by Tawna Fenske
They’d waited all night. Waited until the social worker came and took them away.
He was jarred from the past by the dull beep of another call coming in. Pulling the phone from his ear, he glanced at the screen and his heart sped up.
Ellie Sanders.
“Ty? Do you want to get that?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I kinda do.”
“Oooh,” Anna said, sounding giddy. “You totally got all melty-chocolate-voiced just then.”
“Melty-chocolate-voiced? What the—”
“Answer it!” she ordered. “Don’t keep your girlfriend waiting. Love you!”
“Love you, too. Lunatic.”
She laughed and clicked off, leaving Ty to answer Ellie’s call with his heart thumping solidly in his chest. “Hey, Ellie.” He did his best to sound casual, playing it cool so she wouldn’t guess how happy he was she’d called.
“Hey there,” she said, equally breezy. Good. They could do this. Just two consenting adults having a casual relationship with no feelings involved.
“So, you can totally say no to this,” she said. “There’s no pressure at all. I swear it’s not a big deal, and I almost hate to ask you at all. In fact, maybe I—”
“Ellie.”
“Yeah?”
“Just spit it out.” He didn’t realize he was smiling until he caught sight of his own reflection in the mirror beside his front door. He looked away, reluctant to admit how much he loved the sound of her voice.
“Okay,” she said. “But let me start again. How’s your day going?”
He laughed and shoved the Doritos bag off his lap, nudging it onto the coffee table. “It’s going great,” he said. “Watching some football. I was just on the phone with my sister.”
“You have a sister?” She sounded surprised.
“Yeah,” he said, surprised at himself for mentioning it. He rarely talked about his family. Not with co-workers or women he dated—or anyone, really. “We have the same father, but different mothers.”
“Oh. Are you close with your mom?”
“My mom died when I was two,” he said.
He clenched his jaw, remembering the distaste in Anna’s mother’s eyes. “I’m not raising him,” she’d growled at the social worker who’d come to check on them after Ty’s dad had been hauled off to prison again. “He looks just like that son-of-a-bitch who spawned him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Ellie said, shaking Ty back to the conversation. She sounded more heartbroken than he would have expected, and he wondered why he was telling her any of this. It wasn’t like him to volunteer so much personal information, and he kicked himself for putting a damper on their conversation. He tried to think of something more cheerful to say, but Ellie beat him to it.
“Your sister—what’s her name?”
“Anna,” he said. “She’s getting married in a couple months.”
“That’s wonderful,” Ellie said. “Are you in the wedding?”
“I’m walking her down the aisle.” He heard the pride in his own voice and wondered if Ellie heard it, too. “She asked me last week.”
“That’s so sweet,” she said. “I’d always thought I’d have my brother do that when I got married. Our parents died when I was still pretty young, so he basically raised me.”
“So, Jason walked you down the aisle when you married Henry’s dad?”
“No, we ended up eloping.” There was a hint of sadness in Ellie’s voice, though he heard her trying to hide it. “Chuck wasn’t big on weddings, so we ended up going to Vegas.”
Ty scrubbed a hand over his chin and made a mental note to do whatever it took to ensure his sister had more pleasant wedding memories than Ellie did. “Your brother seems like a good guy,” Ty said. “He always goes out of his way to chat up the staff when he visits Miriam.”
“Yeah, he’s the best,” Ellie said. “He’s been like a father to Henry.”
Something knotted sharp and hard in his chest, but couldn’t think of anything to say to that.
He cleared his throat. “What did you call to ask me?”
“What? Oh, right—sorry, I almost forgot.” He heard her take a deep breath and braced himself for the question. “Henry’s school has this musical production coming up on Thursday night. They had a parent all lined up to film it, but the guy has to travel for work at the last minute. They’re trying to find someone else to fill in with a video camera, and I was wondering if maybe you’d be willing to—”
“You said Thursday?”
“Yes. This Thursday.”
Ty hesitated, hearing his sister’s voice in his head.
“Thursday works! Or Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday—pretty much any day next week is good for me.”
But he didn’t want to be like his dad, always changing things at the last minute. Even though he wanted to help Ellie out, he had to put his sister first.
He cleared his throat. “Sorry,” he said. “I have dinner plans with my sister that night. I’m meeting her fiancé for the first time.”
“Oh! That’s great. And no problem. It’s not a big deal.”
“Some other time, maybe,” Ty said, feeling like a Grade A jerk. His sister’s words were still echoing in his head, but now they weren’t the ones about the date. They were the other words.
“My mom had so many different boyfriends after Dad left, and they were all such jerks. Between that and Dad making all kinds of promises he’d end up breaking because he was going back to prison, I kinda learned a bad father figure is worse than none at all, you know?”
“Sorry,” he said to Ellie, wishing there were some way to make it up to her.
It’s better this way, he told himself. Easier to draw lines, to set boundaries. To make sure no one gets hurt.
“It’s no problem at all,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll find someone else. Don’t worry about it.”
She sounded sincere, but Ty felt like a dick anyway. His chest was tight, and he wanted to pull her against it and feel the knot of tension release. He wanted to run his hand down her back, stroking her hair, kissing the crown of her head the way he’d done last night.
But none of that was in the cards for him.
“Some other time,” Ty murmured, knowing there’d never be a time he’d be the kind of guy Ellie deserved.
…
Ellie did her best to tread carefully with Ty as they worked together in the studio over the next week. She was the ultimate professional while recording voiceovers and shooting footage for her new web videos, making sure not to do anything to suggest she wanted more than the fling they’d agreed to.
She didn’t, obviously, so that part was easy. Mostly, anyway.
Okay, so once or twice she caught herself wondering what it would be like to have something with Ty that went beyond a casual hookup. What it would be like to go out on dates together, or to spend time just the three of them, her and Henry and Ty.
But that’s not what she wanted. Please. After the way things ended with Chuck, there was no way she wanted to start down that path again. Not even with a guy like Ty.
Ty.
Her heart somersaulted, but she fought off the feeling. He didn’t want a relationship any more than she did. It was better this way, especially with life as busy as it had been lately. Her Madame Butterfly parties were booked solid for the next three months, and things were crazy-busy with Henry’s school stuff and the studio work with Ty. They were easy and friendly with each other, and not awkward at all, which was a relief.
“What are you up to tonight?”
Ty’s question at the end of their recording session on Friday caught her by surprise, and it took her a second to formulate a response.
“Henry and I are making homemade corndogs for dinner,” she said. “Maybe going for a walk to the park.”
She waited, wondering why he’d asked. Was he wanting another hookup, or just being polite? Part of her hoped for the former. Henry had been begging for a sleepover at Jason and
Miriam’s, excited about practicing the new tent pitching skills Uncle Jason had taught him on their campout.
“I have tickets to see the Hillsboro Hops baseball game,” Ty said. “Thought maybe you guys would like to go.”
You guys. Ellie studied him. “You mean Henry and me?”
“Yeah. I asked Miriam and Jason, too, plus a couple other folks on staff. I just did a big video project for the team, and the manager gave me a dozen tickets for tonight’s game.”
Was it like a date, or more of a professional engagement? Either way, the guy was offering to take her whole damn family to a ball game. She’d be an idiot to question it too much.
“I’d love to,” she said. “What time should we meet you there?”
“I can come get you,” he said. “That way we can head out there at the same time as Miriam and Jason.”
“Henry will be thrilled. When should we be ready?”
“How about six? We can grab corndogs at the game.”
“That sounds nice.”
And it did sound nice, even if she wasn’t entirely sure what she’d agreed to.
Miriam was no help when Ellie jogged down the street to their place that evening to borrow a baseball cap.
“We have several hundred employees between First Impressions and Speak Up,” Miriam pointed out as she threaded Ellie’s ponytail through the back of the Hillsboro Hops ball cap. “He could have invited any of them, but he didn’t.”
“Well, he invited you, too,” Ellie pointed out.
“It’s a ruse,” Miriam insisted. “Know what else is a ruse?”
“What?”
Miriam grinned. “The fact that Jason invited Henry over after the game to set up the tent in our backyard and practice their camping skills. It’s all a sneaky scheme to give you a night alone with lover boy.”
“Miriam.” Ellie rolled her eyes, not sure whether to thank her or smack her.
“Hey, I remember what it’s like in the early stages of a relationship when you can’t think about anything but shagging each other silly,” she said. “I wanted to help out.”
“It’s not a relationship,” Ellie insisted, even as a funny little ripple of joy shuddered through her.
When Ty arrived wearing a Hillsboro Hops shirt and a sexy five-o’clock shadow, the ripple became a flood. He grinned at her as he climbed the steps to join her on the porch.
“Cute,” he said, tapping the bill of her ball cap before looking down at Henry. “Hey, little man! I like yours, too.”
“Thank you.” Henry adjusted his cap and smiled up at Ty. “My uncle Jason gave it to me. We’re camping tonight.”
“Is that so?” He looked at Ellie. His expression didn’t change, but she thought she caught a spark in his eye. It was enough to make her insides do a melty little quiver.
Lust, she told herself. It’s only lust. That’s all.
“They’re camping just down the street in their backyard,” Ellie said, wanting to rein in her own expectations as well as his. “Only a block away.”
“Good to know,” Ty said. “You guys ready to head out?”
Ellie nodded and reached behind her to grab her purse off the entry table.
“I hope it’s okay, but I told Miriam and Jason we’d carpool with them.”
“I’m not sure we’ll all fit.” Ty nodded toward his pickup parked at the curb. “My truck’s pretty tight for five.”
“Jason offered to drive,” she said. “They just got that new SUV, and there’s already a booster seat in back for Henry.”
Ty frowned. “I didn’t even think about the booster seat.”
Something dark passed through his eyes, and Ellie laid a hand on his arm.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “I know you’re not used to the whole kid thing.”
“Right,” he said, clearing his throat. “Yeah, that’s great. It’s way safer for Henry for us all to go with them.”
There was a funny note in his voice, but he offered her a smile that looked real, albeit a little weak. Before she had a chance to ask about it, Jason stepped out onto the porch next door with a toolbox in one hand. He set it down, wiping his hands on a rag before offering one to Ty.
“Hey, man,” Jason said, clasping Ty’s hand. “Good to see you again.”
“You, too.”
“Thanks for fixing Ellie’s plumbing the other night,” he said. “Helluva patch job you did there.”
Ty grimaced and glanced at Ellie. “I—uh—did my best with the tools on hand.”
“No, it’s great!” Jason said. “You were spot-on about the water heater corroding the pipes. That thing must’ve been thirty years old. I’ve got a new one ordered, so hopefully she’ll be set for a while.”
“She’s lucky to have you.”
Was it Ellie’s imagination, or did Ty’s voice sound funny? She couldn’t place the emotion, but her heart did a soft little squeeze as she watched Henry reach up and tug the edge of Ty’s sleeve.
“I’ve been practicing my lion face,” he said. “Wanna see?”
“Definitely,” Ty said.
“Rawr!” Henry raised his hands like claws, pawing at the air with impressive exuberance. Ellie laughed and tapped the brim of her son’s cap, pleased when Ty high-fived him.
“Nice work.” Ty looked at Ellie, grinning. “You want to show me your lion face?”
“Maybe later,” she said, shooting him a conspiratorial grin. “Everyone ready to roll?”
“I’m ready!” Miriam shouted as she came hurrying up the walk with her belly round under a maternity baseball jersey. “Sorry, I had to pee again.”
“Thanks for sharing.” Jason picked up the toolbox again and rested the other hand in the small of his wife’s back. He gave her a fond smile as he guided her toward the car and got her settled before shoving the toolbox in the hatchback.
Ellie turned to follow, unconsciously reaching down to grab Henry’s hand. But he was two steps behind her and still looking up at Ty.
“Can I sit next to him?” Henry asked her, pointing a chubby finger up at Ty.
Ellie held her breath, hoping this wasn’t weird for him. He didn’t look alarmed, but it was tough to know what he was thinking.
“How come, baby?” she asked Henry.
“He’s my friend and we work together now,” Henry reported.
Ty, bless his heart, didn’t miss a beat. “That’s right,” he said, resting a hand on Henry’s shoulder. “You did a great job helping out at the studio. And it’s great you’ve been practicing the lion face.”
“Thanks!” Henry called, reaching up to grab Ty’s hand as they started toward the car. “Do you have my paycheck?”
Ty froze. “Paycheck?”
“Yeah. When we were at your office, you said maybe I could be on the payroll and help with taxes and stuff.”
“Oh.” Ty frowned and shot Ellie a desperate look. “I, uh…”
“That was just a joke, sweetie,” Ellie said, stepping in to rescue Ty. She steered her son to the car and opened the back door for him. Henry scrambled in, seemingly unfazed. “But we can definitely find some chores for you to do around the house to start earning more of an allowance.”
Henry grinned and shoved his glasses up his nose. “Cool.”
Ellie glanced back to see Ty still frozen in place, horror on his face.
“Ty?”
He started walking again, then bent down to peer into the car. “I’m so sorry about that, little man. I shouldn’t have made that joke.”
“That’s okay,” Henry said, offering a gap-toothed smile.
“No, really.” Ty scrubbed a hand over his chin, clearly upset. “I didn’t mean to let you down.”
Ellie gave him a reassuring smile as she slid into the car next to Henry. She buckled her seat belt, then looked up to see Ty still standing on the sidewalk, a remorseful expression on his face. “Ty? You coming?”
“Yeah,” he said, not moving. “Of course.”
She patted
the seat beside her, not sure what had him so upset. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, but the frown stayed fixed on his face. “Yeah,” he said, ducking down to slide into the backseat beside her. “Never better.”
Ellie studied the side of his face, noticing the grim set of his jaw. She committed it to memory, wanting to remember exactly what he looked like when he wasn’t telling the whole truth.
Chapter Ten
Ty spent the whole game kicking himself for his missteps with Ellie and Henry. What kind of idiot didn’t even consider that a kid would need a car seat?
Not only that, but he’d disappointed Henry. The misunderstanding with the paycheck was a kick in the gut to Ty, so he could only imagine what it felt like to Henry.
You don’t have to imagine, his subconscious reminded him. You know exactly what it’s like to have a grown-up let you down. And now you’re doing the same damn thing, just like your old man.
To Henry’s credit, he seemed totally fine. Besides that, Ellie assured him at least half a dozen times it was no big deal.
“It’s important for his development that he learn there’s a difference between jokes and things to take literally,” she said as she swirled her corndog in a puddle of mustard while Henry chased after a fly ball with his uncle. “It’s part of growing up.”
She sounded so certain that he almost believed it. But he couldn’t forget that flash of disappointment he’d seen in Henry’s eyes. “I feel like I let him down,” Ty said. “He should be able to trust grown-ups not to disappoint him.”
Ellie rested a hand on his knee. “He’s a tough kid who survived leukemia,” she’d pointed out. “Small things like that don’t even register on his radar.”
Her reassurance made it worse. He’d disappointed a kid who’d had cancer, for crying out loud. What kind of asshole did something like that?
The kind of asshole who teaches his three-year-old to open a beer.
But Ty did his best not to dwell on it.
And he had a great time at the game, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Ellie, making corndog runs for Miriam, sipping beer with Jason, and scrambling with Henry to catch a pop fly at the bottom of the seventh inning.