Page 105 of The Snuggle is Real
“Aw, honey.” I brushed her tears away. “Do you want me to talk to your mom and Ford about that?”
She sniffled. “Mom won’t listen.”
“Maybe not.” I stroked her hair back. “I don’t know your mom that well, but I know Ford loves you, and no matter what happens he won’t stop loving you, okay? He’ll always be there for you. I will too.”
“Really?”
“We’ll come see you every chance we get.”
I wanted to promise so much more. I wanted to tell her she could stay forever. That she could be Ford’s daughter. Maybe be mine too one day. But I couldn’t offer her false hope. LuAnne held all the cards here, and ultimately, she had to decide what life she wanted for her daughter.
“Sleep now.” I kissed her forehead. “Santa will come soon, and in the morning, we’ll all open presents together. It’ll be a good day, okay?”
“Okay.” Her eyes closed. “Love you, Mason.”
“Love you too.”
I made my way down the hall toward the dining room. The voices had simmered down to a soft murmur that sounded more peaceful. Hopefully that meant LuAnne had agreed to stay awhile.
Just as long as she’s not reeling in Ford again.
My stomach squirmed with guilt. Charlie would be much happier if they did reconcile. It was selfish of me to want LuAnne to go so that Ford was all mine.
“I can’t believe you had to hire a nanny just to handle Charlie for a few weeks,” LuAnne said with a laugh just as I reached the dining room.
“What? I don’t have a nanny.”
“A babysitter then? Isn’t that what Mason is?”
“Hell no.” Ford glanced up, catching my eye. I waited on the threshold of the room, unsure if I should interrupt.
He held out a hand to me, and I crossed to his side. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce him properly outside.”
“You were too busy insisting I let Charlie stay for Christmas.”
“The rest of Christmas break,” he clarified. “You need a job and a home and a plan before you take Charlie.”
She groaned. “God, you’re such a man. You have her a few weeks and now you’re the expert? She’s not that easy.” She waved a hand at me. “Which obviously, you must know since you needed help.”
“Mason is not the help,” Ford growled, clearly irritated. “He’s my boyfriend.”
She blinked. “Your what now?”
I held out my hand to her for the second time. “Hi, I’m Mason West. Ford and I are dating.”
She shook my hand as her gaze ping-ponged between us.
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” she said to Ford. “You’regay?There’s no way. You liked sex way too much?—”
“I’m not gay,” he interrupted. “I’m bi, and it’s new, okay? Mason is the first guy I’ve ever been with.”
She tilted her head, considering me. “Hmm.”
“What?” I asked, braced for an insult.
“Nothing, just… You’re his type. I can see it now.”
I laughed nervously. “Um, I’m a man. That was hardly his type.”
