Page 54 of Eligible Best Friend

Ryan pulls away and I wander into the house. Lia’s stretched out on the rug on the floor while Jayden plays with his Duplos next to her.

I lean against the doorframe and take a moment to soak up this scenario. Jayden was one of the reasons I never let my dates get close, but I couldn’t imagine keeping Lia at a distance. She’s a natural with him. Not overly pushy, but she never ignored him. She cared for him because he was mine. “You can say ‘I told you so’ now.”

“I’m just glad it didn’t backfire. Megan and Hallie are sweet.”

“Yeah.” I lower myself next to her and run my hand along her back. We keep our PDAs down in front of Jayden. But being around Lia all day and not touching her is getting old.

I soak in the quiet. Jayden’s chilling after the little nap he got while ten-year-old Megan rocked him in the living room and Ryan, Lia and I put the room together. Eight-year-old Hallie hung up decor that she insisted was perfect for Jayden even though they’d just met.

“I hope he can come with us next weekend,” Lia says quietly.

“Me too.” I’ve been anticipating Cass’s moods and how and when to ask her about the cookout. She took the weekend off for some self-care, so tonight might be the best. Or I could wait until the day is closer so she doesn’t have time to change her mind.

Frustration ripples under my skin. Not knowing when I get to see him next and what I can do with him is getting old.

The minutes tick by, but after the busy day, the quiet is soothing.

The doorbell rings.

“There’s Mommy.” I swoop Jayden up and go to answer. Cass waits on the doorstep, her skin and hair glowing from all her pampering at the spa.

“Hi,” she says brightly, her gaze lifting behind me to Lia, her expression remaining neutral. “How’d it go?”

“Good.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her about our day, but I hold back the details. “He should be worn out. We did a lot of running around today.”

Her brows lift and she takes Jayden from me. “Oh?”

Lia comes next to me and hands the overnight bag to me. “He was so good at the store.”

Surprise lifts Cass’s brows. This is the first time I’ve done more with Jayden than just watch and entertain him. This was the first weekend we did normal family things together. “You did some shopping?”

“Ford wanted—”

“I thought I should have some extra clothes here for him.” I don’t mean to talk over Lia. The bedroom isn’t a secret, but I’m hesitant to tell Cass. Telling her that I’m making room for our son shouldn’t affect anything, but…what if it does? “Here, I’ll help you load up.”

“No, I got it.” Cass takes the bag and slings it over her other shoulder. “I have my system. Say bye to Daddy.”

Jayden waves to us and I watch them go. Cass straps him into her little red SUV and tosses the overnight bag on the floor. She gets into the driver’s seat, puts on large aviator shades, and drives off. I wave just in case Jayden’s watching us from his rear-facing seat.

Lia doesn’t move from my side the entire time. “You don’t want her to know about the bedroom?”

I step inside and shut the door, but my gaze burns into the wood, my mind working. I don’t regret getting Jayden’s room ready. If I don’t get to see him much, I still won’t undo the work I’ve done.

But there’s no reason he shouldn’t be at my place, using his room. There’s no reason I can’t have more weekends filled with family that supports me and my kids. More weekends where it’s my girlfriend sleeping over even when my son’s also sleeping over. Days and nights when I take Jayden to Mom’s to swim and get grandma time. Times when he just comes grocery shopping with me.

There’s no reason time with my son should be dependent on what Cass approves of in my personal life.

My biological father had no interest in me or my life, and my stepfather didn’t think I was worth getting to know that well. Jayden needs to know that I’ll fight for him and that no matter what the outcome is, he’s worth it. My son will never have to prove he’s better than me. I’ll never make him feel like he’s failing some bogus test from a deadbeat stepdad. But I can’t make that happen by debating when the best time to ask Cass to see him is.

“I think it’s time I check on custody.”

Sixteen

Lia

Nerves ripple through my stomach as Ford parks in front of a stucco flat with brick-red trim. Bikes lie on the front lawn and there’s a green and black soccer ball in the bushes that flank the front door.

“You look like you’re ready to bolt.” Ford cuts the engine and we sit outside Ryan’s house.

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