’m still attracted to her, and I think about her more than I should. Maybe we can patch this up. Maybe we can’t. Noah’s my priority for now.
I loiter near the rink entrance where the kids will need to pass by as they prepare for practice. Noah doesn’t see me at first, allowing me to watch him without reservation. I see the resemblance so clearly now and wonder if it’s obvious to anyone else. Not that I care one way or another.
I see the exact moment Noah spots me, and my heart swells with pride so intense, I’m choked up by the raw emotions slamming into me. I quickly get myself together. He can’t see me as a blubbering fool.
“Drakos! You’re back.” My son launches himself at me, catching me entirely off guard.
I stagger back a few steps and slam into the tunnel wall as he barrels into me.
I’m laughing at the absurdity of a six-year-old almost taking me out.
Noah hugs me, and I hug him back. I hold on as if I’ll never let go.
I wish I could take him home with me, but there’s a long road to travel before that happens.
“Just got in this morning.”
“I missed you.”
I smile and blink back tears. “I missed you, too, buddy.”
“Would you be my daddy?” Noah stares up at me with a completely earnest face, and I’m utterly caught off guard. I don’t know where this is coming from or how to respond. I can’t tell him the truth here. It needs to be done privately.
“Uh, what?”
“My daddy. We have a father-son game coming up, and I need a dad. You’re the only man I’ve met that I want for my daddy.”
“Oh, okay, yeah, sure. If it’s at a time when I’m available.” I relax a little as I realize he hasn’t figured anything out yet. Staring into those eyes, my heart melts into a pool at Noah’s feet. If only my parents could have met him.
“Noah, leave Mr. Drakos alone.” Aria stands on the bottom bleacher, hands on hips and wearing a formidable scowl.
I trade her scowl for scowl. I’m the one with the right to be pissed, not her.
At the same time, this glow of warm contentment spreads through me like a spilled glass of milk spreading across a tiled floor.
I want to tell Noah so badly that I am his dad, but this has to be done delicately with the right timing.
I must have patience, even if it kills me.
“I have to practice. Will you watch?” Noah grins, and I beam with happiness.
“You bet I’ll watch.”
Noah laughs joyously and sprints onto the ice.
I watch him until I hear Aria clear her throat.
I glance toward her, and damn if my heart doesn’t skip a beat and my insides curl with pleasure.
Why do I let her do this to me? My mom’s words come back to me.
Drakos, when you find her, you’ll know. It won’t necessarily be easy.
In fact, nothing worth having is easy, but it is worth fighting for.
Is Aria worth fighting for? Or have we hurt each other too much? Can I forgive her?
“Could I have a private word with you?” Aria interrupts my introspection.
“Uh, sure.” I follow her out of the rink and into a hallway. She stops and looks around. There’re people milling about.
“This way.” I guide her toward an empty office and lock the door behind us. I don’t want anyone disturbing our conversation. She takes a seat in an office chair while I choose to park my ass on the edge of the desk. We regard each other like we’re sizing each other up before battle.
“I’ve spoken with my sister’s best friend from Vegas.”
I sit back and cross my arms over my chest and wait. I’m not going to make this easy for her. She deserves some discomfort.
Aria stands and begins to pace. I watch impassively and say nothing.
“I was wrong about my sister.”
“Exactly how?”
“She didn’t live the life I thought she did. You were telling the truth about how you met her, and I didn’t want to believe you.” She stops pacing and faces me. Her stricken expression almost undoes me, but I hold my ground. I resist the urge to pull her into my arms and make her hurt go away.
I merely nod.
“I owe you a big apology.”
“I know. You owe me a lot.”
She scowls at my cocky remark. I don’t care. I’m lashing out because she mistrusted and hated me while I didn’t have a clue what her problem was.
“I guess I deserve that,” she admits.
“You do.” I’m not backing down and giving her an out. She’s going to have to squirm for a while.
“I’m really sorry.”
I stare her down, and to her credit she stares right back. I want to be mad at her, to make her pay, but I’m mesmerized by those beautiful eyes, and being an asshole isn’t as appealing as it once was.
“I didn’t give up my rights to Noah. I didn’t know about him.”
“I—I believe you.”
Her admission surprises me. “You do?”
“I’ve been such a bitch to you these past two seasons. I don’t think there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, but if there is, I need to know.”
My filthy mind immediately comes up with various scenarios that’ll help with that. All of them involve skin, condoms, and a healthy workout between the sheets. Yet what comes out of my mouth is a complete and total surprise.
“Move in with me.”
Her eyes widen in shock, and I’m as shocked as she is.
“What?”
“Yeah. I want Noah in my life. You want Noah in yours. We can fight about it, or you can move in.” This idea that I blurted out without thinking is gaining momentum.
“Are you right in the head?” She tries to blow off my invitation with a joke.
“Absolutely. The sex between us is hot enough to burn down an entire forest. We somewhat get along. Noah would be the biggest winner of all with this arrangement, and I’m willing to make the sacrifice.”
“Don’t you live with Kirby?”
“I do, but I’ll find a house with a big yard in a nice neighborhood.”
She shakes her head, but I’m picking up steam. I like this idea.
“You don’t want to be saddled with one woman. That’s not who you are.”
“I don’t think you know what kind of man I am.”
“Then tell me.” She issues a challenge I’m more than happy to accept.
“I’m loyal. I’m dedicated. I’m honest, and when I say I’ll do something, I do it. And I want my son with me. I have a lot of lost time to make up.”
“We don’t get along.” She’s stalling, and I’m amused.
“We get along great in the sack. We’ll wing the rest.”
“We hate each other.”
“No, we don’t. We haven’t for a while.” I look her straight in the eye and dare her to dispute my claim. She doesn’t.
“Are you expecting us to share a bed?”
“Well, fuck yeah.” That’d be a trade-off for tolerating her smart mouth.
“Would you still see other women?”
“Nah, I won’t need to.”
“This is only temporary, right? I mean, until we can work something out that’s beneficial to all of us?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want.” And what do I want? I’m not sure. I’m willing to try living with Aria. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
“I need to think about this.” She’s conflicted, and I can’t blame her. I did suggest a shared living arrangement without any prior hints. Hell, I didn’t know I was going to say that until I opened my mouth.
“Take all the time you need.”
“Shouldn’t we get a paternity test before telling Noah? My sister lied about a lot of things. She might’ve lied about this.”
“Yeah, I suppose we should, but considering she never approached me for child support, I’m not sure why she’d lie. What would’ve been in it for her?”
Aria shrugs. Neither of us have the answer.
“Let’s get it done.” But the results aren’t going to change anything. I’m certain of it. Noah is my son. I feel it as well as see it.
I’m the type of guy who makes a decision and sticks with it until the bitter end.
I’ve made this decision. Aria and I will live together with Noah.
I’ll convince her because it’s all about Noah for both of us.
He needs Aria, but he needs me too. Rather than drag all three of us through a custody battle, this solution seems reasonable.
I do have an ulterior motive. I’m drawn to Aria, and I want to explore this thing between us. Perhaps my suggestion seems hasty, but I see a simple logic in it. We try it, and if it doesn’t work out, we negotiate something different.
Easy as hell.
I hope.