Maybe This Time(59)

The kitchen smells like pancakes when I walk in, and I grin at the twins, both standing in front of the stove. Reid smiles when he sees me, and quickly serves three pancakes on a plate. He drizzles it with maple syrup and places it in front of me.

“You look sexy in my clothes,” he rumbles, looking pleased and a little turned on.

“You like me in anything.”

“Or out of anything,” he counters. We both grin at each other.

“Yeah. I’m gonna go to work,” Ryan announces. He kisses my head as he walks past and heads for his room.

“What are we doing today?” I ask Reid as I take a bite.

“I’m gonna go see River, then I’m going to the gym. Why don’t you come with me?” he asks, watching me closely for my reaction.

“I gotta work at three and I need to go home and get dressed,” I say. Reid opens the fridge and takes out an apple juice box, placing it next to my plate. “Thanks.”

“Beauty, I really want you involved with River, and I don’t know how to do that if you don’t wanna come and see him with me. I don’t want you to push me away.”

“Okay, I’ll come with you. I’ll take my car so I can leave to work straight from there.”

He thinks it over. “Okay, sounds good.”

“I’m gonna hop in the shower,” he says. He walks over to me and kisses my cheek. “Thanks for trying, baby.”

I’m pretty sure I would try anything for this man.

An hour later, we’re standing at the front of Mia’s door. I’m wearing a black top, pants and ballerina flats. My hair is tied up in a high pony tail, and I’m wearing just a touch of makeup. I shuffle my feet, feeling completely out of my comfort zone. Reid touches the small of my back, and it helps a little. Mia opens the door, wearing what looks like clubbing attire. A halter neck white top, and tight black skinny jeans. She smiles brightly as she opens the door, but the smile drops the instant she sees me.

“What's she doing here?” she sneers.

Reid scowls. “We spoke about this, Mia.”

They did?

After a few tense moments she opens the door, grudgingly letting me in.

“Where’s River?” Reid asks Mia.

“He’s having a nap,” she says. So if Reid came here alone, him and Mia would what? Sit around and spend some alone time together?

Just fucking great.

We all sit on the couch, and no one says anything. “Well, this is awkward,” I mutter under my breath.

Mia’s brown eyes snap to mine. She hates me, I can see it in her eyes. We’re saved by River’s cries.

“I’ll go and get him,” Reid says, standing up and leaving the room. Leaving me alone with bitch face. Her phone rings, the ring tone Miley Cyrus’s ‘Wrecking ball.” She silences it.

“You like Miley?” I ask her.

“Yeah, so what?” she says, a little defensively.

“No reason,” I say in a sing-song voice. Some people are so touchy.

“So what, you too good for Miley?” I almost laugh at how crazy she sounds.

“What? No, I actually like this song. I don’t understand why she gets to third base with a hammer in the video, but to each their own.”

“You’re not gonna take Reid away from me,” she says, scowling.

“You shouldn’t scowl so much, you'll get more wrinkles,” I say in a fake sweet tone.

“You little bitch, you know nothing about Reid, about what he needs.”

I shrug with nonchalance. “I have him, you don’t.” Her face turns red with anger.

Reid walks out, holding River in his arms. He still looks sleepy, rubbing his eyes with his hands. He gives me a toothy smile when he sees me, and squirms from Reid’s hold. Reid puts him down and he walks right over to me.

“Hi,” I say to him when he stops in front of me.

“Hello,” he says, and we both smile at each other. He’s a cute kid, truly. Reid pulls out a huge box of blocks and places it on the floor.

“Wanna play blocks, River?” he asks his son.

River beams, and my heart warms. I sit down on the floor next to Reid, and take a pile.

Building towers with my man and his cute kid isn’t the worst way I could spend my day.





Chapter Nineteen


“I need four tequila shots, beauty,” Reid calls out.

“Okay.” I’m at work tonight with Reid and Ryan. It’s been pretty busy all shift, and it’s only starting to slow down now. I pour the shots and place them on the table, with packets of salt and cut lime.

“Thanks, baby, you wanna take your break now?” he asks.

“Yep.”

“Okay, grab whatever you wanna drink.” I pour myself a coke, waving when I see Jade walk into the bar. She sits down at a table and motions me over.