Page 52 of Total Abandon

His warm chocolate eyes mist and he sniffs before nodding his head dully. He’s so young. Too young to understand this heavy shit fully. But I know he feels it inside, the gap she leaves in his life. I’ll have this conversation with him as many times as he needs over the coming years. My jaw sets and I pull him in for a hug, tucking his head into my chest. My eyes slide sideways to see Chloe lookingat me with a softness I’ve never seen before. She clears her throat, casting her eyes away and blinking her long caramel lashes rapidly.

“Come on, little one. Let’s get you home.” I release my son and take his hand. He reaches over with his other hand and pushes his fingers through Chloe’s without hesitation. She smiles down at him, helping him settle in and get a good grip.

We walk like that, the three of us hand in hand to the park exit, looking for all outward purposes like a little family unit, I’m sure. The thought lodges uncomfortably at the back of my throat. When we walk through the black wrought iron gates, I remember why I was mad at her to begin with. The lights on my Aston Martin pulse and I glance across to see her holding the key fob up with a sheepish smile on her face.

“About that, care to explain why the SUV wasn’t appropriate?” I growl quietly, leading Diego around to the passenger's side.

“You mean…” She trails off, her brow furrowed as her gaze skates over the car. “Thisisn’tthe Volvo?”

“Very funny,” I snap as I help Diego into his seat and clip him in. “Keys,” I demand as I shut his door, rounding the bumper and extending my palm.

She grins, shifting her weight on her feet so one curvy hip sticks out. “Come onnnn, let me drive home.”

“Do you know how much this car costs?” I ask her incredulously, attempting to pluck the key fob from her hand. She dances backward, holding the key in the air. I tip one brow before pointedly looking at the key. It’s level with my head, even though she’s holding it skyward, so it’s not exactly hard for me to reach. She lets out a muffled curse and promptly stuffs the fob into her cleavage. “Oh, like I won’t go in there and get it?” I scoff, taking a half step toward her.

“Okay, okay!” She scowls as she retrieves it and places it into my palm.

I’m just about to give her my best shit-eating grin when I remember the tequila. Fuck it all to hell. I’ll be over the limit. I had told Bates to go back to the apartment, thinking I would be traveling back in the Volvo with Chloe and Diego. The Volvo that doesn’tcost hundreds of thousands and has enough room in the back for all six feet and five inches of me.

“Fuck’s sake,” I groan, running a hand through my hair.

“Whatnow?” Chloe tilts her chin at me in that defiant little way that makes me want to bend her over and hike that dress up to see what’s beneath.

“There’s a chance I'm over the limit, so you’ll have to drive,” I grumble, tossing the key her way and deciding to get this over with.

Ignoring her delighted cackle, I pull the driver's seat forward and proceed to shimmy myself into the back in the most uncomfortable fucking way. It takes me a couple of attempts, but by the time I’m in, I’m wearing my knees as earrings and my chin is almost hitting my chest. Chloe slides into the driver's seat and twists to look at me stuffed into the back like a crumpled up old sock. She rolls her lips in and claps a hand over her mouth, just as a very undignified snort slips out. This seems to do nothing but make her laugh harder, leaning back in her seat and slapping the steering wheel. Diego joins in, staring at her like she invented the wheel.

“You look silly, Papi.” He giggles. How did my life come to this?

“Yes, very funny. Let’s go,” I grumble, trying to push myself further back in the seat to alleviate the ache in my cramped legs. It doesn’t even give an inch. She presses the button that starts the car with a low hum. Shifting into reverse, her foot edges the pedal and the engine snarls loudly. Groaning, I attempt to twist my head to look out of the back window for oncoming traffic, but it’s wedged too tightly to the roof.

“You know, you really should sit up straight, Zeke. It’s simply terrible for your posture.” She gasps, still struggling to contain herself.

Chapter 23

Mom:I found a lovely little boutique that sells vintage wedding dresses. I think we should go.

Tilly: Only if you promise we can recreate that Friends episode when they all get one and wear them while watching TV and eating popcorn.

Chloe:Mom, it's way too soon for dress shopping.

Mom:It takes time to find one you like, and then you’ll need it altered.

Grandma:You can look at mine if you like. I think I'm old enough for it to be considered vintage LOL.

Tilly:Check G-ma out with the slang.

Mom:Beatrice, you’re old enough for it to be considered antique.

Tilly:Burn.

CHLOE

“I am sorry.”

Zeke tips his head toward the roof of the Town Car, running a palm along his jaw with an audible scrape. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“It was just a little scratch.” I nibble my lip, smoothing my embellished black floor-length gown over my legs.