Page 16 of All It Takes

She dabbed at her mouth with a napkin while I grabbed another one and wiped up the water on the table in front of her.

“You know, I’m sure that is true because you’re all about the research and the facts, but happiness is complicated. For fuck’s sake, Scott’s a real asshole. I bet that did a number on your sense of trust.”

“Yeah. It was already shaky at best. Aside from friends and my dad and my brother, I don’t really trust people, not when it comes to romance.”

“You were so into me going for it with Jonah. What was that about?”

My heart burned. “I guess I believe in it for other people, just not me. Plus, Jonah is a good guy.”

“Don’t you think Wes is a good guy?” she asked pointedly, even pursing her lips for good measure as she pinned me with her sharp, knowing gaze.

“Sure,” I replied with a shrug. “But it’s not worth the risk.”

I was being honest with Alice, but I couldn’t tell her how terrifying it was to think about trusting anyone. After the humiliation and pain I’d experienced with the way Scott blew me off, I couldn’t handle it.

“Wesisa good guy,” I emphasized. “But he and I have other priorities right now. We can’t go around kissing each other.” I took a breath, thinking of Ross and his parents. “I mean, Ross lost both of his parents.”

Alice’s eyes were soft as she looked over at me. “He did, and he’s blessed to have you two. You’ll be a great mom.”

“Um, I’m not his mom.”

“Maybe not biologically, but you are. I know you’re technically his guardian, but you and Wes are his parents. You can get all hung up on the legal definition, but you’re the ones doing the whole thing. You don’t do anything half-ass, especially not love.” Alice paused, studying me. “And that’s how I know just how shitty what Scott did was. You don’t do anything by half measures, not at all. You cared about him, and he tossed you away like nothing. Fucking asshole,” she said vehemently.

Blessedly, Alice let the topic drop then. That was about all I could handle. We finished eating our pizza. As we walked out into the crisp, cold night, we stopped at our cars together, and she glanced over at me.

“I’m looking forward to hearing just how long you hold out from kissing Wes.” She snickered when I glared at her.

ChapterFourteen

WES

“Nice to meet you,” the assistant principal, who’d asked me to call her Ms. Dana, said.

“You as well,” I replied, reaching to clasp her proffered hand.

Ms. Dana smiled, gesturing to the table after we shook hands. “Have a seat. You must be Ross.” She turned her attention to Ross, who stood beside me.

My hand was resting between his shoulder blades. Even though he was putting on a brave face, I knew he was nervous. I could feel the anxiety emanating from him.

He blinked up at her. “I am.”

“Well, I’m Ms. Dana. It’s very nice to meet you. We’re here to talk about your classes. You can sit beside Wes.”

We both sat down at the table. “Tiffany should be here any…” I began, just as I heard the sound of footsteps moving briskly down the hallway.

I recognized the rhythm of Tiffany’s stride. I felt my body humming and tightening with anticipation. A moment later, she appeared in the doorway. My gaze took her in. She was wearing a silky blue blouse with a scoop neck and a bow nestled at the valley of her breasts. Of course, my greedy eyes lingered on the hint of exposed curves. Her silvery-gray down jacket was unzipped. Her jeans were fitted and tucked into a pair of cowboy boots. I wanted to peel off all of her clothes.

The sound of someone clearing their throat snapped my eyes away from Tiffany.

“Hi,” Tiffany said brightly. She smiled over at the assistant principal. “Nice to see you again.” She glanced at Ross. “I knew Ms. Dana when we were kids and saw her last week when she brought her cat to the vet.”

Ms. Dana smiled. “Rumple did better with Alice than any of the temporary vets. He still meowed as if he was being killed, but he was just fine after his shots.”

Tiffany grinned. “Alice is fantastic.”

Tiffany sat down on the other side of Ross, and I sensed she felt as protective as I did.

Ms. Dana sat across from us, opening a laptop. “Let’s look at his class schedule. I’m also wondering if you can help us get the records from his last school.”

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