Page 51 of Falling Together

“Thanks, Dad.”

Even from here, I can see his smile. Okay, maybe I am doing something right. Which makes me feel better about the new baby coming.

Georgia hands Luke a helmet and helps him secure it before instructing him on how to get up on the horse. He looks nervous, but Georgia helps him through it before she starts to lead him around the ring. A few others are also in here—probably more people taking lessons.

I watch with a careful eye as they keep doing laps. With each loop they make, Luke seems more relaxed up there. When they make another turn in my direction, a smile is lighting up Luke’s face.

Holy shit. He really likes this. This whole time I’ve been trying to get him into baseball because I love it so much, but he seems to be taking to riding.

Georgia smiles at me as they pass and I give a quick nod in return. I don’t want Luke to see that I’m aware of how much he is enjoying this. If I’m overly supportive, it might scare him off. And forget encouraging him—he’ll never want to come back out here if I do that.

Kids these days.

Georgia gives Luke a few more pointers on how to ride before taking a few steps back and letting him take the reins.

“How does it feel, Luke?” she asks.

“I feel good.”

“Great. Take your time, and if Frito starts to go too fast for you, just pull back on the reins like I showed you.”

“Okay.”

Someone else takes Georgia’s spot before she comes over to take a seat next to me.

“I’m only sitting here because another instructor is with him,” she says.

“I know. I wasn’t questioning your ability. You’ve gotten him to show more interest in this than I have in anything in the last few months.”

“He seems to like it,” Georgia says.

“Probably because you’re doing it and not me. Does that say a lot about me as a parent?” I ask.

“Relax.” She nudges her shoulder with mine. “I’m not going to judge your parenting skills based on what your teenager likes.”

“You think our kid is going to be difficult?”

I look down at her stomach. There’s no obvious sign she’s pregnant yet. We talk daily, and so far with the pregnancy, she’s not feeling too terrible.

“Honestly? I have no idea what to expect. I never thought I’d have kids at all.”

“Really? But you’re so good with them,” I say.

“I’ve always liked being Aunt Georgia.”

“But never Mom?”

“That’s a story for another time.” She brushes me off. “If you want to keep bringing Luke out here for more lessons, I’ll be happy to teach him. He’s a natural at it.”

“You’d really do that for my stubborn-ass kid?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says, looking at me. There’s a fire in her deep blue eyes. “Not only are we going to be a part of each other’s lives, but I’m going to be a part of Luke’s and he’ll be a part of mine. So if this is a way to get to know him better and bond with him, I’m happy to do it.”

Fuck me. Why does this woman know exactly what to say to get me to fall for her? I’m not supposed to do this. We said we’d only be friends. This would be an entirely different situation if it were just the two of us. But it’s not. I have Luke to worry about. She’s only interacted with him a couple of times, but she’s already thinking about him and including him in things.

I tried dating after the divorce, but it never worked out. The minute I told women I had a kid—a preteen at the time—they ran the other way. And fast.

I don’t even know what to say to her.