Page 104 of Sneak Attack

Well, that was a loaded question.

“That’s a big question with a really hard answer, kiddo. But, well, you remember how mom and I talk about our friend Hilary every once in a while?”

“The one who died?”

“Yeah. She was really special to both of us, and Eden was her friend, too. There’s a lot of history there between all of us and it isn’t all really pretty.”

“Ugly history? Like wars and stuff?”

He was more on the nose than he realized. “Like I said, it’s complicated and I think your mom will stop being mad soon. But until then, all you need to remember is that both your mom and I love you to the moon, with three trips around the sun and out to Mars and back again. Right?”

“Mom says we should all live together, and Eden is stopping that.”

Selma needed a lesson on learning how to shut up.

“I don’t think your mom and I need to live together to love you as much as we do, but yeah, in a way, kiddo, I like Eden that much that someday, when all three of us are ready—me, you, and Eden living together? I think I might like that. But that never means you won’t still see your mom like you do now. You know that, right?”

He shrugged and worried his mouth. The gears grinding in his too-smart brain were as loud as Bongo’s snores while he lay across the room on his dog bed.

“I like Eden. She seems nice and she smells good.”

Again with the smells. I couldn’t disagree.

“Can I see her more if it won’t make Mom mad?”

“I think for right now, I’d like to keep our time just me and you since I’m going to start being really busy, but maybe she can keep coming to dinners at Grandma’s house. Would that be all right?”

Slowly, I’d introduce them. As much as I wanted to rush things with Eden, it wouldn’t be good for anyone and while I didn’t need Selma’s approval for anything, it’d go smoother if we gave her time to adjust as well—assuming the best of her and that’d eventually happen.

“Yeah, but if mom doesn’t come, and if she wants, Eden can come to your games with us, too. That way there isn’t an empty seat.”

I thought that was a fantastic idea, and personally, the idea of Eden finally in the stands cheering me on was something I’d long since stopped dreaming of since I assumed it’d never happen.

“Maybe some game. We’ll just take them one at a time, all right?”

“Sure.” He grabbed his controller and until it was time for Jasper to go to bed, we played Mario Kart and Minecraft.

By the time I finished reading him his books and tucked him in, he hadn’t mentioned his mom or Eden again, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t counting down the hours until she got here.

CHAPTER32

EDEN

Cole’s front door opened and then he appeared in the doorway before I’d reached his porch. His wide shoulders and muscled frame took up the space and a tingle of excitement flickered down my spine.

When he called earlier and told me to come over, I didn’t hesitate.

It’d been a week since I’d gotten to spend any real time with him and even though I didn’t fully like the idea of sneaking over when Jasper was there, for now, if it was what we had to do to make things work, I’d take it.

The last week had been intense. Marley’s forgetfulness was appearing with more frequency, along with her stumbling and balance. Melanie and another nurse, Jody, were alternating days so I could leave the house, so I hadn’t been surprised when Melanie didn’t have a problem coming over when I called her earlier.

On Sunday, Marley and I hadn’t watched the game alone. Nora had texted to see if I wanted to go to Buckin’ Brews and watch it with her and Sarah and when I explained I didn’t want to leave Marley or have the nurses come on the weekend, they grabbed a couple variety of six-packs from the brewery and two bottles of wine along with a bottle of non-alcoholic cider for Marley and joined us.

We ordered pizza, while I baked spinach and artichoke dip and a crockpot of queso dip.

We watched the game, laughed and cheered as Cole once again gave his team a fourteen-point lead in the first half of his preseason game before joining the starters to cheer on the rest of the team to victory over Tampa Bay.

I’d even talked to my mom again when she’d texted to ask how Marley was doing.

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