Page 47 of Wake Me Up
“Yeah, you’re buying,” I utter. “I’d ask Kolburne, but he’s gotta rush home to his nurse. I mean, wife.”
“Fucking right I do,” Kolt grumbles in his true Kolt voice. “If you had a woman like Paige, so would you.”
I don’t even answer because I know, hands down … that fucker is right.
Istare at my in-laws, still in shock that they are here, in Maine, right now. The kids were going to go visit them sometime in the next month or so, depending on Aviana’s recovery, but now … they are in my living room. Which is great. I love them, and so do my kids—except there’s a Sharks game in an hour, and Tripp gave me and the kids tickets to come watch. I left it up to them, still not wanting to lead on to my kids how much I would like to see Tripp, and they all said yes.
It’s been four days since the sexting happened, and though we’ve talked on the phone and texted each other, we’ve both been too busy to meet up. So, here I am, makeup on, which I never wear, and my hair curled … looking like a pathetic loser.
While the boys are busy showing their grandfather some videos of them playing their current sports, Aviana is showing my mother-in-law, Helen, her ever-growing slime collection, so I take the opportunity to sneak to my bedroom to call Tripp.
He answers on the first ring, and his deep Southern voice instantly makes my heart race.
“Hi,” I practically whisper, afraid my in-laws may hear me. “So … we were really excited to come watch you, but, um …” I pause because this is awkward. I’m telling my current and secret husband that my dead husband’s parents showed up, and now I have to stand him up. “My in-laws came into town and surprised us. They, uh, just got here a few minutes ago.”
“So, bring ’em,” he says instantly with zero hesitation. “I can get a few more tickets. I’ve got connections, you know.”
“Do you now?” The words come out more flirtatious than I planned, but I guess that’s what Tripp does to me.
“Yeah, I’m a pretty big deal. What can I say?” he teases. “I’m serious,darlin’. If they enjoy hockey, bring them with you. If not, then I’ll get y’all tickets another time.”
I know my in-laws, and they are usually up for anything, and as long as they are hanging out with their grandkids, they’re happy.
“Okay, I’ll talk to them and see.” I twirl a strand of hair around my finger while I continue to stand here and grin like a loser.
“Sounds good, beautiful,” he drawls. “Can’t wait to look up in the stands and see my wife’s pretty face.”
I swear I suck in a breath at his words, and I can’t even choke out a simple answer.
Luckily, I don’t have to because he casually says, “Talk to you later,” before ending the call.
I look down at the phone, chewing on my grinning lip. As I turn slowly to head back downstairs, Cane’s eyes are on me as he stands in the doorway. My heart lurches into my throat; I’m worried I got caught grinning like an asshole on the phone and I blew my cover.
“You look pretty happy,” he says tauntingly, his lips turned up on one side in a smirk. “Sounded like it during that call too.” He struts into the room, stopping just before me. “Who was on the phone, Mom?”
I freeze, feeling like I’m in high school and I just snuck home after going to a party I wasn’t supposed to go to. No matter what I say, I’m afraid I’ll give something away. I don’t want my kids to ever feel like I’m moving on from their dad or trying to replace him. I’d never do that.
“I just wanted to make sure Tripp had enough tickets for your grandparents to go with us—that’s all,” I say casually, shrugging. “And good news: he said he could get an extra two for them.”
He’s not buying a word I’m saying—I know my own kid enough to know.
“You can admit you like Tripp, Mom,” he says point-blank, still grinning. “We all know you do.” His eyes widen humorously. “And it’s pretty obvious he likes you too.”
“I don’t …” I pause, not wanting to lie to my son. “It’s complicated.” A long sigh comes from me because I should have had a speech prepared for this moment—the moment he figured out that I have feelings for a man who isn’t his dad. Instead, I don’t have any clue what to say.
I sit on the edge of the bed, and he takes a seat next to me.
“It doesn’t have to be, you know?” He shrugs. “Mom … Dad’s been gone a long time. I don’t think any of us kids expect you to stay single forever.”
Tears spring in my eyes, making me regret wearing this mascara crap.
“I just don’t ever want to put you guys in a situation where you feel uncomfortable,” I whisper, rubbing my hand against his back. “And I hope you know I’d never see anyone that you didn’t want me to. You three are my first priority.”
“We know, Mom,” he says softly. “But Cash and I have already talked about it. We both said we’d be fine with you dating a guy like Tripp.” He nudges his shoulder against mine. “He’s a good one.”
I sniffle, wiping under my eyes. “Are you sure you’re only twelve?”
“Thirteen in a few months,” he utters before standing up and holding his hand out to me. “Come on. We’ve got a game to get to.”
