Ryan

Miranda plucked my phone from my hand.

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

I took my phone back and gave her a look. "Where's Jeremy?"

I'd left the two of them in Jeremy's room and went down to text Barbara in peace.

"In his room," she said, throwing her auburn hair over her shoulder. "So, which bedroom should I take?"

"I thought you were staying in a hotel?" I said, putting my phone in my back pocket.

"I was going to do that, but," she sighed, licking her lips. "But I wanted to take advantage of the time I have with you guys before going back to L.A. Jeremy loved the idea as well."

Whenever she visited us back in England, she always stayed at a hotel. I didn't know whether I liked having her in my house after so many years.

But Jeremy would no doubt love having her around at all times. If it made Jeremy happy, then that was all that mattered.

"You can take the guest bedroom next to Jeremy's room," I told her. She clapped her hands, the bright red of her long nails glimmering under the kitchen light.

"Great! I hope your girlfriend won't mind," she said.

"What girlfriend?" I asked, although I knew who she was referring to.

"The CEO," she said. "That woman you're dating, what's her name?"

"Barbara isn't my girlfriend," I said, disappointed that it wasn't the case. But I had too many issues to sort out before I brought anyone into my life. "Anyway, we need to work out a schedule for you to see Jeremy on a regular basis."

She pinched her lips to the side. "She's not your girlfriend?"

I groaned and turned to make myself a cup of coffee. I pulled a cup from the cupboard next to my head. "Miranda, my love life is none of your concern. Now, Jeremy."

"Alright, alright, don't be mad," she said with a huff. "Well, I was thinking you guys should move to L.A."

My finger paused on the button of the coffee machine. I slowly turned towards her and raised both brows. "Why in the world would we do that?"

"To be closer to me, obviously," she said. "You don't really have any engagement here in New York, and Jeremy can go to school anywhere."

"No." I punched the button of the coffee machine and crossed my arms, leaning against the counter. "We're not moving to L.A."

We'd been living there when Jeremy was born, since Miranda had insisted we did. As she had pointed out, it didn't make a difference to me where we lived as long as Jeremy liked the place. But my experience with L.A. left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Miranda surrounded herself with all kinds of people there. Most of whom I wanted nowhere near my son. If we went there, we would be the center of attention again, and this time Jeremy was old enough to be affected by their crap. I didn't want my son in that kind of environment.

"So how am I supposed to see Jeremy otherwise?" Miranda rolled her eyes.

"Flying back and forth," I said. "If we set up a schedule, it'll work. Hell, I'll even get a private jet if it makes things easier."

"A private jet?" Miranda said, her eyes wide in interest.

I rubbed his face. I had been half joking, but..."Yes, I'll get a damn airplane if it makes you fly here to see your son. We'll fly there as well."

She bit her lower lip and leaned forward on the island. I kept my gaze scrupulously off the low neckline of her blouse. "Considering my current schedule, I guess I'll be able to swing by every other week if I can fly privately."

I nodded. Relieved we were getting somewhere. If I'd known the secret to get her cooperation was getting a private jet, I would've gotten one a long time ago. I could very well afford it.

"Alright," I said, right as Jeremy's footsteps pounded down the stairs. "We'll work out the details when you're back in L.A."

"Dad!" Jeremy's eyes moved between me and Miranda and a grin took over his face. He climbed up a stool next to his mother and sat on his knees. "Did you give Barbara the Christmas party invitation?"

"Yes, she promised she'll come with Pirate," I said, smiling at the memory of Barbara tucking the invitation in her wallet as if it was an important document.

"Nice!" He turned to his mom. "Mum, she has a huge dog! And he has a scar on his eye from ring fighting."

Miranda frowned. "Oh. A dog."

"Uh-huh," he said. "Do you think I should get a dog or a cat?"

"You're getting a pet?" she asked.

"I told you on the phone. Which one is better?"

"Whatever you like, sweetie," she said, kissing his cheek.

"But which one do you like best?"

"I don't really like pets," she said, brushing her hand over his hair. "They take too much time and effort. And they shed."

Jeremy looked disappointed. "Oh."

I took a sip of my coffee and jumped in. "Not everyone can take care of pets. But Jeremy can."

"Of course," Miranda quickly picked up. "My precious son is all grown up. I'm sure you'll do great."

Jeremy's smile was radiant. He leaned his head against his mother's side. "I will. And I don't really mind if they shed. Barbara said that was part of their charm."

I chuckled. That was definitely something Barbara would say.

Miranda raised her brows but did not comment. She looked at me. "What Christmas party?"

"Jordan and Jenny invited us over the day after Christmas," I said. "It'll be just us and Barbara."

"Ah, I see," she said. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I need to do some shopping," I said. I already had Barbara's gift ready in my basement studio. However, I wanted to get her something else as well.

"Oh, good. I should probably buy a dress for the party," she said, picking up her phone from the table beside her elbow. "Can I tag along?"

She knew the city well. She'd had shows here in the past, and I wanted to shop in peace. But Jeremy was closely watching us, and for his sake I needed to get along with Miranda better. So I shrugged. "Sure."

"Thanks," she said with a wink.

"Jeremy, isn't it past your bedtime?" I asked.

"But Dad..."

I took one more sip of coffee and went ahead of Jeremy to the stairs. "Come on, say goodnight to your mum."

While Jeremy whined his goodnight, I picked up Miranda's two suitcases and hauled them up the stairs. Dear Lord, what did she have in there, dead bodies?

*** ***

"Oh, look at that!" Miranda said, pointing with her chin since her hands were weighed down by shopping bags.

Adjusting the heavy bags I was holding, I glanced at the display window. There was a tiny green bag gleaming under the bright lights.

I pushed down my irritation. We'd been shopping for two hours and all I got to look at were bags and dresses and shoes. I didn't think Barbara really needed any of those things. She didn't seem like she needed anything.

"I think you have enough bags for the day," I said, walking ahead. "Let's go, I still have to find a gift."

Miranda fell into steps beside me, swinging the two bags she carried. "Are you mad that you paid for all this? I'm sorry I forgot my wallet. I'll pay you back."

I wanted to shoot myself in the foot. "It's not that. I just need to do my own shopping."

"You didn't tell me what you're shopping for?"

Though she had very little in common with Barbara, she was still a woman, so maybe she could give me some ideas.

"A gift for Barbara," I said. "What do you think I should get her?"

Miranda blinked, then looked ahead of her. It took her several seconds to answer. "I don't really know her. But all women like bags and shoes, so I'd go with that."

"Thanks," I grumbled. No help there.

Reaching the car, I put the shopping bags in the trunk. I didn't want to get Barbara a damn bag. It spoke of little effort on my part. She deserved more.

Maybe I should just go for the gift I already made her.

"You really like her, don't you?" Miranda said once we were in the car.

"I do," I replied, a smile pulling at my lips. I liked her a lot. "She's a good person."

"I can't wait to meet her." Miranda smiled and looked out the window.

I drove in silence. Maybe a piece of jewelry would be a nice gift? She didn't wear much jewelry. Now that I thought about it, her entire wardrobe was very simplistic. She could very well afford to dress like a magazine model, yet she chose not to.

Jewelry, huh? Maybe I could find a unique piece that would compensate for the cliché nature of the gift. Yeah, that might work.

I realized how little I still knew about Barbara. She might have revealed parts of her past to me, dark and painful, but she still guarded the person she was right now.

Knowing what I did about her, I could understand her wariness.

"Should we go grab a bite?" Miranda's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

I looked at the clock. I still had time to actually do some shopping of my own. I could drop Miranda off at home, buy what I needed and then pick up Jeremy from school.

"Or we can wait until we pick Jeremy up from school," Miranda said. "We can have a meal together somewhere, the three of us. It's been so long."

After a moment's hesitation, I nodded. Jeremy would love that.

"Alright, let's do that."

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Hey! 

Ryan is going to be very frustrating in the upcoming chapters, so bear with him! You can vent your frustration in the comment section. lol.

Also, I'll try to stick to a regular updating schedule. Maybe Wednesday and Saturday? Let me know what you think.

Much love <3 <3 <3

M.B.