Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
If Cerise squeezed his hand any tighter, she was going to cut off circulation to his fingertips. They were about to meet with Daphne and Gordon to talk about her adoption application. “We’ve got this, Sparkles.”
“I hope so.” She looked up at him. He couldn’t see what her eyes were doing behind her, but he would bet worry shone brightly in them.
Her cheeks were glitter free, but she was wearing the sparkly gloss again, along with glitter eyeshadow.
He was beginning to wonder if the glitter was some sort of armor.
Something she put on when she needed an extra boost of confidence.
“We’ll handle whatever we get thrown at us.
We’ve gone over everything the last four days since we decided to go public.
You’ve told me what Gordon told you at your initial meeting.
Whatever happens, we’ll make sure that Finn’s best interests are put forward, together.
I mean, the fact Poppy is constantly handing him back would have to go against her. ”
“You’d think so, but in adoption cases, blood is thicker than water.”
“Even if it’s at the detriment of Finn’s mental health and well-being?”
“Yep.”
If all it would take was to throw money at the lawyer and judge in this case, then that’s what he’d do.
He had the means to pay whatever was necessary for Cerise to get custody of Finn, but Brodie wasn’t ruthless like that.
Not to mention it was illegal too. At the end of the day, this was Cerise’s show and he was just along for the ride and for moral support.
He stopped before she went to open the door.
When she looked at him, he let go of her hand and pulled her in for hug.
Her arms closed around him and a sense of peace settled through his soul.
A sense that what they were doing was absolutely the right thing to do.
He reached down and lifted her sunglasses up.
As he’d suspected, worry and fear lurked in the grey depths of her eyes, turning them dark and stormy.
“I know I can’t categorically state that Finn will end up with you, and if he doesn’t, then we’ll try again. ”
She shook out of his hold. “It’s not like trying to get pregnant, Brodie. I’m pretty sure this is a one-and-done case. There won’t be second or third chances, don’t you see?” Cerise wrapped her arms around her waist. “This is a bad idea. We’re never going to be able to pull this off.”
God, what an idiot. He was supposed to be making her feel better, but he was making her feel worse. “Sparkles.” He said it loud enough to pull her out of the almost trance-like state she’d fallen into.
“What?”
“I’m sorry, I’m making a mess of this. I’m trying to be supportive, but all I’m doing is creating more doubts within you.”
“No. You’re not. If anything, you’re making me see things more clearly.
It’s too soon. Way too soon. I should put my application on hold.
Wait until I’m more financially prepared for this fight.
Plus, us, it’s too soon in a relationship to be doing something so stressful like this.
Heck, most of the time it’s been you, me and Finn.
Not just the two of us. How are we going to know if we work or not without Finn as a buffer? ”
“Cerise,” he reached out and grabbed her hands.
“Stop, it’s going to be okay. I don’t think it’s too soon for you to be doing this.
Finn needs you before he starts to turn to the life he wasn’t meant for.
You said it yourself, he was a little more surly when you picked him up this time around.
Heck, I’ve only known the kid a short while, but even I can see the difference from when I first met him at the diner to now.
You’ve done that for him.” He brushed a lock of hair away from her face.
“You. With your love and support, you’ve given him the security to relax and be true to himself.
And as for not spending time as just the two of us, I disagree. ”
“How so?”
“When it’s just been you and me after Finn has gone to bed, we’ve talked about a lot of things.
I know that you can’t go out on a date with me every night, that your priority is Finn, and that’s how it should be.
As our relationship progresses, we’ll learn more about each other.
I believe we’ve spent enough one-on-one time.
Would I like more? Sure, but it’s not a dealbreaker for me.
Besides how much fun have we all had together the last few nights? ”
“A lot.”
“Right, a lot and we’re a unit. We’ve cooked together.
I’ve helped him with his homework now he’s back at school.
That kid is smart. Living with you will give him opportunities to grow and prosper.
More than he would if he stayed with his aunt.
” Brodie brushed his thumbs across the top of her hands.
“I’ve never met her, but I’m guessing there is something going on with her.
Something that’s driving her to seek out love in places that are all wrong.
Having Finn is probably confusing for her too.
She’s gone from being responsible for herself to being responsible for a boy who lost his parents. How old is she?”
“I’m not sure. I think she’s younger than me. I believe her brother was a few years older than her.”
He hoped Cerise would believe everything he was saying about them not being in each other’s pockets. They were growing together and learning about each other every day. Whether Finn was around them or in those brief moments when it was just the two of them, he felt close to her.
Standing out in the front of the lawyer’s office wasn’t the place to be having this conversation, but here they were.
Their situation was unique, so their relationship journey was going to be unique too. And he’d accepted Finn as his own, even if he hadn’t expressed the words out loud. The boy owned a piece of his heart. His acceptance of Finn was the most important thing to Cerise.
Brodie released one of her hands and reached out to smooth it down her back.
“It had to have been hard for Poppy. We have no idea what she was doing in her life when it was all turned upside down. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for her to find herself in charge of a young boy.
As you said, they were both grieving at the time, so doubly hard. ”
“I know. And it’s easy for me to look down on her from the outside, especially as I don’t know her situation.” She paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.
He wondered what was going through that mind of hers now. He could tell something was troubling her and he hoped she’d share it with him.
“What worries me now is,” she continued.
“Finn said she seemed to drink more when she was with a new boyfriend. Drugs are the next step up when she no longer gets the same high from her beverage of choice. I don’t want Finn to be exposed to that and thinking that’s all his life is going to end up being. ”
“Then we’ll make sure that you get custody. We’ll do whatever we have to do to make this happen.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers in a soft, quick kiss. The simple taste had him yearning for more.
He’d enjoyed the last few nights, after Finn had gone to bed, when they’d spent the time getting to know each other.
Not only had that meant talking about their past and future goals and dreams, but they’d spent a lot of time making out on the couch.
Every night he’d gone home and masturbated at the thought of Cerise in his arms. Her lips on his.
On his chest. On his cock. Him buried deep inside of her.
His body responded at those thoughts now.
How great would it look walking into the meeting with Daphne and Gordon, sporting a hard on? Not very.
The only thing he hadn’t been able to do was tell Cerise about the app and the fact he had a lot of money in the bank. He figured that could wait and he hoped it wouldn’t bite him in the ass. But the guilt sat low in his belly, a constant reminder of what he’d kept to himself.
“Are you okay to go in now?” he asked, licking his lips, tasting the strawberry flavor from her gloss.
“Yep, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. How about you?”
“I’m prepared for whatever they throw at us.” He grabbed her hand again and gave it a squeeze. “Let’s do this.”
His stomach somersaulted and he had no plans to tell her how nervous he was.
If she didn’t throw up it was going to be an amazing effort.
Daphne and Gordon’s eyebrows rose, and their gazes locked on her and Brodie’s entwined fingers the second they walked into the office.
Things had gone downhill from there. Daphne was skeptical that she’d only latched onto Brodie because of their previous conversation and Gordon, well, he’d only made the occasional mmm sound while she’d answered Daphne’s questions.
She should’ve stuck to her guns and made Brodie stay outside, not come into the meeting with her. Although she’d been the one to call the meeting with Daphne and Gordon because she’d wanted to show that she was in a steady relationship.
Oh, what a mess. She really hadn’t thought this out. Actually, they both hadn’t. Brodie had taken her throwaway comment about being in a relationship and run with it. So here they were in the most awkward meeting she’d even been in.
Finn was the main priority to her, and she had to save this disaster so she could save Finn. “Look, I know what you’re both thinking. It’s been obvious since the minute we walked in.”
“What’s that?” Daphne asked, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair. Again, Gordon hummed.
“That this relationship between Brodie and me is fake. That I’m only doing it to enhance my chances of getting custody of Finn.”
“Is it unreasonable for us to think along those lines?” Daphne questioned.