I run a hand through my hair, then brace that same hand on my hip. My fingers tapping impatiently on my dress as I turn my head and stare directly at Angie. My eyes narrow to tiny slits.
She holds my gaze for a solid second before cutting away and looking down.
Surprised to see me, bitch?
“You look sexy as hell right now.”
“I just want . . . Wait, what?” My head whips in his direction.
What did he just say?
Ben smirks, unlatching his seatbelt, his eyes never leaving mine. “Sexy, Angel. Looking like you’re ready to throw down and claim what’s yours. I’m feeling you, baby. I get it.” He steps down from the truck and looks at me over the top of the seat, grinning a full-blown, heart-stopping grin, all big and beautiful.
I roll my eyes, even though I love that look. “You make everything about cookies, you know that?”
Shrugging, he steps back and grabs the edge of the door. “Hard not to, being married to the hottest woman I’ve ever seen.”
I fight my smile, and lose.
“Love you,” I tell him before shaking my head and looking away. My shoulders drop with a sigh. “No more sweet talk. I need to retain my edge.”
“I’ll try and keep it under control.”
We both grab one of the boys, me cradling Chase in my arms, his eyes still closed and his body still slack from sleep, and Ben hoisting Nolan up onto his shoulders, letting him straddle his neck the way he likes doing.
I lead the way up the driveway, coming to a stop in front of the bottom step of the porch. I don’t feel any need to go any further. This is good enough.
She is close enough.
Angie slowly moves to the edge of the railing.
I barely recognize her. She looks thinner. Her skin a little paler, her hair lifeless, her complexion dull. It’s been three years since we spoke in person last, but gazing at her now it feels like it’s been longer. She’s aged terribly, that bitchy, smart-assed confidence she had burning inside her is vanished. Snuffed out.
Her shoulders aren’t pulled back. She isn’t asserting her place.
The woman in front of me is uneasy. Hesitant. She’s looking down at me, but in no way is she above me.
Good, I want to think, just as an unexpected wave of sympathy passes through my body.
God, do not feel sorry for her, Mia. Think about what she did. What could’ve happened.
Angie looks nervously at my face, at Chase asleep in my arms, at the ring on my finger that I happily display for her, then over my shoulder, her gaze lifting and no doubt locking onto Nolan.
The corner of her mouth twitches. Her eyes water.
“Oh, my God. Look how big you are,” she remarks through a small, shaky voice.
I turn sideways to look behind me.
Ben plucks Nolan off his shoulders and puts him on his feet.
He stuffs his hands into his little pockets, looking unsure, gazing up at me and then looking ahead.
Angie slowly descends the stairs. “Hi, Nolan. Do you remember me? I’m your mommy. God, I missed you so much. I . . .”
“Daddy said I don’t have to call you that.” Nolan quickly moves to stand beside me. He slides his hand around my leg. “I don’t want two mommies. Chasey doesn’t have two mommies.” With his other hand, he taps Chase’s leg. “This is Chasey,” he says.
I look down at Nolan, into his pretty gray eyes, feeling a mixture of pride and relief bubbling up inside me and spreading out to my limbs, my fingers and toes, filling me completely. Comfort so satisfying and sudden tears build behind my lashes.
Nolan is choosing me. He’s chosen me. He wants to continue calling me mommy, not anything else. I don’t have to give up that title now that Angie is back. I’ll never have to give it up.
Her presence in his life, whatever it ends up being, doesn’t affect mine. I know that now.
I blink my tears away, standing even taller than I did when I hopped out of Ben’s truck as I focus my awareness onto Angie.
She’s frozen on the bottom step, looking between Nolan and myself, lingering on the latter. Her hands trembling at her sides. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
I raise my eyebrow.
Try something. I dare you.
She looks away, blinking rapidly until finally fixating all of her attention onto Nolan. She grips the handrail, maybe to keep herself from collapsing. “W-Well, that’s fine. That’s okay. You don’t have to call me that. You can call me whatever you want.”
Humph. I can give him a few choice words to call you.
“Chasey can’t say a lot yet. He can’t really talk.” Nolan slides behind my legs, then around to the other side of me. He continues circling, dragging his hand across my skin and keeping his head down. “Mommy said I used to talk like Chasey, but I talk really good now. Even ‘r’s. I can say dragon and stuff. Chasey can’t say that yet. He can’t even say Nolan.”
Angie smiles weakly. “You’re such a big boy now. Do you still like dragons?”
“Yup. I like airplanes too.”
“Good, ‘cause I bought you something.” She looks at Ben, clears her throat, then shifts her eyes to me when he remains silent. “Is it okay if I give him a present?” she inquires, looking cautiously hopeful.