Page 13 of Assigned

Chapter Five

Lucas

All the reasons not to do this come flooding in, as if my body chemistry sent them a blanket invitation to invade. My stomach shifts uneasily and I glance in the rearview mirror. Mason is busy playing on his iPod, completely oblivious. Maybe that’s a good thing. No reason for him to be upset or nervous about meeting Riley. I’ve got that covered in spades for the both of us. God, I hope I’m doing this right.

My fingers tighten around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. “What was I thinking?”

“Dad, how long until we see Uncle Tony?”

Damn kid. Of course he had to bring up the other reason I’m a ball of fucking nerves. “Later this afternoon. But first there’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Another SEAL?”

Well, not sure what that says about my parenting. I shake my head. “No. Someone who lives with me now. We... got married.”

Silence.

I look into the rearview mirror once again. Mason’s lips downturn and he returns to whatever game he was playing a moment ago. I should’ve asked Lisa about how to break the news about my relationship status to our son, but talking to my ex-wife about joining the program isn’t something I’m ready to do either. Not when I haven’t even told my best friend yet that they found a match for me.

“What if she doesn’t like me?”

I swallow hard, almost slamming on the brakes. Should’ve taken Mason out for breakfast and had this talk with him over waffles. Some place I could give him my full attention. “Riley will love you. You’re the best kid ever. Well, outside of Tony, of course.”

“Dad. He’s a grown-up.”

“Says you,” I say and Mason giggles. Some of the tension in my shoulders dissipates at the gleeful tone in my son’s voice. “Anyway, Riley isn’t a stranger. I grew up with her. We went to school together.”

“Oh.” Mason’s face contorts, brows furrowed, and he exhales loudly. “Does Mom know?”

“Haven’t gotten around to speaking to her yet.”

And it won’t go over well. Not when Riley was a point of contention during our marriage at times. During some fights, Lisa accused me of being closed off because of the way my high school girlfriend had broken my heart. While some of it may have been true, most of the time I’d just learned to compartmentalize too well because of my job. To shut off emotions because I didn’t want to deal with them.

I clear my throat. “Bud, I don’t want to stick you in the middle, so can you do me a favor and keep it on the down low for now? Let me tell your mom.”

He nods, a tiny smirk on his face. “Your funeral.”

Damnit. Should’ve kept Martinez and my son separated from day one. Never knew personality and sarcasm were contagious and long lasting. But when it comes to Anthony Martinez, who knows what he spreads into this world?

I shake my head. God help Inara and any future kids they have. For sure there will be a lot of parent-teacher conferences due to language and attitude, thanks to their father.

We talk the rest of the car ride home, though it really feels more like a cross-examination with all the questions Mason keeps throwing at me. By the time I pull into the driveway, I think my son knows more about my new wife than he does about me. “Why don’t you ever ask me this many questions about myself?”

“Cause you’re my dad.”

“So?”

Mason shrugs, then tucks his iPod into his pocket as I kill the engine. We both sit in the car, staring at the front door for a few minutes, trying to build up the courage to face the unknown that lies on the other side. After unbuckling my seat belt, I look back over my shoulder. “Ready, bud?”

He nods and squares his little shoulders.

We hop out of the truck and meet at the walk path. Mason holds out his hand and I grab it before we continue toward the house. Once inside, he looks around as if expecting Riley to greet us. Thing is, I didn’t tell her I was picking my son up.

Didn’t tell her about the barbeque we’d be attending later either. And that she’d be meeting my teammates. I couldn’t figure out how. I kept coming up with different scenarios in my head and none of them went well. Then time ran out. Hopefully, she doesn’t get mad, but wouldn’t blame her if she did. This is all so new, and it’s... Riley... so I’m at a loss about how to act. Still wrapping my head around this whole program and how they assigned my high school girlfriend to be my wife. Talk about a mind fuck.

“Luc, is that...?” Riley comes into the main area from the kitchen wearing a pair of stone-gray joggers with a light-blue top, an oversized aqua mug in her hand. Her blond hair is in a messy bun on top of her head, as if she just tumbled out of a well-used bed. God, she looks sexy. I try to say something, but my voice seems stuck in my throat. She glances from me to Mason and smiles. “Um, hi.”

After clearing my throat, I place a hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Mason, this is Riley. And Riley, this is my son, Mason.”

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