Mom shot me a disgusted look. I just innocently smiled at her. She rolled her eyes, her amusement still clear on her face. “Well, if you’re happy, Slater, then I’m happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
I reached across the table and settled my hand over hers. “Thanks, Mom.” Her approval meant everything to me.
She gently squeezed my fingers. “Now, what are we eating?” she asked as she glanced over the menu when the waitress stepped up to our table.
I snorted. Like Mom was going to order anything besides her scrambled eggs, ham, and Texas toast. I smiled at the waitress and ordered my regular omelet, and just like I knew Mom would, she ordered the same thing she’d been ordering since I was a little boy.
“I don’t know why you bother looking at the menu,” I teased her. “You always order the same thing.”
She shot me a playful scowl. “Do you give Tawney this hard of a time?”
I shook my head. “Nope. I reserve all of my annoying tendencies for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Lucky me,” she mocked.
I barked out a laugh.
* * *
Alex was sittingon the front porch of the bookstore when I walked up the steps later that evening. A book was on his lap, and he was deeply engrossed in whatever he was reading.
I took a seat next to him on the swing, and he jerked his head up, looking at me. I ruffled his hair. “Hey, kid. What are you reading?”
He held up the book so I could see the cover. I snorted at the nameMy Big Fat Zombie Goldfish. “Is it a good book?” I asked him.
He nodded. “The best.” And he looked one hundred percent serious about it, too.
I wouldn’t agree, but I’d take his word for it.
I glanced up, watching his gorgeous mom stock shelves while talking animatedly to one of the customers inside. I looked back down at Alex. “I have a question for you.”
“So ask,” he said, looking up at me.
I snorted. This kid’s dad must have been something else, I swear.
“How would you feel about me marrying your mom?” I asked him.
He shrugged. “Do you love her?”
I nodded. “I love your mom with my entire heart and soul,” I assured him. And that was the honest fucking truth. I’d do anything in the world for her—for both of them.
He pondered it for a moment, making me wait with bated breath. Then, he looked back up at me, an inkling of excitement on his face. “Does that mean you’ll be my dad?”
Oh, God, that hurt my soul. Looking at the hope he was trying so hard not to show, it was clear he wanted a dad so bad, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up about having one.
I hugged him to me. “I’ll be your dad, kiddo; I promise.”
He nodded against my chest. “Then yes. Please marry Mom.”
I laughed and pressed a kiss to the top of his head, my heart still aching for him.
11
Slater
I’ve always been the kind of guy that took things in stride, barely letting anything affect me. But waiting for Tawney to come down to the beach felt like agony. I’d asked to take her out on a date tonight—with or without Alex, didn’t matter to me—but she’d requested that she get to close the store first, and then she would meet me down here.
I blew out a soft breath and tilted my head back to look up at the stars. I had it all set up—the picnic blanket, the wicker basket with sandwiches, grapes, and strawberries, the candles, the rose petals.