Chapter 24 #4
He swings back around to face me, cutting me off. “Savannah doesn’t want them to know. I only told you because I knew you wouldn’t let it go. I’m talking with her and trying to help her figure this shit out in her head, so can you just drop it and let her find the right time to open up to them?”
Sitting back isn’t something I’m good at doing but fuck if raising kids hasn’t forced me to learn. It’s still not my first choice, but at times it’s been my only choice.
I take a good look at my son as I think about everything I’m seeing and hearing in him. Keaton’s one of the popular kids at school. Always has been. High school has been a rollercoaster for him and me as he’s navigated his way through that popularity and everything it’s brought him.
Girls are all over him while boys look up to him.
Last year, he and I went to battle often over the way he treated girls.
He’s always respected girls but having a never-ending line of them waiting to gain his attention meant that when he grew bored there was always another girl in line.
As far as I was concerned, Keaton was too willing to go from one to the next without enough thought about the feelings involved.
We fought a lot while I did my damnedest to teach him that this wasn’t acceptable. Somewhere along the way, he paid attention and at the end of last year, I noticed a change in him. It was subtle, but it was there, and he’s only dated two girls this year.
After listening to him talk about how he’s trying to help Savannah, I sense more of a change in him. I also sense the kind of responsibility that Harlow and I have wanted to see in him for a long time.
Maybe I need to give him the space to see this through. To not only help his friend but also to mature some more himself.
I nod. “I’ll drop it. But she needs to talk with her parents about this at some point.”
“Yeah, Dad, I know. I’ll help her get there.” He goes back to his punching bag, hitting it twice before asking, “Can you spot me?”
I eye the weights. “Yeah.” I can’t recall the last time Keaton asked me for any kind of help. I’ve got a million things to do this afternoon, but there’s no way I’m saying no to him.
He stops punching the bag and removes his gloves. “Have you got any time later to help me with my bike?”
“I’ve got all afternoon.” I’ll stay up late to get my shit done. “Are you going out tonight or do you wanna help me barbecue some steak for dinner?”
He gives me a pained look. “You didn’t get that same steak as last time, did you? Mum hated that and never shut up about it for a week.”
“No, I went to a different butcher.” I’ll never make the mistake of buying from that other butcher again. Keaton’s right: Harlow did complain for a week about how awful the steak was.
He makes his way to the weights. “I’m not going out tonight. I’ll help you with the barbie.”
It’s been a long time since the two of us have gotten on this easily. His teens have strained our relationship to the point where I sometimes find myself not even stepping foot into situations that hold potential landmines. Just to keep the fucking peace.
I know a new landmine is around the corner. There’s always something on the horizon. But I’m fucking grateful for this easy mood between us today and will make the most of it.
Harlow’s POV
10:15 p.m.
Madison
Willow’s having a moment.
Me
What kind of moment?
Madison
The kind that will send J crazy. She’s not sure about her dress now.
Me
How will that drive J crazy? Wouldn’t it drive you crazy?
Madison
It will drive him crazy because after it drives me crazy, he’ll have to hear all about it over and over.
Me
Well, if us mothers have to take care of all this shit, the least our husbands can do is deal with us while we deal with it.
Madison
So true. Are you still in love with the dress you got today?
Me
I’m about to try it on again and see.
Madison
Let me know how you go. I die for it on you!
I strip and take the black dress I bought today off its hanger in the closet.
Slipping it over my head, I smooth it into place and move in front of the mirror.
The dress is shorter than I usually prefer, barely reaching my knees.
It’s also tighter than the dresses I’ve been wearing for a long time now.
I’ve put on a little weight and possibly should have selected the next size up.
The store didn’t have the next size, though, and Madison convinced me this size is perfect.
Scott strides into the bedroom as I run my hands down over the fabric covering my stomach. Slowing, his eyes drop to my body and instantly flare with heat. When his gaze finds mine again, he growls, “That dress isn’t gonna last long on you.”
Scott can be counted on for many things, the least of which is making me feel good about myself.
He has never once failed me on this. And especially not in the moments I couldn’t find a way to love my body.
He has always told me how sexy he finds me, and he’s always taken the time to show me how sexy he finds me.
I realised many years ago that there’s a big difference between someone saying words to you versus backing those words up with actions.
I need the actions and my husband always gives me what I need.
“Probably not,” I agree as he moves behind me and puts his arms around me. “It’s so tight that it may split in half.”
His lips graze my neck. “It’s fuckin’ sexy as hell, Harlow.”
I place my hands over his when they slide over my stomach. “I’m not sure about it.”
I watch him in the mirror as he looks at every inch of my body. “You should be sure as fuck about it.”
Those words move through me, settling deep inside. I always believe Scott because he’s not the kind of man to say something unless he absolutely means it.
When his eyes meet mine, I smile. “I love you, Scott Cole.”
Keeping his eyes on mine, he kisses my neck again before saying, “I’m going to tell you something you can’t repeat to anyone.”
“Okay.”
He kisses his way up my neck to my cheek. “And you can’t tell Madison.”
“Well, you just said I can’t tell anyone, so I figured that included Madison.”
He stops what he’s doing and gives me a pointed look. “We both know that’s not true.”
I curl my fingers tightly over his. “I don’t know what you mean right now.”
He continues giving me that pointed look.
When he doesn’t start talking again, I say, “Fine, I won’t tell Madison.”
“Savannah hooked up with a guy at the party last night who tried to force her into sex. When she said no, he got rough with her. That’s how she got the bruise. Keaton stepped in and dealt with the guy.”
I stare at him, stunned that he knows all this while I know none of it. “Keaton told you this?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“He opened his mouth and words came out—”
I smack him lightly. “Smartass. I mean, how did you get him to open up?” Not even Aurora could get him to talk this afternoon when she called him.
“I have my moments, sweetheart.”
He really does.
“Why can’t I tell anyone?”
“Keaton asked me to let him handle this with Savannah. He told me he’ll spend time with her helping her get to the point where she feels able to tell Wilder and Scarlett.”
“Are they together?”
Scott frowns. “Who? Keaton and Savannah?”
“Yes.”
“He didn’t lead me to believe they are.”
“I think there’s something there.”
He contemplates that for a moment. “You’re worried about that?”
“Yes. I hardly think Wilder and Scarlett would be okay with Savannah dating an older guy when she’s got no experience with dating yet.”
“I think it was my wife who told me we can’t control everything when it comes to our kids.”
I grin and turn in his arms. Putting my hands to his chest, I say, “You’re in a playful mood tonight. Also, yes, your wife did say that and you’re gonna have to take that advice again about your own daughter.”
His eyebrows pull together. “Why?”
I cock my head. “Threatening to send club members to kidnap her isn’t behaviour I would encourage.”
“Kidnap is over the top.”
“Well, that was her interpretation.”
“I want her here for dinner once a week. She does that, she won’t be kidnapped.”
“Baby, I get it, but you seriously can’t play that card in this situation.” I grip his shirt. “We have to let her go for a while. Let her have new experiences in the world. She’ll come back to us when she’s ready.”
“Fuck.” The curse falls roughly from his mouth, and I feel the difficulty he’s having with all of this.
I reach a hand up to rest it against his neck.
The skin-to-skin contact is everything I need, and I know it’s what he needs too.
We’ve made it through all these years together because we’ve always stuck together.
In our darkest moments, we’ve clung to each other, often skin to skin, and loved each other as imperfectly as we could in order to get through.
“I think she’ll show up for dinner more than she says she will, but we can’t force her, Scott. And you really can’t send club members to collect her.”
His eyes search mine for the longest time. I don’t rush him. I allow him the space to take what he needs.
“Thank fuck she and I have you,” he finally says. “We’d fuck this up if we didn’t.”
I smile as I shake my head. “You wouldn’t fuck it up. You’re an amazing father. You’d figure it out.”
“Not to sound fuckin’ sappy, but the only reason I’m the father I am is because of you.” His fingers thread through my hair before he bends his mouth to mine and kisses me. He takes his time with my lips and when he finally pulls away, he says, “I fuckin’ love you, Harlow.”
I smile as every cell in my body lights up with the kind of need this man never fails to make me feel. Reaching for his belt buckle, I say, “So, we agree? You’ll stop with the kidnapping threats? Or do I still need to work on this?”
Scott reads me as perfectly as he has for nearly two decades. He jerks his chin at our bed. “Get your ass on that bed. But let the record show that if I don’t see our daughter at least twice a month for dinner, this conversation will be revisited, and you won’t get your way as easily next time.”
The last thought I have before he joins me on the bed is how lucky I am to have Scott as my partner in life. He’s the very best husband, father, lover.
The man I never saw coming all those years ago.
The man I’m so glad I never let go of.
The man who is my forever.