Today is finally the day Jackson is going back. It's been a long week, but we made it through. Also, Tara is coming home tomorrow, and my work schedule will go back to somewhat normal. I'm actually looking forward to heading in today after I drop off the kids.

I lift my hand to knock when the door flies open. Jackson is ready to go, his black backpack perched on his shoulder, and his hair neatly brushed forward.

"I'm ready."

He strides past me and heads for the stairs. I watch him until he disappears, the front door opens, and closes with the sounds of Anna's footsteps running after him. Taking a few deep breaths, I head out to the car with them in hopes that it will be a good day. We had an okay weekend following the watch incident, last night though, he asked for it back, said he wanted to hold onto it. I was hesitant at first but gave it to him. If it helped him cope with his father's disappearance, I wasn't going to take that away.

"Mom?" Anna asks as we pull out of the driveway.

I allow my eyes to focus on them for a second before putting my attention back on the road.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"The man in leather, Lawson, Henry's dad, did you kiss him?"

My foot drops hard on the break as we come to a halt at a stop sign.

"Did I what now?" I ask to make sure I've heard her.

"You know when two adults love each other they kiss. Like you and daddy used to..."

There's no car behind me, so I idle at the corner. Glancing back again, I look at Jackson. He's staring out the window, his thoughts seem to be far away.

I can feel the heat creeping up my neck and settling on my cheeks.

"I uh– I – it's –"

Jackson rolls his eyes. "Mom, you don't have to pretend, we aren't kids anymore."

I want to laugh at that statement, but instead my lips stay pressed tightly together. Someone honks, and I give the intersection one last glance before rolling through.

"Okay. Lawson and I are going on a date on Saturday. I was waiting to tell you both, but if you aren't comfortable, I won't do it."

My gaze lands on Jackson for a split second.

"I think it's amazing," Anna says, gushing.

"Thank you, sweetie. Jackson, I'll understand if you want me to call it off. It's not that–"

"Just go, ma," he says, not looking at me. His focus is still on the outside world.

My heart leaps from my chest. Does he really mean that? I wasn't expecting to have this conversation in the car. Although his voice sounds steady, I wish we were face to face so I could get a better idea of how he was feeling.

"Jackson, if you're-"

"Mom, I said it's fine. You should go. You're sad."

I blink away fresh tears. I haven't cried since Friday when we had the conversation about the watch, but now here I am about ready to bawl all over again. Kids pick up on everything. He's not wrong. It's been a while since I've felt true happiness. I've been living life on this autopilot mode since their dad left. Same routine, different day.

"Mommy does he give you tingles in your belly?" Anna asks.

A snort and a sob release at the same time. The wetness that clung to my eyes has escaped and is starting to fall down my cheeks.

"Where did you hear that from?" I ask.

"When you kiss a boy you get tingles in your belly, your foot pops, and your heart feels like it's going to jump out of your chest."

"You're eight!" I laugh. "How do you know this?"

I catch her eye in the rear-view mirror and find Jackson grinning while staring out the window.

"A girl just knows mommy, we just know."

We pull up to the school and the tears have mostly dried, but a few linger from the laughter I can't seem to shake. I make the right into the drop off lane and speak of the devil. Lawson's truck idles in front of me.

"Um... mom I think he might have those feelings too," Jackson says, leaning forward between the two front seats.

His arm is extended, and he's pointing towards Lawson's truck. Out the back window is a white sign taped to it. 5 DAYS!!

I'm laughing so hard now that it hurts my stomach and I have to shift the car into park. Turning to Jackson, whose head is still sticking out into the front of the car, I take his hand.

"Are you sure you're okay with this? I know he's not your dad, and he's not intending on replacing-"

"I know," he says. "I know."

He kisses my cheek, and I gasp. He hasn't been this affectionate in a very long time. I'll take it, even if I'm slightly suspicious that he's up to something.

"Come on booger head, let's go," Anna says.

"I'll give you a booger head."

The two get out of the car with smiles on their faces, and I almost have to pinch myself to wonder if the moment is real. As they get further, in my peripheral I see movement getting out of Lawson's truck and turn my attention there. He sticks his head out of the driver's side window, a wide grin on his scruffy handsome face.

Rolling down my window I stick my head out and blow him a flirty kiss. He reaches his arm out and pretends to catch it with his hand. I shake my head and laugh. I'm about to open my mouth when the car behind us honks, and he shrugs and slips back into the truck. Within a few seconds he's pulling away, and I follow suit. I pray that this interesting start to my Monday means that positive things are headed our way.

***

I lean over the bar, waiting for some drinks for one of my tables. It's been a bit hectic for an early shift.

The door to the backroom shuts, echoing through the room. August is stalking towards me. His lips are turned down, brows narrowing. Determined brown eyes find mine as I lean my back against the bar.

"Hey."

I don't like the sigh at the end of his greeting.

"Hey?"

"Look, I know your sister is out of town, but we've had two employees call out sick with the flu. Mondays are normally slow, but – it would just be me here all night and Faith on the floor..."

August runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the curled ends. His entire body is tense. His arm muscles bulge through his black tee. "Is there anyone? Or any way that you can..."

August has always covered me when I needed it. Only one person comes to mind. The thought worries me. What will Jackson think? Ah – crap.

"Let me see what I can do, but I'll need five-ish minutes to get something, can Faith take my tables for a sec?"

August's frown starts to revert. His lip twitches up a smidge, and the tension in his shoulders drops.

"Yes. That would be fine."

Racing towards the back room every awful scenario about why this is a bad idea goes through my head. On the other hand, it could be a good thing. Jackson will see that Lawson is a decent guy and not someone who is looking to take his dad's place.

I enter the employee lounge and grab my phone out of my locker. Staring at Lawson's name I almost don't hit the green button, but he's my only hope. The line rings for what feels like an eternity before I hear his voice. There's a muffled crackling sound on his end as he answers.

"Hey, Lawson. I'm sorry, are you really busy?"

"Hey, no. Give me a sec? Just gotta go outside."

A drumbeat echoes, and the string of a guitar gets plucked. There's a thud when he exits the room he's in.

"Okay, good now. Are you alright? Did you like my sign this morning?"

All the stress of my question fades away and a chuckle escapes my parted lips. "Yeah. The kids did too."

I can almost hear his grin on the other line, even swear I hear him quietly mumble, yes.

"Sorry, so uh – what's up?"

I smile, just the sound of his voice has my heart in a frenzy. I don't have much time and need to get to the point.

"Do you think you can pick my kids up? I have to work a double. If you can't it's okay – It's just that I'm the only one who's available and I'll call the school to let them know — like I said if you can't —"

"Hey," he laughs softly. "I can do it, it's my night with Henry and I was planning on picking him up."

"Oh, do you think it will be okay with Jackson..."

"Yeah. I'll keep an eye on things."

I slump against the brick wall and close my eyes. "Are you sure this is okay?"

"Nadine, you're not bothering me if that's what you're worried about."

The softness in his voice, and the truth behind his words are easy to hear.

"I believe you. Lawson, thank you. I don't know what I can do to repay-"

"The date. That's all I ask in return. No worries. Now get back to work before I tell August to fire you for slacking."

I chuckle. "Yeah, I'm his favorite, but he can't fire me, he's not that high up."

His laughter is like music to my ears. After we hang up, I get back to work. The day moves forward without much excitement.

By the time work is done its nearly midnight. Pulling up to Lawson's I notice the light on in one of the front rooms of his small ranch. I park beside his truck in his freshly paved driveway. As I step out of my car, I find him leaning against the door frame of his house, arms crossed with one of his sexy grins spread across his face.

"It's past curfew, missy."

His deep teasing tone turns my knees into jell-o. There are two steps to reach him. There's not much room as I stand in front of him. He stares down, a devious gleam dancing in his eyes.

"Am I in trouble?"

I'm not sure where the flirty rasp in my voice comes from, but it's there, out in the open, and there's no doubt that he enjoyed it.

"A ton of trouble," he says.

I close the very small gap between us and tilt my chin to get a better view. "So, what are you going to do about it then?"

It's as if he knows exactly the right way to touch me. His hands grip my love handles and he pulls me into him. I gasp at the contact. With my head still tilted at the perfect angle he rests his mouth over mine. I melt into him easily. While I said we should hold out until our date, I don't regret breaking that rule.

His mouth opens, inviting me in, and I take it. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I run my hand through his hair. Kissing someone has never felt so sweet yet needy at the same time. Maybe it's because I haven't been kissed in months, and because I'm deprived of everything and anything having to do with sex.

I pull away, unable to hold back a smile.

"I'm sorry I know you said..."

"Ignore what I said," I say.

He presses a closed mouth kiss to my lips. It lasts less than five seconds, but the zap of electricity that courses through my veins nearly knocks me backwards.

"How did it go tonight?"

"Jackson was a bit stand-off-ish at first, but he warmed up a little. He and Henry had a short conversation, but Anna mostly kept Henry entertained."

I chuckle. "She can be a bit much sometimes."

"Nah," he laughs. "He enjoyed it. Please come on in. Kids are all out cold on the couch."

The living room is small and narrow, but enough for a small red pull out couch. A flat screen sits on the wall, gaming systems lined up underneath on the shelves below. A black and white guitar sits in the corner of the room on a stand.

"Fender Strat?"

"It's an oldie, she was my first," he says, staring at it as if it was the most beautiful thing in the room.

I chuckle. "She's lovely. How long have they been out?"

"Hm... since ten."

"Shit. I'd hate to move them."

"Well, you do have one option."

I jump at his closeness and spin to face him.

"What are you implying?"

"I have a guest room. Where is your mind?" he asks, wiggling his brow.

I snort, shaking my head at him.

"I don't know, it feels weird, and I don't have anything to wear..."

"I do."

What is happening right now? I've only just met this man and here I am about ready to take his offer to sleep in his guest room.

"So, what am I wearing to bed then?" I ask.

I can't stop staring at his lips, especially when he's smiling. He takes my hand and leads me towards the back of the house. We stop in front of a closed wooden door. He heads in and seconds later he's back with sweats, and a t-shirt in his hands.

"Might have to tie it tight. The sweatpants are a bit loose."

"Gray, huh?"

He narrows his eyes in a way that almost makes me push him back into that room of his and let my guard down. Instead, I follow behind him to the next room. The door is ajar. The room has all the essentials, a bed, a dresser, a closet, and a lamp on the cherry-wood bedside table.

"Welcome to your quarters for tonight. I apologize I don't have any fresh mints to place on your pillow."

His smile never fades. There were times with Miles when it felt easy like this, but it was never this good.

Lawson lays a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Everything okay?"

"It's great actually. I'm really– tired." I yawn.

"Get some rest. K?"

He starts for the door, but I grab his hand and tug him back into me. Lifting my gaze, I meet his.

"I appreciate everything you've done for us so far. You could have chewed me out and hated me for what Jackson did to Henry, but you rose above that and – I – thank you."

Lawson cradles my face in his large, calloused hands. I love their roughness. Leaning into his touch I shut my eyes.

"I really like you, Nadine. Jackson is a good kid. I see so much of myself in him, and while I don't condone what he did to Henry, and sure I'm angry, that's my boy he hurt, but kids do things. They make mistakes. Hell, we all fucking make mistakes."

"You got that right."

"Look, we'll figure it out. Okay? Let's just take it day by day. If things escalate, we'll deal with it when it happens. All I know is, I want to get to know you more."

"I want to get to know you too. You've always just been sexy leather jacket guy on the pickup line."

His laughter fills me with everything I've been missing in my life. Happiness, joy, love.

"And you've always been the hot mom behind me."

We laugh together.

"Goodnight, Nadine."

"Goodnight, Lawson."

He plants one more sensual kiss on my lips, before leaving me with an ache between my legs.

Lying in bed I go over everything that has happened this past year. So many things have gone wrong, and yet so many things right. I need to start looking at the bright side of things, and not just the negative ones. It's hard when your mind is set there because you've been burned.

It's three in the morning. I've been wide awake staring up at the perfectly painted ceiling. My phone buzzes on the table beside the bed. I've only ever received emergency calls in the middle of the night.

My eyes sting from the bright light illuminating from the device. An unknown, yet familiar number appears. The light beats of my heart suddenly turn rapid. With each passing second it grows faster, and loud enough to hear in my ear.

With one quick swipe I answer the call. I lift the phone slowly.

"Hello?"

"Nadine, it's Miles. We need to talk."

Prompt #5 A Phone Call At Three In The Morning