Page 83 of Your Pucking Mom

We were interrupted by Damien bounding to the table. “Uncle Ledge, I’m glad you’re here with my new buddy, Auburn.”

I turned around slowly to see Ledger behind me, the grin deepening his dimples, and he looked over at Damien then his eyes fluttered back to me. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Somehow I knew that statement wasn’t meant for the little boy.

* * *

“Wait, I can’t fucking believe that you used to upsell Girl Scout Cookies on offseason.” Alex laughed hysterically. Stassi had tears rolling down her face and Ledger…well, Ledger was looking at me like I was one of those cookies and he was starving.

I remember my mother being so embarrassed when I came home with a stack of bills because I sold the last of my stash to a pregnant woman down the block. She said that I was shameful for asking people for money even when I insisted I was selling a product. It was always something with her. I was never…enough.

“Oh my gosh, you asked me about an embarrassing story. I shouldn’t have said anything,” I muttered, running my hands through my curls, my usual anxious tic. Ledger’s large hand grazed under the table and gripped my thigh. We were seated at the Popov’s small wooden dining table, where they had added an extra seat for Damien at the head. We’d all had our fill of food and Damien was in the living room playing with his toys.

“You used to hoard and freeze cookies and then sell them when you were twelve years old. Dude. That is fucking epic.” Alex was laughing so hard he clutched his stomach, and the blush crept high onto my cheeks.

“It was smart, Sunshine.” Ledger’s deep tone made me snap my attention toward him, but his warmth pressed tightly onto my thigh still. The way his lips curled into that beautiful smile, the entire room hummed in anticipation. “Very entrepreneurial.”

The corners of my lips twisted up. “I was trying to be.” He gave my thigh a squeeze.

“Thank you guys again for dinner and dessert. It was nice.” Alex raised his hand and pulled his wife’s chair so she was closer to him as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“It’s not family dinner without Uncle Ledge,” Damien chimed from the other room, and we all erupted into laughter.

“He’s right, though,” Alex said when we settled down. “It wouldn’t be a family without Ledger.”

Ledger nodded back at him. “And next time you tell me to dress up, I’ll pay attention.”

I looked between the two of them. “Wait, so you did know I was here and he was coming?”

Alex shrugged. “Stassi didn’t, but I knew you were still here.”

My eyes shot over to Ledger. “And you purposely walked out looking like this?”

Ledger raised his hands as if he had given up. “Ah, come on.”

The conversation flowed naturally, and I sat back in my chair and stared at Ledger’s hands as he spoke, realizing that I missed the way he felt against the warmth of my thigh. The way he was anchoring me to stay here, to face the fear of what would happen.

As the conversation lulled, I spoke up almost frantically. “I think it’s time for me to go home.” I tried to keep my voice as steady as I could. “But do you think I could use your restroom?”

Stassi’s warm eyes met mine, and for a moment, she hesitated, waiting for me to run out, but I stood up, waiting to be pointed in the direction. I knew exactly where to go too, figuring this was the same layout as the others.

“Down the hallway,” she said softly. I nodded, Ledger’s eyes burning a hole in the back of my head. I strode quickly but steadily down the hallway, then I locked the door and turned on the water of the sink as I pulled the phone from my skirt pocket.

I dialed Emma’s number by heart, then ducked down because I thought if I was closer to the ground then somehow my voice wouldn’t float into the hallway and no one could hear me. In the moment, it was very rational.

“Hey,” I whispered when she picked up.

“What’s wrong? Why does it sound like you’re in the shower?” she asked, ignoring our typical greetings.

“I need your help.”

“Oh shit.” I heard clamoring on the other line. “I’ll be right there. Do I need to call 911?”

I suppressed a giggle. “No, silly.”

“Okay…?”

“Listen, I’m at a family dinner at the Popov’s house…”

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