Page 65 of Sometimes You Fall

“So good,” she moans as her lips stretch over the orange ice, and suddenly I’m transported back to the night when her lips were stretched around my dick.

Fuck. “I’m glad it’s what you wanted.”

“You’re really sweet for going back out and getting these, especially after how I reacted.”

“Anything to make you stop crying.”

Glaring at me, she takes a seat in a big, cushioned chair in her living room. I plop myself onto the couch. “I want you to know that I yelled at Chase after you left.”

“He’s not my biggest fan, and I’m sure now that he knows about the baby, it’s only going to take more time for him to come around.”

“He never should have said those things to you.” Her eyes drift toward the hallway. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

“He doesn’t trust me yet. Neither of you do,” I say, echoing my thoughts from earlier today.

Scottie’s tongue freezes as she eats her popsicle. “What do you mean?”

Knowing that I have to push her, have to get her to open up to me, I ask the question that’s been on my mind. “What happened with your ex, Scottie?”

She swallows hard and lowers the popsicle, a trickle of juice sliding down her wrist. “I…”

“I need to know what I’m up against. I want to know about your past to avoid making the same mistakes—for youandChase.”

Tears well in her eyes. “Why are you so concerned about that?”

Leaning forward, I reach for her hand, stroking the top of it with my thumb. “Because I’m not going anywhere, and the last thing I want is resentment in our family.”

She can deny it all she wants, but she and Chase are my family now—by blood, and hopefully one day, by choice. I know she’s not there yet, but hopefully she will be soon, especially if our kiss was any indication of the sexual tension lurking beneath the surface.

Her eyes fall to the melting popsicle in her hand before she stands from the couch and races to the sink, dropping the popsicle and washing her hands. I can see the tremble in her limbs as she returns, sitting back in her chair and nervously figuring out what to say.

“I told you Chase hasn’t had the best example of a man to look up to. His dad preferred strip clubs and other women over spending time with his own family. The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was when he took my son to the Gl-Ass Company, his favorite strip club, and left him in the car for two hours before he remembered he brought him.”

“Jesus Christ.” I run a hand through my hair.

“Yeah, he’s a piece of work, and the last person I want my son to be around. Chase saw me cry too many times, saw us yell at each othera lot, especially toward the end when I finally stood my ground.” She stares off to the side of the room. “I should have left sooner, and I hate myself for not.”

“You can’t blame yourself for someone else’s actions, Scottie. You did leave, which took courage, and that’s what matters.”

She brushes a tear from her cheek. “Yeah, but now my son…” She shakes her head. “He needs you, Grady.” Her admission shocks me.

So, I’m good enough to be a role model to her son, but not good enough to be her partner?

Remember what your sister said, Grady. She’s been hurt and is obviously placing a lot of blame on herself. Cut her some slack and keep pushing for what you want.

“I’m not a saint, Scottie.”

“No, and I never said you were. But you’re loyal, honest, and hardworking. That’s all I want Chase to aspire to be.”

“He has to get used to me being around. We’re going to be a family, whether you and I are together or not. I was thinking…what if he helped me fix up the Nova?”

The corner of her mouth lifts. “I think he’d like that.”

“I think so too, if he could dial back his attitude long enough to actually listen to me.” I shake my head, leaning back into the cushion. “I don’t know how you deal with that every day.”

“Being a parent is tough. There are days when I feel like I’m nailing it, and many more when I feel like I’m failing. Before I had Chase, my mistakes were my own, but as a mother, I constantly wonder how my choices are going to affect my son. It’s exhausting.”

“I don’t want to fail my kid,” I admit on a whisper, hoping she understands that she’s not the only one struggling. And fuck, I just want us to struggle together.

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