Chapter 18
1023 Words
**Everly**
The moment Dustin left, I was on my way to meet Kora at the mall. I had no idea what to wear tonight. He told me to dress casually and I realized it had been years since I bought myself any new clothes and in the past week I had visited the mall twice.
After two hours of shopping, I finally decided on a dress that was similar to a 50’s style sundress. It fit tightly on top and at the waist it flared out. The style helped to hide my belly and emphasized my breasts.
After a long hot shower and pampering myself, I spent more time fixing my hair and makeup.
“Mom, you look beautiful.” Brayden said from behind me.
“Thanks baby.”
Turning, I pulled him in for a hug. No matter how old he got, he would always be my little boy.
“Hey, are you OK with me dating?”
“It’s weird. But I like seeing you happy again, so yeah, I’m OK with it. I like Dustin.”
I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Mom! Dustin’s here.” Kennedy yelled to me.
I walked into the living room and there he stood. Instantly I felt butterflies in my belly. He wore a simple white shirt that was pulled tight across his chest and a pair of simple jeans that hung just a little low. In his hand he held more flowers and a box.
“You look amazing, Eve.”
“Thank you.”
“These are for you.”
“You spoil me.”
“Not enough.” He smirked.
He followed me to the kitchen and I put the flowers in water and opened the box. Inside were the most delicious chocolates I had ever seen.
“ They look amazing.”
“Try one.”
The instant one touched my tongue I couldn’t hold back my moan. It was for sure the best chocolate ever.
“Wow. These taste even better than they look.”
“Let me have a taste.” He pulled me to him and kissed me. His tongue explored my mouth and my knees felt weak. How was that possible from just a kiss?
“As much as I would love to keep tasting these chocolates with you, we have to get going.”
We spent the next thirty minutes in his car talking about Adalyn. I wanted to ask what happened to Adalyn’s mother, but I didn’t think that was a first date question.
We arrived at one of the local lakes. He took my hand and we walked to the pier. I had no idea what we were about to do.
“The one at the end is ours.” He said, kissing my hand as we walked.
The boat was a bit larger than the others but not extravagant. What I did notice was the table that was set up on the boat. It was built into the back side. There was a bench and the table was attached to the boat.
Dustin helped me onto the boat and we took a seat on the bench with the table in front of us.
“Kennedy told me you are good with being on the water.”
“Yeah, we usually spend a lot of time on the lake. I mean we did.”
“Good.” He pressed a soft kiss on my lips.
A server brought us drinks.
“Tell me more about you. I want to know everything.”
“I don’t even know where to start.” I replied, taking a good look at Dustin.
He was handsome. His dark brown hair was cut short. His eyes were a light brown and in the right light they almost looked yellow. They were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen.
His jaw line was defined, like it had been cut from a rock. His nose was perfectly straight and even his eyebrows were perfect.
“How about your family?”
“You know Brayden and Kennedy. I have a younger brother that I adore but he lives about an hour away and has a family of his own. My parents are divorced but we have never been close. My mother left when I was fourteen and two years later my father remarried and started a new family.”
“Do you have more siblings?”
“I have a half sister and brother but we are not close. My step-mother was abusive and when I turned eighteen I moved out.”
“Your father allowed the abuse?”
“She was good at lying and, according to my father, I was an angry teenager. I think my mom leaving really messed him up. He was in love with her and when she left, a part of him died. Then came Michele and I think he overcompensates to keep her.”
I could tell it was upsetting him, which stirred something inside me. I know we have only known each other for a short time, but I just felt so comfortable with him. I took his hand and smiled.
“It was OK because I had the most amazing grandparents that made up for everything. I also learned how not to be a mother.”
“You are so amazing.”
He asked a few more questions about my family and told me that he is close to his parents, but once he took over the family business he doesn’t see them as much.
“They are soulmates and now that my mother can have my father’s full attention she is taking it.”
“That is so sweet.” I loved how he thought his parents were soulmates.
“It is. They spend tons of time with Adalyn and I think my mother was sad I didn’t have more children.”
A sinking feeling filled me. I was 40 and had my tubes tied years ago. I would never be able to give him more children. Would it be fair to him if he wanted more?
- Writer
