AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She gives me a small smile. “I’d like that very much.”
She pushes off the wall and is about to leave, when I say, “I think this is going to be good for me too.”
“That would be nice, Liam,” she says her voice soft, her blue eyes the color of the sky the morning after a storm blew through.
She leaves and I keep my gaze on her, admire the summery dress she’s wearing, which is once again full of animal hair. It makes me smile for some reason. At least she doesn’t seem as rushed today as she was yesterday. Once she’s inside with Rita, I open the door, and find Gavin back on the floor.
“Hey buddy, how are you?”
He jumps up. “Can we play outside?”
“I think we have to stay in here for a bit, but maybe we can later, if it’s okay with your mom.”
“She’s okay with it,” he informs me, and I laugh, giving a wink to the mirror, knowing Rita and Harper are on the other side, watching me. “How about we play with some of these cool cars while we wait for your Mom.” I drop down onto my side, and grab a toy car, running it over the mat. It’s funny because I had the same mat when I was Gavin’s age. I wonder what other toys Mom still has up in the attic. I make a note to ask her.
“What’s your favorite car?” I ask, as he drops down across from me, mimicking my position exactly, right down to the way I have my head braced on my hand. As I watch him reach for his favorite car—a very sporty corvette—it really occurs to me how much influence I’ll have over this boy. Like I said before, I’ve never had to take on too much responsibility, but for the first time in my life, I’m looking forward to it.
“When I was in Miss Tammy’s, we had show and tell.”
“Did you now?” I ask, noting his change in subject, and having no idea who Miss Tammy is. “What did you bring?”
“I brought Charlie. I think he’s Mommy’s favorite, but she’s not supposed to have favorites.”
My brow furrows and I glance at the mirror again, having no idea who Charlie is and why he’s Harpers favorite. Is it possible that she has ‘uncles’ coming and going all the time? Growing up, my buddy Beck had lots of uncles, most of them were nothing but abusive assholes. Jesus, I hope Gavin doesn’t have someone like that in his life. A surge of protectiveness goes through me, hitting like a damn defenseman on steroids.
“Do you like Charlie?”
He nods, and holds his arm out. “He scratched me once though. It hurt.” My entire body stiffens, and his eyes light up, clearly moving on to another subject. “Do you think me and Holden can play hockey with you guys?”
I laugh. “Not sure, bud, but I’ll see what I can do, okay?” The door opens up and Harper comes in.
“How about we go for ice cream?” she says.
“Mommy, I’m going to play hockey with Liam.”
She smiles at her son. “I think you might have to learn to skate first.”
Gavin jumps up, and I push to my feet. “Mommy, can I get skates?”
“I’m not sure.” She avoids my glance, and I get the sense that skates just might not be in their budget. “We’ll see, okay?”
“You know what, Gavin? My mother kept all my skates, and I bet I can find a pair that fit you.”
His eyes nearly bug out of his head. “Really?”
“Really,” I say, and he starts jumping up and down. “If it’s okay with your mom.”
Harper gives me a soft smile full of gratitude and my chest tightens in response. I don’t know much about Harper, or anything really, but everything in my gut tells me she’s been carrying the world on her shoulders for a very long time. Damned if I don’t want to take the load off for her.
“That’s very kind. I appreciate it. We’ll buy them from you.”
“Nah,” I say making light of it. “I think Mom was keeping them for when I had a son of my own, and since that’s not ever going to happen, they should go to my little brother. Right, Gavin?”
“Right,” he says, and when he puts his tiny hand in mine, I swear to God, the universe just flipped me on my head. My pulse beats a little faster in my throat, the degree of responsibility I have here closing in on me.
You’ve got this, dude.
Worry dances in Harper’s eyes as she looks at our joined hands, and in that moment, I swear to God that I’m going to do the right thing here. “You don’t want kids of your own?” she asks.
