Her mother cleared her throat from the doorway.
“Mom, this is not the time.”
“I think you need someone to clear your head, honey. I love you, and I’ll stick by you no matter what. This man is not the father, and now that the father is in the picture, I’m not going to let you make a decision you’re going to regret.”
“This is not about you.” Cheryl pulled out of Butch’s arms, turning her anger on her mother. “Alex was gone for the last three years. He didn’t give a damn about me or about his son. When are you going to see that?” she asked.
“He’s back, and you can’t shove him out of your life just because you want to.”
Shaking her head, she sank against Butch’s arms. She knew she should tell him to leave. Her life was no longer stress-free or uncomplicated. Alex had made sure of that.
“Three years he’s been gone. Three years of not knowing what went wrong. I never loved him, Mom. Please, leave,” she said, no longer wanting her there. Her mother didn’t understand what was going on. She’d not seen Alex or been in his company. Cheryl knew him as did Butch.
“You can’t throw me out.”
“This is my home. I can do whatever the hell I want, and right now, I want you to be gone.” She opened the door, waiting. “What you’ve got to say, I don’t want to hear.”
The last thing she needed was for her mother to talk about how important it was for Alex to have a part in her son’s life. Was it selfish of her not to let Matthew know his father?
Butch didn’t interrupt. He stayed still behind her, silent. He was her silent strength.
Once the door was closed, she sagged against his body.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’m not here to cause waves. I’m here because I want to be here, baby.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I want you here. I really do. I had no idea he was part of The Skulls. No idea at all.”
“Baby, stop panicking. I can smell dinner. Go, fix us some food, and I’ll deal with Matthew. We can talk later once he’s in bed. I’m sorry about today. I was hoping for so much more.”
She smiled at him. “This is not your fault.” From the moment Alex entered her life he’d caused her nothing but trouble. Seeing him today had brought back the pain his departure had caused. She wasn’t in love with him. In the past three years she’d gotten over any kind of feeling Alex had once caused. Seeing him again only awakened the anger she felt toward him.
“I know, baby. Go and finish dinner and I’ll be done.”
Cheryl watched him go into the sitting room. Within seconds Matthew was giggling. Licking her lips, she entered the kitchen to finish off dinner. She loved her mother, but the other woman had a way of doing things that were not like her. Stirring the meatball sauce, she drained the pasta then set to serving up.
At the dinner table, Butch kept Matthew in conversation while she watched them together. Her thoughts returned to the moment Alex entered her life. Seeing him at the fair had shocked her. Should she let him see their son?
You can’t push him away.
He didn’t want to know.
Once dinner was finished, she cleaned away the dishes then joined Matthew and Butch for a movie. The whole time she was aware of their need to talk. Rubbing a hand down her face, she stared down at Matthew’s hand within her own. Whatever happened, she was going to be there for her son.
Tucking him in bed hours later, she sat in his room, stroking his hair. No one was going to take him away from her. Even as she thought about keeping Matthew, she knew Alex had time and money behind him. She had nothing other than motherly love for her son. There was no way the courts would grant her permission to keep her son.
****
Butch stayed out of the way as Cheryl put her son to bed. Matthew was a good kid. He didn’t have the first clue as to what happened today. From the short time he’d known Matthew, Butch loved the kid as if he was his own. It was a strange, protective feeling that overcame him every time he was around Matthew. Cheryl inspired so many other feelings within him.
Running fingers through his hair, he finished making them both a coffee. He sat on the sofa, making changes to the furnishings while he waited. In his mind he ticked off for a new sofa along with a wooden coffee table in pristine condition. This was going to be his place as much as hers.
He tensed as he heard Cheryl making her way downstairs. She entered the sitting room with her arms wrapped around her waist. “He’s asleep.”
“I made you a drink.”
The conversation was stilted, and it was only making him angry. She sat as far away from him as the sofa allowed. Alex was already coming between them, and it was pissing him off.
“I didn’t know Alex was part of The Skulls.”
“I know.” He gritted his teeth at the anger building inside him. “Alex shouldn’t have done what he did.”
“You quit the club, right?”
“Yeah, I quit, and I’m not going back. You’ve got me for a long time, baby.” He smiled at her. “I’m thinking to the death.” He tried to make a joke of it, but he saw it had fallen on death ears.
She didn’t respond. The tears started to fall down her face. “I’ve messed up.”
Putting his cup down, he closed the distance between them, tugging her into his arms. “You’ve not messed up.” She collapsed against him. The tears started to fall harder. His gut tightened at the emotion pouring from her.
There was nothing he could do to stop her from feeling like this.
“I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you.”
They were involved, and he didn’t give a shit what Alex said. He wasn’t losing her. This was not Cheryl’s fault, and he wasn’t going to hold her needs against her. She deserved a chance to let loose and have some fun.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He stroked her hair while she cried. His thoughts returned to what was said in the club. There was no way he’d let Alex get to her. If Alex even tried to lay claim to her, he’d kill the bastard. Butch wouldn’t be against torturing the f**ker first.
“I can’t do this,” she said. “He’s your friend.”
“Alex is Tiny’s friend, not mine. I’m not letting anything come between us, Cheryl. I left the club because it’s dangerous. I don’t want us to be in danger anymore.”
She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “This is messed up.”