One Last Time(63)

We’re friends who are trying to figure out where we go from here, or I am, at least.

“I said fine.” Finn continues to pout.

There are times when he’s so grown up, and then there are times like this, which remind me how young he really is. He’s in so much pain, but he doesn’t know how to process it. Instead of talking, Finn shuts down. It’s heartbreaking to watch my sweet little boy struggle with things beyond his control.

“Okay then. I hoped you would be a little happy since you love this place.”

Finn crosses his arms against his chest. “Dad took us here.”

And there it is. “Don’t you think your dad would be happy you’re here?”

He looks at me with his lip trembling. “I don’t want a new Dad. I don’t want a new Mom.”

Asshole is the most selfish person I know. The only reason the kids found out he was going to marry Jillian is that Finn heard her screaming at him about the wedding.

Scott tried to explain that nothing will change for them, but Finn isn’t stupid.

“Noah just wants to be your friend.” I look at Aubrey, who is now leading him to another one of her favorite spots, the gift shop. “He was hoping to talk to you more about the show . . . what is it called again?”

He fiddles with the cord of his headphones. “You don’t have to pretend.”

This kid is too smart for his own good. “Okay, I’m just saying you love Noah’s character, and here’s your chance to hang out with him.”

Finn smiles but then seems to remember he’s supposed to be pissed off at the world. “Why? Why does he want to know me?”

I shrug. “Maybe because I told him how cool you were.”

Finn may have done his best to ignore Noah, but I caught him looking at him with wide eyes a few times. Heather and Finn watched A Thin Blue Line marathon, and he was hooked.

“Can you smile and try?” I ask.

“I’m so excited.” At least I know the kid can nail sarcasm.

I didn’t want to have to do it, but he’s left me no choice. I need to pull out the big guns.

I blow a raspberry against his cheek, and he makes a noise. “Mom!”

“Don’t be a grump, and I won’t kiss you in public.” I grin.

“You’re so weird.”

“You say weird, I say coolest mom ever.”

Finn rolls his eyes. I take pride in his reaction to my goofiness. I’ve always been this way with him, and it’s kind of our thing. I’m over the top, and he lets me know how uncool I am. “No way.”

“I’m cool. I’m friends with Noah Frazier, and you’re not.” I stick my tongue out. “That makes me cool.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Don’t make me hug you and yell your name.”

He puts his hands up in surrender. “Fine. Let’s go have fun.”

Mom wins again.

We start to walk toward where Aubrey has Noah holding about twenty different stuffed sea animals in his arms. The look of sheer panic in his eyes at my tiny maniac daughter is hilarious. She continues around the bins, stacking the animals higher as Noah follows her.

“Mom? Is Noah your boyfriend?”

I don’t want to lie to him, but I don’t even know what we are. “No, right now we’re friends who are getting to know each other. But I like him and want you guys to get to know him.” I tell him the kid’s version of the truth.

“So, you’re not getting a new family, too?” Finn asks with fear in his voice.

You would think I just got hit by a car with how much that hurt me. He must be suffering so much with the anxiety he’s feeling.

“Never. Even if Noah and I decide to become more than friends, you and Aubrey are my family. Always.”

Finn nods. “Okay.”

“Okay, let’s go save Noah before Aubrey convinces him to buy the aquarium.” I smile.

We walk over and Aubrey looks like she won the lottery. You can barely see Noah’s face over the pile she’s accumulated.

“What mess did you get in?” I ask while biting my lips to keep from laughing.

“Mommy, look at all the toys Noah said I can get!” She twirls.

I turn and look at him, wondering what exactly he told her.

“If I say no, she makes this face,” he tells me.

“Yeah, that’s called being six and a girl.” I start pulling the stuffed animals out of his arms and tossing them back into their bins. “She already knows how to use her cuteness as a weapon.”

I turn to my daughter, prepared to be the bad guy. “No toys, we’re here to see the fish, not create an aquarium at the house.”

“Okay,” she says with a dejected tone.

She’s a mess. Aubrey has this down to a science and is very good at getting what she wants. I couldn’t believe when she was able to do it to my father. He had to stop taking her to stores because she’d come back with a bag full of whatever she asked for. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought he’d never dealt with a little girl before, but according to him, Aubrey is different. My parents were strict with me, but my kids rule the world.

Noah looks over at Finn. “Have you seen the Harry Potter movies?”