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“He’s a great guy – most of the time.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I’m getting passed over for Captain – and while it stings a lot, after talking to him, I would have made the same decisions,” he admitted, pouring batter into the skillet to make a pancake for Eris. “Man, it sucks to grow up and mature sometimes, because the hothead in me wanted to yell or stomp my feet saying it wasn’t fair.”
And heard her chuckle.
Glancing up, he saw her wary smile as she nodded.
“Yeah, maturing, growing up, and being an adult does indeed ‘suck’ most of the time,” she winced as Zane repeated the word with his mouth full, making it almost sound like an extremely foul word. Colton’s eyes got huge as his mouth dropped open in shock.
“I am soooo sorry,” he muttered.
“He’s learning and always listening.”
“I’ll watch my mouth, I swear it.”
“Wash ma mouff?” Zane repeated questioningly – and Colton chuckled, nodding.
“Yup. I need my mouth washed out for saying a bad word – so don’t say what I did, okay? Lots of bad words… bad, bad.”
Zane’s face fell as he immediately looked at Eris, his little lip wobbling.
“Always learning,” she repeated firmly – and it clicked in his head. She started to move toward Zane, but instead looked at Colton, who moved first. He melted, shoving the skillet off the burner quickly and kneeling beside the boy.
“Zane bad?” his son warbled as a fat tear streaked down his cheek just as his lower lip stuck out.
“Oh no. You are amazing…” he praised, feeling crushed that he’d nearly made his son cry by just trying to teach him. “Zane is such a good, sweet boy.”
“Good boy?”
“A very good boy,” he said tenderly, smoothing his dark hair that was so much like his. “I’m learning how to be your father, and I’m going to make mistakes, but you are a very good boy – okay?”
“Colton, we need to talk about the whole ‘father’ thing…” Eris said from behind him – and something took hold within his soul that he couldn’t explain. He stood and turned to look at her, having heard her words from earlier this morning and her relief that she was going to have him gone for three days, and it hit hard that even Zane wasn’t enough to tie her to him or keep him here.
“I’m his father, and I want to be here,” he said quietly. “I know things were a mess, and I’ve made mistakes – but I’m not about to make another one. We made a child, and I want to know him. You need help and support. Let’s figure this out and do it together for Zane’s sake.”
“What do you mean?”
“Marry me. I’ll give you both my name; you can live here, and I can get to know my son. If something happens where it’s completely intolerable being nearby – then you can divorce me and take me to the cleaners for financial support. I never intended to make you struggle or for you to ever have to do this alone. I owe you everything for Zane, and honestly – even more in back child support. Let me step up and do the right thing by you both.”
She stared at him like he’d grown two heads, and he didn’t blame her. Proposing marriage to an ex-girlfriend wasn’t on his To-Do list at all – but then again, neither was becoming a dad until twelve hours ago.
Now, his priorities had changed drastically.
“What’s the catch?” she said shrewdly.
“No catch,” he replied sincerely. “I want us to be friends. I don’t want to be a parent to our son who is always fighting with his mother. Zane deserves better than that or a deadbeat dad. Do you know how bad it makes me feel to even say that aloud?”
Her eyes met his silently.
He was actually reaching her and knew it would take time to bridge the divide between them… but that was okay. If she was here, in his life, it could take a decade and he didn’t care. They shouldn’t have broken up before, and he had an inkling of how hurt she felt. He only hoped time would eventually mend those wounds.
“Let me pick up the slack and be a partner – and show that I’m sincere and willing to put everything on the line for you both. Let’s get keys made for you today while we are out, and pick out some things for the other room so you can make it warm and welcoming. I won’t demand or push for anything except your friendship. Spend time with me, and let me get to know you both.”
“I need to think…” she whispered.
Colton grew silent, watching her expressive face as she looked away from him. Her eyes were darting. That little furrow between her eyebrows would get deep, then fade, before deepening again in concentration. He had no clue what was going through her mind, but the fact that she was considering it was already a plus in his book.
