After lunch on Friday, I snuck away to call Finn while Liam slept. He had another school swimming competition that morning, and I let him have the rest of the day off, provided he spent at least an hour of it on a video-call to me. It was bribery at its best, but I was in desperate need of staring at my boy’s face.
“You won!” I squealed after he broke the news.
“Easily, too!” Finn’s chest puffed out. “I can’t believe I made it to the final!”
“I can. You’re remarkable. When is it?”
“February.” He paused. “We’ll still be living here then, wont we?”
“I’ll make sure of it, baby. I won’t let you miss that race.”
As I lay back on my bed, laughing at my son’s antics, I caught sight of movement in the hallway. I’d left the door open, not expecting any of Liam’s family to arrive for hours.
My heart lurched as Adam’s eyes found mine, then fell to my laptop.
I quickly slammed it closed. “Adam…you’re early.”
“Did I interrupt something?” He folded his arms as he leaned against the door jamb. “A little phone sex with the doc?”
“What?! No.”
“Then why are you so flushed?”
“Because I was…” I ran my tongue over my dry lips as I tried to formulate an excuse that didn’t incorporate my son. “Having a laugh with a friend.”
Adam chortled. “Sure you were…”
“We’re not all as perverted as you.” I returned the laptop to my desk. “And it’s really none of your business.”
“You’re right. It’s not.”
Surprised by Adam’s lack of sleazy retort and the click of his door closing, I turned back to find an empty hallway and sighed. As much as he drove me crazy, I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to be friends, and the date with Marc was another attempt at reinstating boundaries. Adam needed to know I wasn’t an option.
My stomach had been tied up in knots all afternoon. I hadn’t been on a date in so long I’d forgotten all the anxiety that went along with them. Perhaps that was why I’d avoided them for so long. Men had asked, but I’d politely decline. If I couldn’t see them as a potential father to my son, I saw no point in pursuing a relationship that would inevitably lead to heartbreak. It wasn’t fair to Finn, and I promised Dominic I’d never settle for anyone less than him, so the benchmark was high.
Before getting ready, I checked on Liam one last time. I was fishing for a reason to cancel the date, but when I peeked through the door and found him fast asleep, all hope faded.
“Cassidy!” Josie called out from the couch on the far side of the bedroom. Three faces greeted me…but only two were smiling.
“Join us for a drink.” Grayson motioned me over. “We’re ordering pizza later if you’re hungry.”
“Oh, thanks for the offer.” I glanced at Adam. “But I’m heading out tonight.”
Adam sipped his whiskey. “Cassidy has a hot date.”
Josie’s mouth dropped. “With whom?”
“The doc,” Adam answered, expressionless.
I almost growled. I could speak for myself.
“Did you want to borrow an outfit?” Josie placed Harrison into Grayson’s arms as she stood.
“I’d actually love that.” Relief settled over me. All my dresses were entwined with memories I’d rather forget.
“It’s no problem,” she said as she passed. “I actually have these magical leather pan—”
“No!” the boys cried out in unison.