Page 28 of Fierce-Michael

“Bye,” she said, smiling.

He waved and walked into the building and she drove back to work with a smile filling her face.

9

BIGGER PRIORITY

Michael wasn’t one to talk on the phone with a woman, but he wanted to at least offer a bone for having to cancel on her so much.

But the fact he was sitting here watching the clock waiting for the time to come told him he might be more vested than her in trying this.

He checked on Ty one more time, saw his son was out cold hugging a stuffed monkey, then walked back downstairs and went to his family room in the back.

He was far enough away that Ty wouldn’t hear him talking. Not that it mattered, but he didn’t like to bother or wake his son up either.

When his phone rang around eight, he answered right away. “Hello,” he said.

“Hi, Michael,” Kelly said on the other end. “Is it a good time to talk?”

“It is,” he said. “Ty is sleeping.”

“Does he normally go to bed at seven thirty on the weekends too?” she asked. “Or don’t you want to talk about him? You can tell me that too. It’s fine.”

“We can,” he said. “It’s not like you don’t know I’ve got a child.”

“I know,” she said. “I’ve known all along. I’ve got no problem with it. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” he said. “Or was assuming it, but am glad it’s coming out right now too. It’s nice to know those things.”

“You’ve said before that is an issue when it comes to dating. You’ve got a bigger priority than a woman in your life.”

He didn’t like it when it was phrased that way. It made him sound selfish when he tried not to be.

“Yes,” he said. “Doesn’t mean if the woman is right, they can’t be an equal priority.”

“Can I tell you how sweet that is to hear?”

“Sweet?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“One, that makes you a great father and you don’t always see that with men. Not that men aren’t good parents, but I’ve found it’s often the mother who puts the kids first and is less selfish.”

He snorted. “That is normally the way it is, but not here. I think my son should be put first in someone’s life.”

“See, sweet. Any man I end up with, I want him to feel the same way about his children as he does about me. I’m not a jealous person and if someone is jealous over that bond between a parent and child, they aren’t right for you.”

“I’ve never thought of it that deeply. Just that I don’t do well with balancing it all, though I try if I can. I think I normally just ask for some understanding in the beginning.”

“Oh,” she said, laughing. “That’s me. I think I’ve proven how understanding I can be. Maybe not everyone understands me, but you get where I’m going.”

Could be why he felt like he wanted to try harder with Kelly when he hadn’t with other women in the past.

“I do,” he said. “I appreciate it too. Especially since I canceled on you twice. Normally once is enough for someone to give up.”

“I can see a lot of people doing that,” she said “Maybe when I was younger I wanted to be first in someone’s life.”

“Is that why you married Brian?” he asked. “Or one of the reasons?”

“I guess. I loved him. Never doubt that. But if he weren’t dying, I wouldn’t have married him. We were great friends. We were the other’s firsts because we thought we were meant to be a couple. Turns out we were just better as friends.”