“I’m so glad you came over,” I said softly. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too.”
“Can we get together tomorrow night?”
“I’m leaving for a road trip in the morning.”
I groaned. “Damn.”
“I know. You gonna watch my games?”
I looked up at him. “You know I will.”
He leaned his face down to mine and kissed me, the warmth of his mouth on mine making my body respond eagerly. We kissed for a full minute before I pulled away.
“So let’s compare schedules on our phones and set up dinner for one night soon,” I said. “I’ll ask Liam to be there and we’ll tell him.”
“Okay.”
“Text me and call me from the road,” I said.
“I will.”
I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my cheek to his solid chest again.
“I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” he said. “But I’m glad you get to spend some time with your mom.”
“Me too,” I said halfheartedly.
Yeah, spending an open-ended amount of time listening to her bemoan the end of her third marriage would be great. Very festive. Merry Fucking Christmas to me.
Liam spent less than five minutes telling Mom about his season over chicken and noodles before he switched subjects abruptly.
“So how do you feel about Charlotte’s secret baby daddy?” he asked, giving me a pointed look.
“Secret?” Mom furrowed her brow. “Christopher seems great to me.”
“Christopher?” Liam shot me a dirty look this time.
“Christopher?” James asked, confused.
I looked at James in horror. If he revealed that he knew “Christopher” as Bennett, my secret would be revealed here and now.
“Yes, Christopher,” I said to James.
“Right.” He looked down at his plate.
“You met him?” Liam asked our mom. “Didn’t you just get here an hour ago?”
“He came home with Charlotte.”
“Well, at least someone gets to meet the asshole. What’s his last name? What’s he like?”
Mom looked at me. “I didn’t catch his last name.”
“Hmm.” I shoved a bite of food in my mouth to avoid answering.