“Can you help me with this? I can’t figure out how to get this remote car into high speed.”
I zeroed in on him. “Depends, is it going to blow up in my face?”
He smiled, big and wide. “Of course not. I’d never hurt you like that. You’re my mom’s boyfriend, remember?”
“I know who I am, Haiden, and I know who you are too.”
“Oh, come on. I was just playing around with you. Don’t be such a girl.”
“You little—”
“You forgot your drink,” Sage announced, coming up behind me. “I thought I’d bring it to you.”
Wanting to prove to him that I wasn’t going anywhere, I set down my drink and kissed Sage right in front of him.
Slow.
Tender.
Mine.
Pecking her lips, I leaned my forehead against hers. “Thank you, baby.” For good measure, I smacked her butt when she was walking away.
“Ashton!”
“What?” I grinned at her. “Couldn’t help myself.”
Once she was out of sight, Haiden stood beside me. “Listen, Asher.”
“It’s Ashton,”
He waved me off. “Same thing. I wanna call a truce.”
I jerked back, caught off guard. “Excuse me, what?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged.
“Why?”
“I know I’ve been mean to you, and I just want to say I’m really sorry. My mom is happy, and that makes me happy too. She’s never been this happy before.”
“Really?”
“Definitely. She wakes up with a great big smile on her face every morning. She’s singing in the shower. I even heard her tell my girl Aspyn that you’ve become so clingy that she can’t get a break from you.”
My eyes widened. “She told Aspyn I’m clingy?”
“Yeah. Clingy. Needy. Kind of like you’re one of her kindergarten students.”
“When did you hear this?”
“Last night.”
“What else did you hear?”
“She just thinks you’re still in it for her, you know? And man to man, I know you like me and Haven. But she told Aspyn that she thinks you need to take us out more without her. Show her you can be a responsible adult or something.”
“I see.”
“But anyway, I’ve been a punk.”
“Clearly.”
“You didn’t deserve it. Maybe you could take us out tomorrow? You know, without my mom. Just Haven, you, and me. We can get to know each other more.”
Is he fucking with me?
Do I trust him?
Against my better judgment and instincts, I grabbed his olive branch, saying the words I never thought I’d say to the little spawn, “I’d love to hang out with you guys. Just us. One on one.”
—Sage—
“Mom, Ashton wants to take us to the carnival tomorrow. Can we go?” Haiden asked as soon as we walked back inside. “Please, Mom!”
Haven overheard his request and ran toward me. “Yessss! Mama, can we go! Please!”
I smiled. “Sure, we can go—”
“I’d actually like to take them on my own,” Ashton intervened. “If it’s alright with you?”
“You want to take my kids out? Alone?”
“Yeah, I’d love to.”
“Oh … ummm…” I bit my lower lip.
“Mama, please!” Haven pulled on my maxi dress.
“I’ve never let them go out with anyone other than my parents and Brady.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“Ashton, I don’t kn—”
“Sage, you should let him.” His sister treaded up to her brother’s side. “He’s taken my kids out several times on his own. He’ll be great,” she reassured. “You don’t have to worry.”
“I know. Ashton is great. It has nothing to do with his parenting ability. It’s more like Haiden loves to wander, and Haven runs everywhere, so they’re a lot to stay on top of. You have to watch them like a hawk.”
Ashton stepped toward me, sweeping my hair away from my face. Making my insecurity ease up. “Little Mama, don’t you trust me?”
“Yeah, Mom, don’t you trust him?” Haiden repeated in a tone I'd recognized all too clearly.
“Of course I do.” I felt like I was being put on the spot.
“Mama, please!” Haven begged, her hands in front of her in a prayer gesture. “Please!”
“I guess…” I hesitated for a second. “That would be okay.”
Ashton smiled, caressing my cheek with his knuckles. “I’ll have them home to you safe and sound. I just want to get to know your twins better, protective mama. I can be a responsible adult, baby. You don’t have to worry.”
I nodded. “I know you can.”
“Great. I’ll pick them up around noon.”
“Sounds good. Would you like to have lunch with me before you guys go?”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t want to be too clingy and needy. You have enough of that with your kindergarten students.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. Where did that come from?
“Ashton, I—”
“Yay!” Haven exclaimed, jumping up and down. “We can go, Haiden! I’m so excited! I can’t wait!”
All I ever wanted was for my kids to be happy, and Ashton was amazing with them when we were together. At times it felt as if we were one big happy family, and he if wanted to take my twins out by himself, I could honor that.