Page 81 of I Got You

“Yes, before my last class.” I push my nose in the air. “Now, I came by to tell you that I texted Danny. He’s willing to work with me and drag his butt out here a couple weekends. Then, we’ll work online the rest of the time. I’ll have to be there a few days before the show to work with the group and get a handle on the stage and music, but he thinks we should be able to get by until then.”

“When is he coming?”

“Probably in a couple of weeks. He might be here when Mark and Sean get in, but it’ll just be for a day or two.”

Shane grumbles, “Good. I’ll make sure we run into him.”

“Grizz.”

“Firefly.”

I breathe in and hold it, trying to steady myself for the next part of why I came by. “Also, I talked to Ben this morning. He’s not overly concerned. He’s going to get in touch with Cliff’s lawyer and see what their basis is for the suit other than trying to steal someone who isn’t theirs.” My heart beats faster, and my palms start to sweat just thinking about it.

“They have an excellent lawyer, but so do I. Ben is the best there is. He thinks it might be a good idea to get a social worker involved to preemptively prove their claims are irrelevant and unfounded, but I don’t want to get the kids worked up if we don’t have to. He said that being married will help my case immensely. It’s not just me with four kids anymore.”

“So we can’t do anything right now?”

There’s something, but I don’t want to go there unless I have to, including telling Shane. I may be able to shield the kids from Cliff and Joan, but I don’t know if I can protect them from this, so it’s a last resort. They already have so much to deal with. The last thing I want to do is add more painful family stuff that shouldn’t ever affect them. Plus, reliving my shame and pain with the possibility of having it broadcasted will only bring those emotions and memories to a whole new level.

I don’t want to talk about this. I don’t talk about it. The people who know are limited to those present at the time. My dad, Cole, and Monica. Simone and Carmen know a little, but nothing like the entirety.

Talking about this with Shane is giving away a piece of myself to him. It’s dark and complex, and part of me that’s reserved for only the ones I trust the most.

I force my eyes to his. I don’t know what Shane and I are. We’re friends, maybe a bit more than friends. At least, it feels that way to me. I’ve brought him into my life, our lives, and I’ve trusted him with the most important things in this world to me. So I know I can tell him. I just didn’t want to be forced into it. I would so much rather it be because I was ready to.

I suck in another breath, needing courage and to know I’m not being suffocated by my anxiety. “There’s…something that could help, maybe even make this go away, but….”

“Knock. Knock.”

I jump, nearly out of my skin, at CC’s loud, gravelly voice beside me. Where in the hell did the spry old man come from?

“Maggie, my girl.” He throws his arm around me, squeezing. “Clara and I miss you guys. You need to come over and have dinner with us soon. She needs to see those kids.”

“Yes, we need to do that.” I force a smile, momentarily relieved that I was saved from telling Shane. Maybe time will give me guts.

“Bring this big lug with you, will ya.” He points at Shane. “He’s as quiet as a church mouse unless some knucklehead gets out of line. I need to get to know him better.” I laugh because it’s true.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here.” He continues, “We have the annual benefit coming up and you two must be there. Shane, you’re going to be the belle of the ball, and people expect autographs and pictures, so dust off your charming personality. Cole and some of the team will be attending.”

He looks at me. “Formal attire, as you know, and there’s no getting out of it, so don’t even try.”

Shane stifles a groan, and I smile. “We’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it. Plus,” I point to Shane, “this guy owes me a dance.”

Shane rolls his eyes and tips his head back like he’s in pain.

CC chuckles. “Hey, fella, you better be on that dance floor. Plenty of men will be looking to fill her dance card, and you might never get her back.”

Shane’s eyes look into mine in a way that has my skin lighting up with a burning sensation and the sudden need to step out for some fresh air.

“Darlin, you better save a dance for me. I may be old, but I can still keep up with you.”

I smile, stomping out the flames that ignited. “You got it.”

“Now, it’s a fundraiser, so you get to signing things.” He points at Shane. “And you figure out free dance lessons or some fancy thing, so we can raise some real cash this year.”

“We’ll do it,” I say.

“Alright. I’ll let you get back to it. Come over anytime. In fact, bring the kids, and you two can have a date night.” He taps the door jam with his knuckle twice and disappears into the dim hall.

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