Page 37 of Ride

I whipped around to face him. “You have a car seat?”

He shrugged. “Brett was going to let me borrow his, but I figured it would be best since Kayne and I would be hanging out more. If that’s cool with you.”

Locking Kayne in the seat, I reached for my own seatbelt and nodded. “That’s cool.”

Laikin asked, “Kayne, you ready to get on the road?” Kayne held up both hands and pretended to steer a wheel, kicking his legs back and forth in glee. I reached over to tie his loose shoelace and wiped some of the donut stains from his cheek.

“Ready!” Kayne’s joy blasted around the car and held our attention.

The sound of his cell phone going off brought me out of my trance of enjoyment that we were the only three that mattered in this moment and back to reality of him being The Laikin Trenton. I could tell something annoyed him, but he agreed to whatever the caller wanted as he hung up.

His grin washed away. “See you tomorrow,” Laikin said, tossing his phone to the side.

For some reason, the look on his face mirrored the one I used to have with Virgil. “Trouble in paradise?”

Laikin raised the partition in the car for privacy. “My folks want Kayne to come over for dinner.”

My nose scrunched up in shock. “For dinner.”

“Same shock I had, but I told my mom to not get attached too soon. At the gala, you showed her pictures of your son, and all she’s talked about is her new grandson.” Laikin rubbed the top of Kayne’s head.

“But—”

He held up a hand to interrupt. “Either you want to hear my mom go on and on about why you left, or you can go to dinner and let her spend some time with him.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Fine.”

“Stop pouting.”

I leaned on the window. “I don’t pout.”

“Shit, you’re more spoiled than Kayne,” Laikin chuckled, picking up the other toy car and playing.

“Whatever, Laikin.”

Our driver cut across the lane to get into traffic. A few construction workers were lined up for breaks. A busy afternoon in Los Angeles meant upcoming events were happening around the city for Saturday.

“How is business going?”

“Very well, actually. My next client is Marlowe Shepard. Cyra, who’s married to her bodyguard hooked it up. When I got the call, I almost passed out because I thought I was being pranked.” I tittered thinking back to when Cyra’s publicist called me.

“She’s big time, congrats.”

“Thanks, for everything you’ve done.” The car pulled up to the stadium, and my mouth fell open at the wide billboard of Laikin near the entrance with his helmet in his hand.

“No need to thank me. Come on, little man. Time to ride.” Laikin unbuckled his seat belt and carried him out, putting him on the ground so he could walk, holding his hand and signing autographs with the other, not letting

go. I felt a little out of place in my distressed jeans and light green blouse with a few paint stains.

I honestly felt like the third wheel as I followed behind watching women fawn over my son, auditioning to be stepmother of the year.

Stepmother, Laikin is not available.

Shaking those thoughts from my head, I stayed behind when a few photographers snapped photos, and Laikin gestured to security to keep them back.

“We’re going to Malik’s office first, and then I can have security escort you to the garage and seats. I have to get changed,” Laikin said, leading us to the elevator for staff. Hearing my phone buzz, I lifted it up to see a text from Winter.

Winter: Having fun with Baby Daddy?

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