Chapter 13
Cash
The sun is already too low to shine in Marina’s eyes, but they’re still bright blue, staring into mine. “Not sure if you know this,” she whispers, leaning in, “but someone is hanging on your back.”
“There is?” Since Cullen is holding on, I reach around and pretend to discover him. “Wow, there is.” Cullen giggles, his arms tightening around my neck. Playfully coughing because I’m not looking to scare my kid, I choke out, “Save me, Marina.”
“I’m afraid there’s no saving you.” The little lift at the corners of her mouth has me catching my breath. Why do I feel like that will happen every time I see her?
Tilting around, she smiles at Cullen. “And who are you?”
“I’m a sloth.”
“A sloth?” she replies in delight. “I love sloths. Did you know some are three times stronger than humans?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cullen’s arm fan out. Full of pride, he says, “I’m strong. My daddy says so.”
“That’s right, buddy.” Glancing at Marina, I add, “You do not want to arm wrestle this kid. He’ll take you down in seconds flat.”
She steps back, looking between us with her hands up in caution. “Thanks for the warning.” Her laughter blends with his, and I can’t help but notice how open he is with her. His mom always calls him shy, but maybe it’s the people she’s bringing around him. Fuck, more to worry about.
Holding out her hand, Marina steps closer again. With a wide as sunshine grin, she says, “I’m Marina, and who are you, sir?”
He wiggles on my back in laughter. There’s something about shaking hands that he finds so fun. He’s been known to mimic me at headquarters when I’ve brought him around. Taking her hand, he shakes it hard. “I’m Cullen Ryatt, son of legend Cash Ryatt.”
Oh shit. I chuckle this time with my hands out. “I swear to God, I did not teach him that.”
“Uh-huh. Sure you didn’t.” Rubbing her bicep, she plays along. “Wow, you are strong. Thought you were about to take my arm off there.”
Cullen loves the attention. He takes after his dad and mom that way. Terpidy and I both have sizable egos. There’s no doubt we won’t be able to save Cullen from the same fate.
“Hi,” she replies, shifting on the sidewalk and closer to me. Strands of her hair blow wildly in the air when a gust of wind picks it up. She tries to gather it unsuccessfully. “What brings you down this street?”
As if it tells her anything, I glance down one way and then back to her. “When the weather is nice, we walk this way to drop him off at his mom’s place.”
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she glances in the direction my gaze sent her, and then at Cullen and me.
“I didn’t even realize you lived in the city.
I mean, I knew you were here from our calls, but .
. . I don’t know.” She shifts again. “I guess I just didn’t imagine it.
” This time, she nods and tucks her fingertips into the front pockets of her denim. “Well, I should let you—”
“Come meet my mom.” I signal to her by sending a look across the street.
Her reluctance reaches her eyes as she peeks across the street again. “Your mom. Oh. Um, okay.”
“Don’t be nervous.” I lean in and whisper, “Unlike me, she’s really nice.”
Cullen giggles again.
We’re just about to cross the street when a car comes rushing by. My arm swings out in front of her. She doesn’t say anything, but judging by her restrained grin, she’s definitely entertained. I shrug. “Habit.”
“It’s a good habit to have.” She bounces on her toes a few times. I chuckle because the sugar seems to already be coursing through her. “If he’s allowed to have a piece, I have a lollipop or chocolate?”
“I want candy,” Cullen says, patting the top of my head like a bongo set, solidifying that candy is exactly what he doesn’t need.
Should I say no? Yep. Will Terpidy be pissed that he’s hopped up on sugar? Absolutely. Am I going to deny my kid this little ounce of childhood joy? Nope. “Lollipop, please.”
“Yes!” He fist-pumps the air, causing Marina to light up even more. She’s too beautiful for her own good.
The woman walks around in everyday life like she’s a mere mortal. Her ex is stupid for letting her go, but he’s a fucker for making her believe he deserved her love. If she were mine—
“Do you like grape?” she asks him, pulling a purple-wrapped lollipop from her bag.
“If it’s candy, he likes it.” His body vibrates from excitement.
Reaching around, I hold him under his bottom to secure him to my back. He thanks Marina without me having to remind him. Progress.
“You’re welcome.”
Holding another up to me, she asks, “What about you, Warren? Do you have a sweet tooth?” Nothing about my thoughts is appropriate right now, which is what she intended.
Innocence has taken over her expression with wide eyes and batting eyelashes, but that flirtatious smile on her face gives away the underlying entendre.
If we were alone . . . I run a hand over the back of my neck, then shift. “I have a penchant for sweet things but not candy.” I shoot her a wink.
I’m gifted with pinking cheeks and a breath that holds her chest captive a few seconds before being released.
She clears her throat. “Well, um . . . maybe I should go meet your mom.” Fanning herself with the small bag, she looks down the street as if looking for an escape.
I don’t blame her. This is a lot, and talking about my family isn’t something we’ve gotten around to yet.
It was all fun and games, light and surface.
We cross the street. With my eyes on my mom, I can tell by the just so slight raise of her eyebrows that she knows this is the woman I’ve been talking to on the phone.
As if my face heating didn’t already give it away.
I feel like a kid again. I always hated introducing girlfriends to my mom.
Her opinion matters, and they don’t stand a chance if she doesn’t like them.
Let’s see how this goes. “Hey, Mom, this is my friend Marina Westcott. Marina, this is Laura Warren.”
“Westcott?” Glancing from me to her, my mom asks, “As in Westcott Racing?”
Pinching her fingers together, Marina replies, “In name only. My brothers are the stars of that operation. It’s their baby.” They shake hands. “It’s very nice to meet you, Ms. Warren.”
“You can call me Laura.”
We start down the street together like we’re on a casual Sunday stroll, the two of them making small talk about me, the nice weather, and how cute Cullen is. “I don’t know much about Cash.” Looking at me, she asks, “Are you an only child, or do you have siblings?”
“One was enough,” I reply. “I’m sure.”
My mom bursts out in laughter. “He was a handful, but Cash was and still is a great son. He’s very considerate, and now we have Cullen.” She tickles his ribs, sending him into a fit of giggles again. I’m sure the sugar has nothing to do with it.
I swing him around and land him on his feet beside me. Taking his hand, we walk at his speed, which is almost painful since he’s so slow, but I’m not going to rush him the rest of the way back to his mother’s. I want to savor every second with him.
My mom looks back at me, grinning like she already knows the whole story about Marina and me. She probably does since we were plastered online. Though she always seemed to know everything when I was growing up without the help of the press.
My mom asks, “You’re an actress? Have you been in anything I’ve seen?”
Debating for all of two seconds whether I should save Marina from any embarrassment the question might have caused, I realize I don’t have to save her. She’s doing great on her own.
Marina says, “Maybe, but I’m newer to film. I moved from New York to LA, and before I could settle, I landed a few parts that kept me on location. I’ve been filming a two-movie deal in Vancouver for most of the past year.”
“That’s so exciting.” My mom looks back at me. “Isn’t that exciting, Cash? She’s a celebrity.”
As tempting as it is to roll my eyes, I can’t be mad that my mom sees me as her son and not the name brand I’ve become. “Super exciting.”
I receive a solid eye roll from Marina, which I can appreciate. Despite the good time I’m having, dread seeps in. While my mom and Marina keep chatting, I look down at Cullen. “How are you doing, buddy?”
“Great!”
He holds the stick in his hand, the candy demolished and long gone.
Knowing we don’t have far to go, I stop and kneel in front of him.
I like to be eye level when I can. I want that trust built, for him to know how much I love him, for him to see it in my eyes.
“Hey, so . . .” I fucking hate saying goodbye to him.
“Hey so.” He grins at me.
I take the backpack from my mom and adjust it on his small shoulders, fussing with him, as she calls it. I can’t help it. I don’t get to do this stuff too often, so I find a way to be present in his life. “You’re going to be good for your mom?”
His mouth goes to the side as sadness creeps in, but he reluctantly nods.
I say, “I want to talk to you every day, okay, buddy? Every day.”
Cupping my face, he repeats, “Every day, Daddy.”
“I want you to watch my race.”
“Where are you racing?”
“I’ll be in the South of France, and then I’ll be back in ten days.” I bring him against me, burying him in my chest.
His arms come around me the best they can, and he holds me in them. “Miss you, Daddy.”
I kiss the top of his head and hold him tighter. “I’m going to miss you, too, buddy.” I hadn’t realized the scene I was making until I open my eyes to find my mom and Marina staring. If I were to ever scare off a woman, having a kid with another will usually do it.
But it’s not fear in Marina’s eyes. It’s tears. She looks up at the sky as if she can will them away. Between saying goodbye to Cullen and seeing her staring at me like I just hung the moon for her, my chest constricts. I don’t let many people into my real life, but I’m glad she’s a part of it now.
Standing back up, I pick him up and anchor him on my hip. Sure, he can walk, but I just want him closer these last few minutes. “I think it’s best—”