“Mom, Magnus is here.” Jeremiah’s voice travels through the whole house alerting me of his presence.

“Can you tell him to come to my room for a second,” I call out. In less than two minutes I hear large feet thumping towards my room.

“Are you sure I can be in here? I feel like a teenager sneaking up to my girlfriend’s room and breaking all the rules.”

“My mom said you can come up here as long as you look only, but don’t touch.”

“Is that so?” He struts toward me, with a mischievous look in his eyes, eagerly playing along. “Is there a reason you’re up here wearing a bathrobe, when we have somewhere to be?”

“Well, I couldn’t decide between wearing this?” I hold up a violet, knee length, sleeveless dress. “Or this?” Loosening the tie around my waist, the bathrobe drops and I show off the new set of lingerie I bought just to match.

“Fuck, Lucy. Do you hate me?”

“No. Why?”

“You know damn well, I can’t throw you on this bed and fuck you while everybody’s downstairs.”

Biting my bottom lip, an innocent smile spreads across my face, “I just needed your help on what to wear.” Grabbing the purple dress, he hands it to me.

“Wear all of it, every layer. Just so I can have fun peeling it all off you.”

Adjusting his hard on in his pants, he takes a few steps backward to the door, “I gotta get out of here, before your family hears how much I really fucking love you.”

“See you soon,” I tease, waving my fingers at him.

Being with Magnus is like having the best of both worlds. The sex is everything I’ve been missing, but his heart is everything I didn’t know I needed.

He’s selfless in all the right ways, giving me every piece of himself with no hesitation. His relationship with Jeremiah is better than I could ever imagined, and time and time again he shows me that my son has a place and priority in his life.

Avery and mom are smitten with him, and let’s say Wes’ shoulders are a little less tense every time they’re in a room together. I don’t ask Magnus how he feels about and around Wes, I figured if it’s a big enough deal he’s going to let me know.

Tonight is date night, and like unofficial parents everything is on a schedule and Magnus has effortlessly slipped himself into mine. Wanting to surprise him, I told him to meet me here at seven. He thinks we’re going out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, but I have a better plan.

Slipping on my dress, and stepping into my heels, I take one last look in my full length mirror before meeting my man downstairs.

“You look pretty, mama, doesn’t she Magnus?” he exclaims proudly.

“She sure does, J. She sure does.”

With two very different expressions of love beaming at me, my heart struggles to contain the happiness inside of me.

“Jeremiah, baby, can you get my bag off the dining table, and then come and kiss mommy goodnight?” Mom follows behind him, as Wes and Avery waltz through in the house.

“Okay, great, everyone is here. Night J,” I say kissing him on the forehead, “we’ve got to go.” Grabbing Magnus’s hand I drag him to the front door. “Don’t wait up.”

“Where are we off to?” Magnus asks.

“Can we just stop by the shop first? I have to pick up something for mom,” I lie.

“Of course.”

Pulling up in front of the entrance, the street is almost empty and curbside parking is in abundance. A lone figure peering through my shop window, has me and Magnus both on edge.

“Who’s that?” He unfastens his seatbelt, ready to jump out.

“Wait,” I shout, holding him back. “It’s David.”

“Douchebag David? How do you know?”

“Unfortunately, there are some things you can’t forget and the back of him is one of them.”

“I wonder what he wants?” I ask rhetorically.

I hear Magnus on the phone, but the cloud of rage begins to build around me, making it impossible to focus on any one thing. How dare he come back here.

Losing track of time, I don’t realise what’s going on till I see Wes in my peripheral vision, ready to pounce.

“Lucy, baby, Avery’s going to jump in the car with you. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Watching him leave the car and Avery slide in, feels like I’m watching my life on slow motion, “What is he doing? How did you get here so fast?”

“Magnus texted Wes, he said it was fucking grind time.”

“Grind time? Ave, I’ve got to stop them from doing something stupid. He isn’t worth that.”

“But remember how hot they look when they’re mad as hell.”

I smile at her attempt to find the humor in this situation but it falls on deaf ears. I’m the one he wants to talk to. I’m the one that has to fix this myself.

Coming up behind Wes and Magnus, David’s eyes find mine, “Thank God. Lucy, you’re here. You want to get your guard dogs off me?”

“Still a dick I see,” Avery spits out at him.

“Hey, it’s Anal Avery, I didn’t know you were back in town.” Wes launches himself at David, just as Magnus steps in.

“He isn’t worth it.”

“One more thing out of your mouth David, and I’m coming for you,” Wes warns.

“What are you here for David?”

“I’ve been trying to call you for weeks,”

“That was you?” Magnus intercepts.

“Yeah, I’m guessing you’re her boyfriend.”

“Why didn’t you leave a message? Couldn’t you send a text.” Confused, I sift through every other avenue of communication he had before showing up here.

“It’s pretty obvious, you wouldn’t have responded.” His eyes bounce in fear between the four of us, and it brings me so much satisfaction to know that whatever he’s going to say next, has him anxious and uncomfortable. “I want to see Jeremiah.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Luce, he’s my son,” he pleads.

“How many times do I have to remind you it’s Lucy. And he’s not. Your. Son.”

“What if he wants to meet me, he deserves to know his dad.” He tries to argue with me and an eerie sense of calmness settles over me.

“He deserves to know a man that is good, honest and hardworking. A man that respects women, and who stays true to his responsibilities, no matter how hard it gets. He deserves to know a man, that’s excited to know him and have him in his life. He deserves to be someone’s first thought not his last. And you are not that man.”

I look up at Magnus, and see everything I have to look forward to staring right back at me. He is that man. I throw myself into Magnus’ arms and he catches me,smoothly. My grip tightens, as my the adrenaline finally leaves my body.

“Go home, man,” Wes says to David. “The lady has spoken.”

“This isn’t the end of this,” he shouts, while storming off to his car.

“Give me a few minutes, just wait inside the shop with Avery.” His grip is swapped out for Avery’s hand on the small of back. On board with whatever happens next, she pushes me into the shop, pulls back the drawn curtains and peers outside.

“Come look.”

We watch Magnus and Wes ensure David gets in his car, and leaves town. I don’t know what they say to him before he drives away, but there’s no denying the new formed bond between our men, is all thanks to the love they have for my little boy.

Tears pool in my eyes, and Avery throws her arm around my shoulder. “This is what family’s all about,” she whispers.

* * *

After Avery and Wes leave, Magnus finally glances around the inside of the shop.

“Was this your surprise?” His eyes light up in amazement at all the intricate flower arrangements around us. “Lucy, these are beautiful.”

“Thank you. I had plans to feed you and teach you about flowers.”

“Teach me about flowers?

“Yes.” I lead him to the back room and pull out my mini arrangement out of the cooler fridge. “Every flower means something different, and when you know which ones are which, you know which ones to get for every occasion.”

“So which one is perfect for tonight?” He queries.

Lifting the singular red rose out of the styrofoam square, I hand it to him. “Roses are the perfect flower to say I love you, and god do I love you.” Looking up at him, I lose myself in his eyes, “ and what you did for me tonight. I can’t find the words to explain how much it means to me. How much it means to Jeremiah.”

His index finger touches my lips, silencing me. “I protect what’s mine, Lucy. And that’s what you both are. Mine.”