One Last Time(60)

Everything I hoped for to keep things civil is gone.

“This is a family matter. It’s not about you or your time, it’s about our son,” I say through gritted teeth. “Nothing else matters but him, and you’re unbelievable to be so selfish not to see this would hurt a ten-year-old boy.”

“I’m selfish?”

Scott turns to her. “Go to the car, Jill.”

“Excuse me?” Her jaw drops.

“Go wait in the car,” he demands. “Kristin’s right.”

My eyebrows shoot up. There is no way I heard him right.

“You’re taking her side? Are you kidding?”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. I know that look all too well—she’s about to see Scott in all his glory. That was my cue to stop whatever it was I was doing or saying or I’d have to listen to an hour-long speech of all the things I do wrong. “Shut up.” He pulls his arm out of her grasp. “This isn’t about you or her, it’s about my son. Now, go to the car.”

She shoves his arm and stomps away like a toddler who didn’t get their way. Scott runs his hands down his face.

“I’ll give you guys space,” Noah offers.

I want to cry. How can this man still be here. He has to see the insanity of my life. There’s no denying that this divorce is a fucking mess. Our marriage may be over, but our lives are intertwined. I wouldn’t blame him if he ran far and fast.

Hell, I’d like to run right now.

There’s so much I want to say, but when I open my mouth, Noah touches my arm. He tilts his head to where Finn ran off to. “Go. He’s what’s important. I’ll wait.”

He’s right. Finn is all that matters. He’s hurting, and I can’t waste my energy on Asshole and his slutty fiancée.

“Thank you.” He’s so good to me. Noah is ten times the man Scott will ever be. Instead of worrying about himself, he cares about Finn, which is more than I can say about the woman who will become a part of my two children’s lives.

Noah smiles and heads through the door.

I look back to the man I don’t even know anymore. “Let’s go try to fix this mess,” I say as Scott and I head back to Finn’s room.





Chapter Twenty-Five





Noah





Kristin’s ex is something else, but that Jillian chick is a whole other level of fucked up.

She’s been back there with Finn for about ten minutes and I’m not sure what the hell to do but wait. I can hear the three of them going back and forth—Scott’s voice is loud but not loud enough to make out what they’re saying.

After a few minutes, the door swings open, and a little girl with big blue eyes that match her mother’s is looking right at me.

“Who are you?” the little girl, who I assume is Aubrey, asks.

“I’m Noah.” I smile and put my hand out. “I’m friends with your mom.”

Her tiny fingers wrap around mine, and she smiles. “I’m Aubrey Nicole McGee. I’m six, and I’ll be seven next because seven comes after, and then I’ll be eight. I can count to one hundred without stopping. I’m small, but Mommy says good things come in little packages. Do you know that I have a zoo?”

She’s also the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. She’s Kristin’s clone. “You do?”

“Yup. I have lions, elephants, giraffes, and lots of other animals in my room. Mommy said I can’t have a whole zoo, but I do. And then, I’ll get more and have two zoos.”

“Very cool.” I smile at her. Her voice is sugary sweet, and Aubrey has a faint lisp, which just makes her even more adorable. “I like the zoo.”

“Me, too.” She puts her hands behind her back and twists. “I wanted to get a snack, but Mommy and Daddy are talking to Finn. Do you think you could get me something?”

Umm. I’m not sure, but do I tell her she can’t eat? I can’t imagine that would go over well.

“Are you allowed to have a snack?” I try to get a little more information from her.

Aubrey shrugs. “If I promise to eat my dinner, I can.”

Sounds reasonable, and since it’s breakfast time, I don’t see a problem. “Do you promise?”

Her blue eyes grow bigger, and she nods quickly. “I promise. I would like some cookies.”

Is that normal? What are the rules with kids and cookies? She did promise to eat her dinner, so I doubt it matters, maybe. I look at her as she gives me the puppy-dog eyes.

Shit.

I decide to go with it and hope this is one of those get-out-of-jail-free moments if this is against the rules. “Are you allowed to have cookies this early?”

“Yes.” She smiles.

I would bet my ass I’m going to be in trouble, but she’s tilting her head and batting her eyelashes. There’s no way I can say no. I don’t think six-year-olds lie anyway. That comes later . . . I think. “Okay then.”

The way her entire face brightens makes me want to let her eat cookies all day. I find the package, get a cup of milk, and head to the table. I take the first cookie and dunk it, and she mimics me.

I try not to laugh when she double dips and sticks her entire hand into the milk. When Aubrey’s hand comes out, milk drips all over the table.