Page 21 of Nightclub Surprise
“I wouldn’t. I ain’t no liar!” Calum huffedagain.
August nodded in agreement. “I bet you’renot.”
Then Calum looked at August, and he reached out to put his hand on his cheek. “I bet it made you sad when you saw that happen to yourfriend.”
“Sadder than I’ve ever been. I’m trying like crazy to stop these nightmares, because I don’t want you to be scared of me. Your momma is trying to help me, too, so I’d like to stick around if that’s okay with you, Calum. I like your momma a lot, and I like you, too.” August placed his hand on my son’s shoulder. “So, what do you say, Calum? Can I hang around with you guys? I’d sure appreciate it if you’d letme.”
“Momma did help you. And I think she likes you, too” Calum said, then took two steps forward, wrapping his arms around August’s neck. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was afraid of you. You can hang around withus.”
August got up, carrying Calum as he did. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me, Calum. You sure do have a bigheart.”
They walked over to me, catching me wiping tears away from that scene, which had touched my heart in a way I couldn’t describe. “So, I see you two have worked things out then.” A sniffle would’ve confirmed to them that I’d been crying a little, if they hadn’t noticedalready.
“Yep,” Calum said. “We’re friendsagain.”
Friends. No, they were more than just friends. But when would the time be right to tell themthat?
Chapter Thirteen
August
Although Calum had seen fit to forgive me for the episode he’d witnessed, I wasn’t ready to forgive myself. I’d been warned by my sister and my therapist, but I’d still made the unfortunate decision to ignore their sage advice. It didn’t sit well with me that I’d scared the poorkid.
Although a part of me, the rational part, told me to leave Tawny and her son alone and be on my merry way, my selfish side simply wouldn’t allow me to do that. No, that side of me wanted Tawny—and Calum—in my life more than it had ever wantedanything.
So, after eating the delicious beef stew she’d made, I told her what I wanted after we’d retreated to the living room while Calum filled the dishwasher with our dirty dishes. Slipping one arm around her as we sat on the sofa, I whispered, “So, what are the chances of you letting me sleepover?”
Her pretty green eyes went wide as she shook her head. “No way, August. You know I’d love that, but this place is tiny, and Calum’s a lightsleeper.”
My cock wasn’t going to give up so easily. “Okay, then how about we figure out a way to get him out of the house for a littlewhile?”
Her expression turned from stern to intrigued. “Likehow?”
I only had one go-to for that answer, so I took my cell out of my pocket to call my sister. The sound of a group of people all talking over each other hit my ears immediately as Leila answered my call, “August, what’sup?”
“I was wondering what you were doing this evening,” I said as I played with a strand of Tawny’s redhair.
“Actually, Jacob wants to go see some new cartoon movie tonight. He and I are about to head out now. Why do youask?”
“Well, I’m at Tawny’sand…”
She stopped me. “I see. Yeah, I know what you want now. I can take Calum with us if he wants togo.”
“I’ll ask him.” With a kiss to Tawny’s cheek, I got up to go ask Calum if he’d like to watch a cartoon movie with his Aunt Leila andJacob.
“Yes, sir!” he shrieked then slammed the dishwasher shut before making a beeline for hisbedroom.
“He’s in,” I told my sister. “When can we expectyou?”
“About a half hour. At least, that’s what Tawny said it took for your driver to bring them over that one time. Text me heraddress.”
And with that, I’d managed to get Tawny all alone for at least a couple hours. Sure, I’d rather have an entire night, but I’d take anything I couldget.
Going back to the sofa, I sat down next to her, running one fingertip over her shoulder. She bit her lower lip. “Maybe I should jump in the shower and do myself up a bit. I’ve been dreaming about this, and I’d like to look mybest.”
“Whatever you want. I’ll be right here.” Before she could get up, I left a kiss on her lips that told her what she was infor.
She left the room with a flushed face that made my cock thump in my jeans. Things were turning around for us, I could feel it in the air. It felt heavy and light at the same time. Heavy with what was to come, and light withhappiness.
