“That wouldn’t be bad. I don’t want handouts, West. I’m willing to work hard. It’s just so hard to get ahead when you have a kid and no one to help.”
“You don’t get any money at all from his dad?”
She huffs. “No. His father gave me a choice that was all or nothing, so I made the only one that was acceptable to me. Because there was no universe where I was going to let him take full custody.”
I stiffen. “Wait, he threatened to take full custody?”
“He said either I get rid of it or he’d sue me for full custody, and with his money and status as a pro athlete, he would win. I couldn’t risk it.”
“I’m so sorry, angel. I didn’t realize it was cut and dried like that.”
“I’d rather struggle than have someone like that in Joey’s life anyway.”
“Agreed.”
“He was charming for a weekend but long-term, it never would have worked out anyway.”
“Is he…” I pause. “No, never mind. I don’t even want to know because if it turns out that I know him, I’m going to pummel the fuck out of him the next time I see him on the ice. Unless—” He grimaces. “He isn’t one of my teammates, is he?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I really don’t follow hockey. Mostlybecause I didn’t grow up with it, but I also have no interest in seeing his face or his name. I don’t think about him at all, if I can help it.”
“Google the Thunder’s roster on your phone. If he’s one of my teammates, I need to know.”
“Shit, I never even thought of that.” She quickly starts typing on her phone.
It feels like I’m holding my breath the entire time but then she exhales.
“No. Not on your team. You want to know who it is?”
“Not really, unless you want to talk about it. Otherwise, I don’t give a fuck. The past is the past. All that matters now is us and what we’re doing.”
We’ve just pulled into the dealership, and I glance over at her.
“Don’t worry, okay? Let’s look around with an open mind.”
“Car salesmen can be so smarmy and pushy. They make me nervous.”
I chuckle. “That’s the least of your worries, angel. Let me handle that part of it. All you have to do is look around, see if anything catches your eye, and we’ll discuss what monthly payments might look like when we’re home.”
“Okay.” To my surprise, she doesn’t argue, merely gets out of the SUV and then slides her hand into mine.
It almost feels like she’s beginning to trust me.
Which is a double-edged sword because I don’t know if I deserve that trust. I want to be the man she needs. I just don’t know if I’m capable of that. She needs a man who’s going to love her—and her son—unconditionally.
Is that me?
I swore I’d never date another single mom, but here I am in the thick of it, starting to get attached to a woman who could hurt me.
Can I open myself up like that again after what happened in the past?
There’s no way to answer that just yet, but I don’t have the luxury of taking my time because she needs my help today. We’re going to look at cars, and tonight, somehow, I’m going to find a way to make sure she can buy something safe and affordable. No matter what I have to do.
It would make the most sense for her to move in with me.
I can’t believe I’m even considering it.
She would say no if I brought it up.