Page 36 of The Circus

“Theodore,” she says, a warning note to her tone.

“Please?” I beg. “I’ll find a way to get it no matter what, so you may as well just make it easier for me. It’s…a special surprise for her.”

Now, she quirks her brow and crosses her arms.

“What does her father think of this?”

“Stop being a parent just for tonight,” I plead.

“You don’t just quit being a parent, Teddy. You…you two…ugh,” she growls, cheeks reddening.

Oh, god.

My mom and I are pretty open with one another, but that whole sex talk? No fucking thank you. I had to make Cash buy me condoms today, too, and he’d argued with me for forty-five minutes, saying there was no way I needed Magnums. I’d eventually threatened to show him my dick, to which he raised his brows at enticingly, but he’d finally relented.

“I promise not to drink and drive or get anyone pregnant, so can you just buy the wine and stop torturing me?”

Burying her face in her hands, she shakes her head and laughs.

“My God, Teddy, who made you so blunt?”

You did, because you never fucking speak your mind or stand up for yourself.

But I don’t say that, because I’ve said it many times and it only ever hurts her feelings. Sighing, she purses her lips and glares up at me. “You won’t be home tonight then, I’m assuming?”

“No…” I mutter. Her lips thin.

“I’m never doing this for you again, understood?”

Biting my bottom lip, I grin and yank her into another hug. “Understood. You’re the best.”

She squeezes me harder this time.

“Just treat her right, no matter the circumstance.”

My eyes slip closed, and I hug her to me even tighter, knowing where she’s drifted off to in her mind.

“I promise, mom.”

And I mean it.

TWENTY-TWO

EDEN

“Thanks for the…ride…”I mutter, distracted as Teddy’s house comes into view. Cash rolls to a stop at the curb.

“Don’t mention it,” he says. “But do mention to that fucker that the amount of miles I’m putting on Giselle for his sake is getting a little out of hand.”

I have to rip my eyes from the beautiful home, all brick and white trim, the landscaping immaculate. Cash is grinning goofily at me, the big brother I never had or wanted. I hate admitting I’ve fallen for his charm, too, and I can see why him and Teddy are so close. Reaching over, I pat his arm and smile softly.

“Trust me, I’ll make sure he repays you tenfold.”

He winks at me. “Knew I liked you. I’ll be back at five.”

Anxiety curdles the toast and coffee in my stomach, but I broaden my smile and nod, popping the handle and jumping out. He’s quick to drive away, tires squealing on the wet pavement, and I’m left alone on the curb, so nervous I could puke. Nervous, because the clock is ticking away the hours until I have sex with Teddy. Scared, because I’m about to meet his mom, and he speaks so highly of her, I know she’s super important to him.

And terrified, because when Cash picks us back up, our first stop isn’t the gymnasium of Seattle Prep. It’s the hospice center where my dad is slowly dying, and I’m about to introduce a guy I really fucking like to him.

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