Page 58 of The Biggest Secret
I chuckle and lean into his side.
“So, three weeks? Anyone taking bets on the due date?”
“Billy!” Adam roars. Damn, just when I had him calmed down.
Chapter Thirty-Five
ADAM
I’m at work but I am not concentrating where I should be. My head is wrapped around my sister and Jackson’s impending wedding date. The fact that my parents knew and didn’t tell me. Why did they keep it a secret from me? I know why, I’ve been a jerk. I gave Jackson a hard time right out the gate. I didn’t trust my sister and her own decisions.
The fucking secrets in this family are going to be our downfall.
Why do I always think I know better than everyone else? I was brought up with good morals, to be humble, never to project you’re better than anyone else. So where does this feeling of superiority come from? This need to be in control.
It took me a long time to get Chelsea on board with moving to Christmas after college. Her past trauma made her reluctant to leave her safety net that she thought she had at home. It wasn’t safe, it wasn’t even comfortable but it’s what she knew. I convinced her I could be that netif she would let me. She didn’t really get it then. Hell, I clearly didn’t get it then because I didn’t make her feel safe.
But we’re getting it now. We’re older. I’m older, I’m learning more about myself. I’m not sure it’s the need to be in control as much as it is a need to protect. But whatever it is, I need to learn balance. Things are changing rapidly, and my loss of control over them is causing me to spiral. But I need to see it for what it is. A time to grow, to learn, to adapt and change and go with the flow. A teaching moment.
Chelsea and I are in a good space right now, both emotionally and physically. I asked her to move in with me. Again. Well, I didn’t give her a choice. I cleared out one of the guest rooms and started filling it with Dominic’s things.
And then I brought her stuff over and put it in my bedroom. That earned me a fight, but I was happy to clear things up with her later that night. After two orgasms, she was more than happy to live together.
I just want to know that her and my son are close, under my care. I know it was a lot for her to give up being on her own. But she doesn’t have to do it alone anymore. I’m here. I want to be here for both of them.
She gave me the challenge I’ve been missing for two years. And with both of them here? My house has never felt more like a home than it does right now.
Adley is staying in the house across the street for now, which I’m glad for. Her sister has been the only constant in her life. But I plan on changing that. I want to be that person. Herone.
It turns me the fuck on having her in my house. We never lived together years ago; she always wanted her own space to retreat to. But now? We’re going all in. We’re going to make this work.
My mom came to get Dom for the night, so we could get ready for the Coach of the Year awards dinner tonight. Thank God she did because it was getting rough seeing Chelsea move in and out of the shower, the closet, pulling on different dresses until she found one she liked. Watching her apply makeup, blow out her hair. All of it made me want to grab her and bend her over the sink. And once my mom left with our son, I did just that.
“How’s my hair? Back in place?” she asks as she’s smoothing theback down. Yeah, I might have messed it up again in the car ride over here. Watching her get ready, I called an Uber because I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands on the wheel and off her for the thirty-minute travel time it took to get us to the banquet hall.
I open the car door and step out, turning back around and taking her hand to help her out. “You’re gorgeous,” I say as she stands and wipes a little lipstick from my mouth.
“They’re going to know why we were late.”
“No, they won’t. We’ll just say Dom slowed us down.”
“Oh sure, blame our son! You and I both know your mom is always early to get him, and Dom can’t wait to go with her. They’ll all see right through that excuse.”
I nod to the doorman as we walk through the open foyer. We’re directed to check our table number, and then we’re heading in to get our seats. The place is loud with excitement and speculation on a winner. The workers bustle around cleaning up cocktail hour and try to get guests to sit for dinner.
“Honestly? I don’t give a fuck what they think. I’ll gladly shout that I was fucking my baby momma into submission,” I say, pulling her to a stop so I can look at her as we enter the room and step to the side.
“You’re the only one who can.”
“And yet you still fight me.”
“And you like it.”
“Mm, I love it.” I give her a quick kiss. “Come on.” We walk towards the front of the room where I find our table. Jackson and Francesca are seated facing the stage. Tom and Farrah are here, Britt and Bobby, of course, but sitting with Billy? Is Adley.
“Your sister is here! Did you know?” I look at her with inquisitive eyes.
She returns my look. “No,” she mouths. Then walks towards the open seat next to her sister and sits. They immediately begin whispering.
