Ride Steady(175)

She let him go and stepped away as Keith shook his head, looking mildly confused, and asked, “Sorry, no. Wilde and Hay?”

“They’re doing a big spread on Joker,” she told him then added, “Carson,” when Keith continued to look confused.

The man stopped looking confused as his eyes slowly turned to Joker.

“No,” he answered Carissa quietly. “Just came to see Carson’s work. I had no idea.” His voice dropped quieter. “But I’m not surprised.”

Joker hefted up Travis, who’d let go of his lip but latched on to his shirt, and Keith’s eyes went to the kid.

Joker stopped feeling the good that was heating his chest, and he braced when Keith took in Travis.

His eyes came back. “You didn’t mention you and Carissa had a son.”

Before Joker could say anything, Carissa pushed under his arm, forcing him to drape it around her shoulders (not that he wouldn’t do that anyway), and curling hers around his waist as she pressed into his side and said, “Travis is Aaron Neiland’s, Mr. Robinson. We were married. Now we’re not and I’m with Jo… Carson.”

“Ah,” Keith murmured.

Carissa reached across and gently pulled Travis’s hand from Joker’s shirt. Waving it at Keith, she ordered, “Say hello to Mr. Robinson, Googly.”

“Gah doo,” Travis said, yanked his hand from his ma’s and shoved his fist in his mouth.

Mr. Robinson smiled.

“That’s why we’re here, sweetie, kind of,” she said and Joker looked down at her to see her looking up at him. “Mrs. Heely wanted to meet Travis so I took him around. We got to chatting. Then we spoke to Kam. We’re having everyone over for dinner tonight. Is that okay?”

She had an ulterior motive, he knew. She’d been on about getting Mrs. Heely in the house across the street since she’d noticed it was for rent.

It was Tuesday. They hadn’t even had Travis back for twenty-four hours. And now she was using Mrs. Heely asking to meet her boy as her excuse to wrangle what she wanted.

Having Mrs. Heely across the street would absolutely not suck, so he told her, “It’s good with me.”

“Great!” she cried, bouncing a little at his side with her excitement, something that was cute and hot. Then she pulled away. “Oh my gosh! So rude. Mr. Robinson, this is Mrs. Heely. She used to be Carson’s neighbor but she’s really Carson’s family,” she announced.

Mrs. Heely visibly swelled with pride as she offered her hand.

“Mr. Robinson was our history teacher in high school,” Joker told her.

Mrs. Heely’s eyes lit. “Lovely to meet you, and so nice to see a teacher taking a continuing interest in his students.”

They were holding hands in greeting as Keith replied, “There’s always been lots to be interested in with Carson, as is evidenced right there.”

They broke off with Mrs. Heely smiling. “I wholeheartedly agree.”

“Me too,” Carissa mumbled under her breath.

Fuck, this crew didn’t shut the f*ck up about how awesome he was, he’d actually have to acknowledge it. It felt great, but it was still awkward as shit.

Like she knew what he was feeling, Carissa bulldozed right in there.

“Now, I hate to say it, but it’s already late and we have to get to the grocery store.” She looked to Keith. “We’re suddenly feeding nine people. I need to get food in.” She tipped her head to the side. “Would you like to join us?”

“Some other time, Carissa. My wife and I have plans tonight,” Keith answered.

“Bummer, but I understand. Short notice. We’ll set it up for another night.” She turned to Mrs. Heely. “You ready to hit the store?”

“Whenever you are,” Mrs. Heely answered.

She came back to Joker, lifting her hands to her son. “Come on, baby boy, Mommy and Mrs. Heely need to get to the grocery store pronto.”

Travis lurched in Joker’s arms, tried to find purchase on his jaw, and shouted, “Bah, moo mah!”

She shot her eyes to Joker like she did anytime Travis said “moo mah,” convinced it was “mommy.”

Joker didn’t know if she was right. But he liked to see her face when it happened.

She tore her eyes from Joker’s and put her hands to her son, who started climbing on Joker, shouting, “Bah! Dah! Kah! Duh! Buh!” then he pounded on Joker’s shoulder and gave her angry baby face.