Redemption(62)

My son wanted pancakes.

When I got my arm out from under her, Tyler moaned a little, but fell back into a nice sleep. I rose from the sofa, only then realizing I still had just a towel wrapped around me and nothing else. I ran into the utility closet and pulled the dryer door open. I pulled out my polo shirt and put it on, along with my shorts.

Once I came out, Jeremy was pointing to the floor of the bathroom with his mouth open wide. “What’s the sink doing on the floor?”

Oh shit.

I was stunned for a moment, not knowing what to say. My mouth engaged before my brain. “Jimmy went in there last night and he said he had an itchy leg. He sat on the sink so he could scratch it and it collapsed on the floor.” I didn’t know where the fuck that came from, but I rolled with it.

“Big Uncle Jimmy’s naughty.”

“Uncle Jimmy?”

Jeremy nodded and climbed up on the stool to sit down. “He told me that he was like a brother to you, so that makes him my uncle. He’s very big like you.”

I stood there, stunned for a moment. I know Jeremy wouldn’t understand the meaning behind what Jimmy said, but he still shouldn’t have said it. Suddenly, I didn’t feel too bad about blaming Jimmy for the sink.

I decided to change the subject. “So, where’s your pancake mix?”

Jeremy pointed to the cupboards above the dishwasher. “In there. You have to whisk it together with egg and milk. That’s how my mommy does it.”

I nodded and went to work making the pancakes. It all felt surreal. I had quickly fallen into a domestic life, gaining a son within a couple of days and making him pancakes for breakfast.

And I loved every second of it.

As I was getting everything ready, Tyler got up from the couch, looking sexy as hell with her hair all tousled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. If it wasn’t for Jeremy, she would be on the kitchen sink by now.

“Good morning, beautiful.” I smiled and motioned for her to sit down. For a moment, she looked at me, then at Jeremy. I could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her. She was finding this scene just as unreal as I was, but I hoped it was in a good way.

“Would you like some pancakes?”

Tyler shook her head. “Coffee. I need coffee.”

She walked towards the percolator, but I stopped her. “You sit down. I’ll take care of everything—including making you pancakes.” I looked over her slim frame. “You look like you need some.”

Tyler raised her eyebrow at me. “Is that so?” She walked over to Jeremy, kissed his head, and sat down.

“Big Uncle Jimmy’s been naughty.”

Tyler frowned “Wh—”

“Because he broke the sink,” I interrupted. I looked at Tyler, silently asking her to go along with it, and she nodded.

“Yes, he’s been naughty.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and got back to making the pancakes.

“If Jimmy is my uncle, then what about Dean?”

I stiffened. Not knowing what to say or do, I turned to face a shocked Tyler. She stumbled on her words, not having a clue how to answer.

“That makes me whoever you want me to be, grown-up.” I smiled cheekily and gave him a wink. Tyler visibly relaxed and gave me a smile of gratitude.

Jeremy just shrugged. “Okay.”

And that was that. Thank fuck. I wasn’t sure Jeremy was ready for the big reveal yet. I didn’t know how long Tyler wanted to wait until we told him, but she probably thought it was too soon. I would just have to wait until Tyler thought it was the right time. Our future was uncertain, and I knew I couldn’t stay out here without making a permanent decision in my life. One that would affect all of us. If Tyler said she wanted me back, I wouldn’t hesitate. I would go home, wrap everything up there, and move my arse over. I didn’t care what it would take.

Once the pancakes were made, I managed to get Tyler to eat one and Jeremy had three. I didn’t know where he put it all, but it was actually nice watching him eat. He was messy, but what almost four-year-olds weren’t?

When breakfast was done, I grabbed a shower and got dressed back in the same clothes from yesterday. I kind of felt like I was in limbo. I wasn’t sure what Tyler wanted. What should I do? Should I stay? Should I go?

“Shall I call Jimmy and see if he can help me find and install a new sink for you today?”

Tyler was sitting at the kitchen island, coffee in hand, reading today’s paper. Jeremy was in the living room, happily playing with his toys.

“I don’t want to cause you too much trouble, Dean.”

I sat down next to her and took her hand. “When is anything I do for you too much trouble? I want to do it because I love you. I want to do it because I need to find any excuse just to spend more time with you and Jeremy. I just want to do it all.”