The Wright One

HANNAH

I am regretting this play date already. Cole showed up a half an hour early, with flowers. That is not what this is. I want to reject the flowers, but at the same time, how do you do that nicely to a person that came for dinner. I don’t even know how you would do that. Do I just straight tell him that I don’t want the flowers? Sit him down and say, ‘this is not a date’. I have never been in this situation in my life.

Cole and Brodie are sitting in my living room. Thankfully my mother is out tonight. I think bingo or something. She hasn’t really been around much. Which is just odd. She never left the house when dad was alive. But it is even odder to have Cole and Brodie in my living room while I am in the kitchen still making the food. Again they were early. Justin isn’t even back with Caden yet.

I am bustling around the kitchen trying to get dinner done when I feel a hand on my back. I jump a foot in the air. “Holy shit, Cole you scared me.”

He smiles. “Sorry, I was just trying to ask if you needed help.”

I shake my head. “No, I got it. Sorry, it’s not done yet, but you know you are early.” I point out. Hoping that he doesn’t do this again. Also trying to be soft about it so it seems a little like a joke so I don’t hurt his feelings.

He leans in a little further. “I just couldn’t wait to see you again.”

I turn so that I can put my hand on his chest to push him back. But then my front door bursts open. Caden’s smile instantly falls as he sees me in the kitchen. “What’s going on Mom?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I finish pushing Cole back and smile at Caden. “Nothing buddy. Did you have a good time with your dad?”

Only now do I see Justin behind Caden. He is carrying a bunch of bags, but he looks like he just ate a lemon and wants to punch the guy that gave it to him all at the same time.

Caden gets this look on his face that I have never seen in my life. It’s like he is smirking and glaring at the same time. “Yeah, my dad is great. The greatest dad that ever lived.” He seems to be looking right at Cole as he says it. I am not sure where that is coming from, I made a mental note to ask later.

I don’t even know how to respond to that at the moment. “Um, ok. How about you help your dad put that stuff away and then you can tell Dad goodnight. Brodie is here to play.”

Caden doesn’t change his look. “I wanted Dad to have dinner too. Can’t he?”

I nod. “Sure if your dad wants to.”

Justin nods. “Yeah, sounds great. Caden and I were having a lot of fun, it seems like a shame to end it already.”

Caden waves to his friend. “Come on Brodie, You can hang with me and my dad. At least he isn’t being weird.”

I can’t believe he just said that. Brodie just gets up and follows Caden. Justin stands there for a minute. As soon as the boys are down the hall he turns to us. “If you guys are going to date, just be open about it. The boys think you are being weird and they don’t like it. It’s better to be open with them about it.”

I am shocked. “Justin that is not…”

Cole interrupts me. “Yeah, you’re right we should be honest with the boys.”

Now I feel like my head is going to explode. Seriously what the fuck just happened. Justin leaves and I am stuck here with a very delusional man. “Cole, we are not dating. I am not sure what gave you that impression, but I want to fix that right now. This is supposed to be a playdate. You can leave Brodie here if you want, but we are not having a date.”

He cocks his head. “I was just trying to help you out with your ex. I don’t think this is a date. I mean, I would like to ask you out on a date, but I wasn’t implying that we were already dating.”

“Cole, you brought me flowers, you are hovering around me in the kitchen. You told Justin we are dating. That is not ok. Just stop it. Ok.” He really has been pushing boundaries that I didn’t even notice.

He pulls back. “Alright. I get it. You are still hung up on him. That’s fine. Maybe I should come back later. Brodie should be done about eight right?”

“Yeah,” He turns to leave and now I feel like a bitch. “Cole, I am not hung up on Justin. I’m sorry I snapped at you. I know you are just trying to be nice. It is totally fine for you to stay for dinner.” Maybe he is just trying to be a friend and I am just not used to this.

He returns with a smile. “Sure, I would love to stay.” Why didn’t I just let him leave? It was obvious that he got the hint.

Justin comes back in. “I have a few more bags to get. Then the boys want to play some game. I told them I would play with them. That is if it is alright with you.” He seems to look at the both of us. I don’t like that look on his face. He looks like he is trying to hold his tongue and Justin never does that.

“Yeah, of course it is. Dinner has about another fifteen minutes.” I give him a smile, hoping that it will make his attitude a little better.

He nods. “Oh, just so you know. I talked to my sister about everything that he would need and I got everything that she suggested. So you shouldn’t need to get anything. I probably got more than I should, but you know, it’s not like I can’t afford it. Plus he deserves it. All the crap he has to put up with.”

I shake my head. “What exactly are you talking about?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. I’m going to get the bags.”

He just leaves. I think I need to talk to him. If Justin knows something about Caden that I don’t then I need to find it out. I don’t like that we are divided like this. At work we seem to work as a team. I like that. But being parents, it’s like we are on opposing teams. We need to figure out how to make it work. If not for us, for Caden.