by Toni Aleo
How did this little boy already have his heart with just one grin? Or was it three days ago, when he asked who Lucas was?
“Mom, it’s Friday!”
“That’s right Mom, gosh!” Audrey said, coming up beside Aiden. “Go get your shoes bud. Let’s go out for a while. Mommy and Lucas need to talk.”
Lucas looked over at Fallon, seeing that she was freaking out silently. Her eyes were wide as her mouth opened and closed like a guppy. Gosh, she was so cute.
“Oh so, Lucas can’t come?” Aiden asked as Audrey smiled at him while Fallon made a face of distress.
What was that about?
“No baby, like I said, they need to talk grownup stuff. Let’s go get ice cream, and maybe go to the movies!”
“Really?! Awesome!” Aiden ran off with nothing more than a punch in the air. Kid was quick. Lucas smiled. He was probably fast as hell on skates.
Just like his daddy.
“Audrey, you don’t have to leave,” Fallon said through her teeth. Lucas couldn’t help but smile. She was so cute when she didn’t like the situation she was put in. Too bad he didn’t care because they had things to discuss.
“Yes, we do. Aiden doesn’t need to witness World War Three between you two,” Audrey said before she pinned Levi with a look. Lucas looked over to see his best friend checking out Fallon’s curvy sister. “Hey, you, you’re coming with us. They need to do this alone.”
Levi looked at Lucas and all Lucas did was shrugged his shoulders. “She’s probably right.”
“Don’t sign anything,” Levi said before giving Fallon a look.
“Oh get real Levi, like I would screw him over,” Fallon said with disgust in her voice.
Levi laughed. “This coming from someone that kept someone’s kid from him for seven years.”
Fallon’s face twisted with anger and maybe guilt as she looked over to see Aiden running towards them. When Aiden reached them, he grinned up at Lucas before looking over at Fallon.
“Ready to go, bud?” Fallon asked, moving her hands through his hair. Aiden nodded his head quickly.
“Yes ma’am. Will you be here when I get back Lucas?” Aiden asked, looking back at Lucas as he took Audrey’s hand in his.
“I don’t know, we’ll see okay?” Lucas said, his heart beating so hard that he was sure it going to come out of his chest.
Lucas smiled, he couldn’t help himself. He found another person that made his heart race. That must mean something because there was only one other person that could, and that was Fallon.
Lucas looked up at Fallon, and she looked sad as she bent over to kiss Aiden’s cheek. “Have fun, bud.”
“I will, love you, bye!”
After everyone left with goodbyes, Fallon just stood there with worry all over her face. Once she shut the door behind everyone, she glanced over at Lucas. She didn’t say anything as she walked off towards the kitchen. He followed her through the small home and was surprised that it was the place she lived in. When he had come there three days ago, he thought the whole building was their home but as he got closer tonight, he saw that there was another door and that blew his mind.
Why were they living in a little bitty condo?
He knew damn well Fallon had money, lots of it. She always got mad when he paid for stuff when they were together. She always said that she wouldn’t depend on a man. It was a refreshing, even though he paid anyways.
Lucas took in all the pictures along Fallon’s walls. Aiden graced most of them, but there were some of just her and Audrey. The sisters could have been twins. Audrey was just a little thicker. Lucas had never even seen a picture of Audrey or really knew much about her. Fallon never talked about her family when they were together. She would bring Audrey up but never told him about her. Then again, Lucas never asked — he was too consumed in Fallon, or his addictions.
Now he wanted to know everything because of Aiden and because he was still just as curious about Fallon as he was the day he met her.
When Lucas looked up, he saw that Fallon was pouring two glasses of wine. He didn’t say anything as he watched her hand shake. She looked everywhere but at him.
“I don’t drink Fallon,” he said quietly. She looked up before she stopped pouring.
“Oh,” she said before picking the glass up and throwing it into the sink, breaking it in the process. The loud sound of breaking glass made her jump before she looked back at him with a shocked look on her face. When she looked away, throwing herself into the closest chair, a smirk came across his face. Fallon then started to guzzle her glass of wine, and that caused him to smile fully at her.
Yeah, this was going to be fun.
“So what do you want?”
Lucas shook his head as he sat across from her. “Obviously to talk about the little guy we made.”
Fallon shrugged her shoulders. “What is there to talk about? I don’t need anything from you, I don’t want anything, we’re fine,” she said in her snotty little voice.
Lucas had prepared himself for this; he knew she was going to be bitchy, and proud. That was Fallon when she didn’t know how to handle a situation. Before, when her dad would call when they were dating, she would be the worst person ever to deal with for at least an hour after talking to him. She always apologized, saying that she didn’t know how to handle being hurt or scared. She always lashed out at someone and even with that flaw he had loved her.
Still did.
“I just want to know my kid and,” Lucas held open his jacket, pulling out some paperwork that his lawyer had put together for Fallon. “And, I need you to fill this out. My lawyer needs some information, and I don’t doubt that Aiden is mine — I know he is — but we need a paternity test.”
“Whatever,” she said, snatching the papers from him and throwing them down on the table before crossing her arms across her chest. She had an I-don’t-give-a-fuck look on her face, and he knew that she was freaking out so bad that she was close to shaking. “So I guess you want to spend time with him, be a part-time dad and all that jazz.”
Wow, that stung a little. He wasn’t going to be a damn part-time dad!
He shook his head. “Damn, you can still be a bitch when you feel threatened, huh? What the hell is your problem? Am I yelling at you? Am I slapping you with lawsuits for keeping my son away from me?”
“No! But I bet it’s fucking coming and you can go on with that shit. We’ll run and you will never see him again,” Fallon yelled before standing up and going to the sink. Nothing was said as he watched her pick up the glass from the sink.
“I wouldn’t do that to you, and you know that.”
“I don’t know shit. You told me you’d never cheat on me neither, but look how that went.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “Come on Fallon, let it go. We have more important things to worry about.”
She turned, going to the trash and throwing away the glass that she held. “I’ll fill out the paperwork Lucas. I’ll have it ready for you tomorrow. What else do you want from me?”
He could name a lot of things, starting with her mouth on his, but that would have to wait.
He had a little guy to get to know.
**********************************
Fallon was freaking out.
She didn’t know what Lucas was thinking and she hated that. Before she could predict what he was about to do before he even did it, but now she had no clue. They were older, there were bigger factors in play, and she was just plain scared out of her mind of him. Why did Audrey have to leave? If she wouldn’t have left, Fallon could have done this better. Fallon was being a bitch and she knew that Lucas could only deal with so much of her bitchiness before he started yelling.
“I just want to know my kid Fallon, that’s all,” Lucas said as he looked down at the table, scratching at something, probably cookie residue. “How old is he? Seven?”
“He’ll be seven in two weeks, the 26th,” she said, even though she felt like she was giving him a piece
of her. She didn’t know why she didn’t want him to know Aiden. It was wrong. Aiden was his son, but it just hurt Fallon. Aiden took to him instantly, and that bothered Fallon. She didn’t want them to have a connection because it took from her connection with Aiden. She had been his everything for almost seven years, and now she had competition.
She was jealous.
God, she was disgusting.
“Are you having a party?”
Fallon nodded her head. “Yeah, at Centennial Park.”
Lucas nodded his head, still not looking at her. “You can come, Lucas, if you want,” she said quietly, because she felt bad. She didn’t like what she had done to Lucas, but her jealousy was still eating at her, hardcore.
What if he bought Aiden something amazing, while all Fallon could do was afford the party?
God, this sucked.
A slow smile went over his face. “Thanks, I’ll be there.”
Fallon nodded, looking off to the side because she couldn’t take his smile right now. She was raw with emotion. He was in her kitchen, seeing that she wasn’t as successful as she should be by now. He now knew that she had kept something from him that could be considered the worst thing ever to keep from someone. She felt like a failure.
When they were together, she had talked so big, and she wasn’t half of what she thought she would be by now.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Fallon grinned over at Lucas. He was naked, the sheet hanging low along his hips as Fallon was tucked up beside him, also naked. They lay with all the windows open, letting the fresh ocean air into the room. The air was filled with salt, and Fallon swore she could taste it. She loved the ocean, she loved days like this. She just loved being thoroughly loved by Lucas.
Fallon nuzzled her nose against his pecs before putting her chin in her hand as she traced her finger along the beautiful words along his chest.
Never look back, never think twice.
It was his motto, and now it was hers.
“I wanna run Rocky Top Wines. I want to make our wine the best-selling wine in the country. I want to be the most powerful woman in the wine business. I want to have people scared of me because I am the best.”
He smiled, moving her hair behind her ear. “And?”
Fallon gave him a shy smile. “I wanna be married.”
“To me of course,” Lucas said with a smile, which she returned.
“Oh, of course, and I wanna have three kids. Two girls and one boy.”
He laughed. “Oh come on, three boys.”
“No, I want girls!” Fallon giggled, as he ran his hand down her back, taking a good chunk of her bottom in his hand.
“I don’t want any girls, I could never love another girl the way I love you.”
Fallon shook her head. Before she would never be jealous of his relationship with their children, she’d wanted it. But that was before, when nothing else mattered but them. Before, when she hadn’t lied to anyone. Before, when she thought he would never cheat on her.
“What school does he go to?”
Fallon looked up. “New Life Christian School, off Broadway, by the arena.”
“What grade is he in?”
“First,” Fallon said with all the love in the world. She was so proud of Aiden’s schooling.
“Is he good Fallon? Does he struggle with…” he stopped and Fallon’s heart broke.
He was scared that her baby had dyslexia.
“No Lucas, he is fine. Smartest kid in the class. An accelerated reader.”
Lucas smiled proudly. “So he has my good looks and your Stanford brain?”
Fallon smiled as she nodded. “He’s you all over, Lucas. Every day, he does something that reminds me so much of you.”
“He’s got your nose though,” Lucas said, grinning at her. Fallon couldn’t help herself, she grinned back.
“That’s about it. He’s busy like you. He likes to fight. He’s extremely imaginative.”
“Good, and, of course, he likes to fight and that’s not because of me. Remember I’ve seen you at a hockey game.”
A slow grin went across her face before Fallon quickly hid it. “I’m not that person anymore.”
“No one loses the kind of passion you had when I played. I’ve never seen a woman want to fight a grown-ass man until I met you.”
“Whatever,” Fallon said with a shake of her head. “I’m not like that. I’m calm, cool, collected.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Fallon, you’ve cussed me out every time I’ve seen you.”
“You make me angry,” Fallon said simply.
“Alright Fallon, keep on denying your passion, but I don’t know why you do. I think it’s hot. You know I like your dirty mouth.”
Fallon’s body went on fire. Her nipples pressed against her thin t-shirt, and her panties became damp instantly.
Damn man!
“Aren’t we were supposed to be talking about Aiden?” she all but groaned out. When she looked up at Lucas, she found that his eyes were looking down at the little peaks her nipples made.
Fuck!
Fallon crossed her arms quickly. “Pig.”
“Oink oink, honey,” Lucas said as Fallon rolled her eyes. “Come on, you can’t expect me not to stare at two of the most beautiful nipples that I’ve ever had in my mouth, can you?”
“I expect you to act like a gentlemen,” Fallon said through tight lips.
He inched a little closer to her as his eyes filled with lust. Fallon moved back a little, scared he was going to try to kiss her again. She could still feel his lips from last time, so no kissing. Fallon, no kissing, she repeatedly told herself as he said, “I don’t remember you wanting me to be a gentlemen when those nipples were in my mouth.”
Yup, Fallon was pretty sure she just came.
“Oh my goodness, you’re disgusting! Why are you messing with me?!”
Lucas gave her a lopsided grin. “For one, it’s so easy to, and I love the blush that goes on your face and for two, I want you Fallon. Bad.”
That dumbfounded her, he wasn’t mad? “Even after everything?”
He was quiet for a moment. “You know, I thought when I came over here we would have a screaming match, but I’m not mad at you. I’m hurt, but I can let it go because I’m going to know my son and I’m going to change the way you think of me.”
“Okay,” she said in a mocking voice. She didn’t believe him for a minute, even if her body screamed for him.
“Don’t underestimate me, Fallon,” he warned with a cute little grin.
“I know you Lucas. This little act you’re putting on about wanting to be a dad will last until you find a woman that will fuck you seven days to Sunday, and then you’ll leave Aiden behind ‘cause y’all will be having babies.”
Lucas shook his head. “You are delusional. I don’t want any other female but you and now that I know about Aiden, I will be his dad.”
“Okay, sure. I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said breathlessly.
Oh, this was not good. She couldn’t let him know that him wanting to be with her made her heart beat like a jackhammer against her chest, or that her panties were basically soaked after being under his lust-filled gaze.
Fallon looked up at him and their eyes met, sharing a heated look. Their emotions were high as they both took in deep breaths, still staring into each other eyes. She could get lost in his eyes and hated that she let him affect her like this. He had her hot one minute, freaking out about him taking Aiden another, and then to the point of wanting the knock his head off because he thought he could change what she thought of him! He was the exact same person!
The perfect manipulator!
When he looked away, Fallon took in a jagged breath as he asked, “Does he know about me?”
Fallon shook her head, still trying to catch her breath. “No, I told him that his daddy was too busy to be a daddy, but that he loved him very much and that he was lucky to be loved by someone that
he didn’t even know.”
Lucas face flushed with anger. “I would never be too busy for my son.”
“Well you got busy with my best friend, so I just went with that.”
Lucas shook his head as he looked off to the side, and she swore he was going to start yelling but he didn’t. He just asked, “You are not going to let that go, are you?”
“Not today,” Fallon answered as their eyes met. “Don’t hope for tomorrow neither.”
“Fallon, what can I do to make it right? What can I say? I don’t want you to keep throwing that in my face, I want us to move on.”
Fallon shrugged her shoulders, “I’ve been angry for seven years, how do I just move on? Don’t I have to forgive you?”
“It would be nice,” he said with a small smile.
Fallon looked away. “I don’t know if I can.”
“Can you try?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Okay,” Lucas said, irritated. Seven years and she was still angry? Come on, get real, let it go, Lucas thought as he watched her moving her fingers through her hair. “I’m really sorry about that night Fallon. There are a lot of things that you don’t know, and I need to tell you.”
Fallon shook her head. “I don’t want to know.”
“Yes you do, not today but give me a chance to explain what was wrong, what I was dealing with,” Lucas pleaded. “I swear I’m not that person anymore. I was fucked up back then, not my true self.”
Her eyes shot up as her face filled with anger. “So what, everything between us wasn’t real?”
“No baby, everything was real, everything. I was myself when I was with you,” he pleaded.
“So what? I don’t get it,” she asked with so much sass in her voice. He swore she was the queen of sassiness, and he was getting fed up with it.
“Fallon, you know what I don’t get?”
Fallon gave him a pointed look. “What’s that?”
“Why you didn’t tell me I have a son.”
Fallon looked away, moving her hands up and down her thighs. “I didn’t think you could be a dad. I was scared out of my mind. I didn’t know what to do but I knew that I didn’t want anything to do with you.”