“She thinks I kept…” Her eyes drop down to Lola, then bounce back up to meet my gaze. “From you.”
I quickly leave the sofa and walk straight to her. Scooping up her wrist, I give her a little yank to clue her in on the need to follow me. The moment we have enough distance where Lola can’t see us but we can see her, I sling Elodie straight against my body, and my hands cup her face before I kiss her.
“I’m calming you,” I whisper, and it’s accompanied by a tiny smirk.
“Not the worst of ways to do it.”
My hand slides down to squeeze her ass, and she gives me a knowing look. “There is a better way, we just don’t have the time for it.”
“Yeah, because nothing is better than the ‘Mom, this is the younger woman who had my baby, just found out, and I just fucked her’ look,”she says flippantly.
A chuckle rumbles in my throat, and I love the way her fingers resting against my chest always get to me somehow. A perfectly innocent touch, yet at any second, they could turn into sultry little claws.
“I’ll take control of this situation.”
“Surprising.” Her tone is flat.
I pull her into a hug. “It will be fine. Everything is about Lola.”
She inhales a sharp breath. “Right.”
“And she kind of knows that we’re back at it. You and I.”
Elodie’s beautiful blue eyes turn to saucers. “Does she now?” I shrug a shoulder and give her my best boyish grin. “What is it exactly you said?”
I’m about to answer, but my phone begins to vibrate in my pocket, and we both know it is probably reception downstairs letting me know my mom is here. A quick answer, and it’s confirmed.
Stuffing my phone away, I kiss Elodie’s forehead. “Don’t worry. Trust me.” For a split second, I wonder if she does. Are we at the point of complete trust yet?
She nods numbly and walks back to Lola.
I’m a bit nervous about this, but calmer than most would guess. I reach the door, open it, and wait as the elevator dings. When my mom steps out carrying her bags, I grin.
Her grays are freshly covered with blonde, and her understated earrings contrast with her colorful scarf. She appears healthy, which matters.
Her wide smile greets me as she approaches, her arms already outstretched and ready to hug me. “There’s my son.”Her hug is big.
I roll my eyes at the ridiculousness of her over-the-top greeting.The man from reception gives me a knowing smile as he places her bags down by the door and leaves us be.
“You’re in good spirits.” She’s already about to walk herself in, but I step in front of her. “Wait a second.” I close the door halfway and lower my voice as my mom stares at me peculiarly. “Just before we go in there, get whatever it is that might make this awkward out of your system.”
"Don’t be silly. There’s nothing," she says, her smile too bright. She shifts to move past me, but I hold steady, arching a brow. Her facade crumbles. "Fine. Maybe I’ll never get over you not knowing about Lola for two years. What would’ve happened if she never found you? What if Lola would have questions one day? I still think you should put something on paper to protect you."
“I’m also to blame for the lack of exchanging details not just Elodie. But okay, you’ve said it now. No need to say it to her. Anything else?”
She rolls her lips in and thinks for a second. “Not that I can think of.”It’s a lie, but I don’t press further.
“We go in there and no over-the-top hellos. Let’s not scare my kid before she can even utter the word grandma.”
“Mimi, I decided I want to be Mimi,” she corrects me with excitement, and it causes me to grin. “It sounds younger.”
I grab the handle of her roller bag and notice it’s heavy. “What the hell is in here?”
“Gifts.”
“Oh, missed the memo on going over the top then. Come on.”I make a point to get in front of her, and she follows me toward the living room. I ensure we take a snail’s pace while I leave her bag in the hall and approach.
Part of me is nervous because I want to show her that I'm a good father, I'm everything my own was. The standard is high, and I'm fulfilling it. I want her to be proud and have the feeling that I'm honoring my dad. Now is her first impression of her son as a father.