Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(48)

“Hey, baby bro.”

“We needa set some damn boundaries, sis,” he says, looking put out. He opens the fridge and pulls out an energy drink.

“We aren’t doing anything,” I say a little defensively, my face heating.

Xander huffs and walks out, but not before I see the small smile playing on his lips.

I grin down at Reid, who I find is already looking at me. He looks… content. His eyes are soft, and I watch as he licks his bottom lip.

“You look happy,” I think out loud.

“I am happy.”

“Good,” I say, leaning down to kiss his scar.

“My father did it to me,” he says, his voice so low I barely hear him.

I sit up. “What?”

“Yeah, he was hitting my mother, and I tried to stop it. He said he wanted to teach me a lesson,” he says, pulling me down against his chest once more.

“How old were you?” I ask, dreading the answer.

“Ten.”

Tears pool in my eyes, as I imagine a young Reid Knox, standing up to his own father. “Your dad's in prison, right?”

“Yeah,” he says, but doesn’t elaborate.

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice breaking a little.

“Beauty,” he croons, when he sees me getting choked up. “I’ve never been a good boyfriend,” he continues when I don’t say anything more. “I never thought I would be a husband. Ever. But after meeting you I think, maybe this time, I could be different. For you, I could be. I think I already am.”

“You’re perfect for me,” I tell him, capturing his lips in a needy kiss.

“Fucking hell!” I hear Xander curse as he walks back in, ruining the moment.

“Next time we’re going to my place,” Reid demands, looking grumpy.

“Or you could just go into her room,” Xander mutters, walking out the front door and slamming it shut behind him.

“Well, the coast is clear,” Reid says, smiling against my lips. He runs his hand up the back of my thigh, causing chills to erupt all over my body. I reach my hand down to stroke him, just as we both hear a knock on the door.

“Maybe they'll go away?” he says, looking adorably hopeful.

Another knock. Louder this time.

“Impatient bastards,” he mutters, sitting up with me still on him.

“I’ll get it,” I say, lifting a leg down onto the floor.

“No, you won’t, you lie here and relax, I’ll get it,” he says, kissing me on the nose before jumping off the couch.

“Put your shirt on!” I say, picking it up and throwing it at him.

He looks amused. “Why?”

“Humour me,” I say, rolling my eyes. He flashes me a boyish grin and puts his shirt on, walking quickly to the door when more knocking commences, louder this time. I hear him open the door, and then an angry, “What the f*ck are you doing here?”

I get up and follow him to the door, my eyes flaring when I see Mia standing there. And she’s not alone.

Next to her is a little boy.

One who looks exactly like Reid.

Blond hair, blue eyes and a cute little pair of lips.

I look at Reid, who is staring at the boy in shock. “No way,” he says suddenly, looking freaked out. When he stands there and does nothing but gape, I tell them to come in. We all walk into the living area and sit there awkwardly. Mia sits the kid down next to her on the couch.

Moments ago, I would have sworn my life was perfect.

“He’s yours,” Mia says, looking worried, but also a little smug.

Feeling like I’m suddenly intruding I say, “I’m going to leave you guys alone for a second.” I stand up until Reid pins me with a glare.

“Sit, I need you here, Summer.”

“No, let her leave, she doesn’t have anything to do with this,” Mia says, her eyes narrowing to slits.

“She has everything to do with this,” Reid sneers. His face softens when he turns to me, his eyes pleading with me to stay.

“Why don’t I take…” I trail off, realizing we don’t even know the kids name.

“River,” she replies stiffly. She looks like she doesn’t want me near her son, but she also desperately wants to talk to Reid alone.

“River, why don’t you come with me? I’ll show you my Ninja Turtle toys,” I say, ignoring the curious look from Reid and the hostile one from Mia. Even though she's throwing daggers my way, and probably thinking up ways to kill me, she gives me a slight nod, letting me know it’s okay to take him.

River grins at me, so I walk over and awkwardly lift him into my arms. Reid broke up with Mia two years ago, so he must be a year and a couple of months old. He feels heavy in my arms, and I lift him higher, holding him closer. I don’t wanna drop the poor kid. I can feel both their eyes on my back as I walk to my room, pushing the door open with my foot.

I sit River in the middle of the bed, then shake my head, thinking that that can’t be a very good idea. I put him on the carpet, and then reach under the bed for my favourite childhood toys. I pull out the plastic container, and peep inside, looking for my favourite Donatello figurine.

“Uh huh!” I cheer as I find it. Making sure nothing can come loose on him, I hand him over to River. River stares at him, blinking furiously. Then he picks him up and throws him as far as he can, which ends up being about a metre.