Chapter Twenty-Two
Declan
Cassie and I grabbed a table and ordered a round of beers. Brice came strolling in the moment our waitress placed the drinks on the table. “Perfect timing, man.”
Brice chuckled. “Always.”
Cassie wrinkled her nose. “If you’re having sex, please don’t answer your phone. It’s rude, for everyone involved.”
Brice rolled his eyes. “Come on, Cass, I was working out. I wouldn’t answer the phone while I had some chick bent over my desk.”
I chuckled when he caught my eye over her head and mouthed, “Yes I would.”
Brice had always been good with the ladies, and he’d always had a great sense of humor. We’d been friends since elementary school, and the fact that our friendship could survive me knocking up his baby sister and him not telling me about it meant that we’d be friends forever.
“So what did you two do today? Cass, didn’t you have wedding crap to do with Mom this morning?”
She took a large gulp of her beer. “Yes I did. Florist and couches. Then Dec and I went and bought our wedding bands.”
Brice cut his eyes to me. “Really? Was Dec a big baby about spending some of his millions?”
Cassie smiled. I loved her smile. It was sexy. “Nope. He didn’t even look at the price tag.”
I winked at her. “Anything for the princess.” I downed half my beer, because I’d meant it. And because hearing the word “sex” come out of Cassie’s pretty mouth gave me a hard-on. “All the men have appointments to go buy new tuxes tomorrow afternoon. Your dad wants us to do lunch after.”
Cassie’s smile fell. “Are you okay with that? I mean after what happened between you and my dad?”
I held up my hand to stop her worries the same time Brice asked, “What happened with you and my dad?”
“It was nothing. We were talking about Cassie and Wyllie, and he and I had a slight disagreement about a few things. No one raised their voice, no punches were thrown, and in the end I think we both understand each other better. No harm done.”
I could tell Brice wanted to push, to ask exactly what was said. But thankfully he dropped it. “Is Wild Man coming with us tomorrow too?”
I nodded, grinning like an idiot. “Yes, he needs a mini tux.”
Cassie laid her hand on my arm. “If you guys don’t want to take him, it’s no big deal. He’s a handful sometimes, and getting fitted for tuxes takes time and patience. I can always just send you with his measurements.”
I turned to her, stunned. Did she really think I wouldn’t want to take him? I was excited about being able to take Wyllie with us tomorrow. I was his dad. Tomorrow I got to be his dad. He would look to me when he was hungry or thirsty or needed a diaper change. I would be responsible for his every little want and need, and I was pumped. “I want to take him, Cassie. I’m looking forward to it.” She seemed to relax at knowing I didn’t think of our son as a burden.
Brice looked between the two of us. “Speaking of father-son time. What are you guys going to do when you get back to Seaside? Joint custody? Every other weekend? How will that work?”
Cassie and I looked at each other, both at a loss for words. She shrugged. “We haven’t really talked about that yet. But we’ll figure it out when we get home.” She turned to me. “Right? I mean you aren’t going to try to get full custody or anything like that.”
“Uh, no, I wouldn’t do that to you or to Wyllie. But you aren’t going to try to keep him from me, are you?”
Cassie shook her head. “Of course not. I want you to see him as often as you want. Seaside is a small town, there is only one school, it’s not like he’ll ever have to choose where he wants to live.”
Brice took a sip of his beer. “Well, not now he wouldn’t. But who says you’ll both live in Seaside forever? Dec could move for work. Cassie could meet someone and move to be with him.”
Cassie held her hand up. “My home and my business are in Seaside. I wouldn’t move all that for some guy.”
I nodded. “Yeah, and I own my company outright, no one can make me move anywhere. I’ll be where Wyllie is.”
“You had to move to London.” Brice shrugged, casual as can be. “Anything could happen, that’s all I’m saying.” He took another sip of his beer. “Cassie, you have that lawyer friend. What’s his name? Randall? I’m sure he could help you if you guys wanted to draw up an agreement.”
I looked over a Cassie. “You have a lawyer friend? Why? Were you going to draw up custody papers before you told me?”
She shook her head. “No. He helped me with all the paperwork for my store. And he isn’t a friend. He’s just a guy I hired.” She turned to Brice and gave him a what are you doing look.
Brice winked. “Oh don’t act like you didn’t know he liked you. I met him twice and both times his eyes never strayed from your ass.”
A lawyer and an environmentalist.
Both vying for the girl I wasn’t ready to commit to.
***
Later that night while I was lying in bed next to Cassie—next to but not touching; tortured, but not touching—Brice’s words kept running through my head. “Cass? You awake?”
I could hear the sleepy smile in her voice. “I am now. What’s up?”
I smiled, simply because hers was contagious. Always had been. “I was just thinking about what Brice said earlier.”
She snorted. “I know, what a liar. He was totally having sex when I called him this afternoon. I’m pretty sure that’s the only form of working out he does.”
“Cassie, I meant about custody of Wyllie. About the lawyer.”
She reached up and ran her finger over my furrowed brow. “I know you did. I was just trying to lighten the mood, or change the subject, or both.” She sighed. “You know I’d never keep him from you, and I know that you would never try to take him from me. Can we just leave it at that right now?”
When I pictured myself with kids, I always pictured the white picket fence and the dog in the yard. I never pictured my kid having to pack a bag every time he wanted to see me.
It seemed wrong.
I didn’t want to miss one single moment of Wyllie’s life. I’d missed enough already.
My house was more than big enough for the three of us.
I loved Cassie.
I wanted Cassie.
So why wasn’t I taking what was mine? Why was I still scared to tell her? To take the next step?
Before her special lawyer friend stole her away.
“Yeah, we can figure it out when we get home. No worries.”