We made it through the rest of the week and Lucas picked us up each morning. He went and bought the same model car seat so we each had one in our cars and we didn't have to switch off every morning. Plus one, for Lucas.

Jadon is warming up to him, which is good. Lucas is obviously making an effort. I mean, he hasn't missed a morning yet and is always on time. This morning, he even helped brush Jadon's teeth while I finished getting ready.

I woke up late since I had to study for an exam in my one summer course I'm taking. Summer courses always sound like a good idea, because you can knock them out in six weeks, but then you only get six weeks to finish them. I'll be so glad when December comes and I'll be finished with all of this.

Lucas helped get Jadon finished and in the car, so by the time I was done, I just needed to go meet them and go. It was weird. Plus two for Lucas, though.

"If you want, I can help with getting him ready in the mornings," Lucas offered as I was reading through Ted's morning messages to me.

Ted tends to go over the top with his texts, but they're nice. I just never really saw him as the type to write love notes almost daily. It can be exhausting, but hoenstly, I would be stupid not to appreciate his creative ways of telling me how much he loves me.

"Up to you, I try to wake him at six so he has time to get ready. He's a little slow in the mornings."

"I'll be there," he says. Somehow, I know he's not just saying it.

"I'll get you a copy of the key to the house so you can come in if the door is locked." Jadon forgot where he hid the spare key a while back and we have yet to find it.

"Thanks, that would be great." He reaches into his pocket, and produces a key. "By the way, I got you a key to the truck so you can take it if you ever need to leave during the day for any reason." And then he just hands me a copy of his truck key. It looks brand new, so he went and got one made recently.

"Alright, thanks. Although, you wouldn't need to give me one if you'd just let me take us in my car."

"Yeah, no."

I have no idea what to say to that, except gape at him. "Why not my car?"

"One, because you hit the breaks too hard," he holds out one finger like he's counting. "Two," second finger goes out, "because you drive like a snail." He holds a third finger out and Jadon shouts three before Lucas does. Lucas winks at him and then looks back at me.

"Three, because your check engine light is on and I'll take a look at it later. Until then, it's my truck because I can drive like a regular human being and my truck is safe and reliable."

"I do not drive slow!"

"Allie, you're the only person in our age group that drives five miles under the speed limit."

"Well excuse me, I was in an accident!"

"As are most drivers. It was horrible, but while I applaud your safety measures, I'll drive us." He finally starts driving down the road after insulting me. "I don't mind since you're on the way to work. Also, going green and all that."

"Going green?"

Lucas turns out on the main road toward town. He always takes a different route through the houses but always ends up at the cafe to get our drinks. "Yeah, carpooling to save gas or whatever."

"Wait," I feel like an asshole for laughing, but is he serious? "You mean in your truck? Saving the earth in this thing versus my car? You're kidding."

He shrugs. "I offered my other car, but you didn't want the one we fu--"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Lucas-freaking-Kennedy, Jadon is listening to every word you say."

Jadon's playing with a toy, but still, I've learned my lesson a few times. "Freaking" sounds like "freaky" when he says it so I know I can get away with that. Not that I'm opposed to the word, but I've had the judgmental glares from the better moms at the store, so I take my mediocre mom status from them and try harder.

Lucas snorts. "Lucas-freaking-Kennedy? Is that what you call me in that head of yours?"

"Yes."

"I'll have to come up with one for you, then."

Something about Lucas Kennedy that I can't stand is the way the dimple on his cheek stands out under that stubble on his cheeks. Seriously, does he shave at night to wake up with the shadow?

"Allie?"

"Huh?" Good going, Allie, he probably thinks you're an idiot.

"I said my dad and his wife are in town for a few weeks and they're staying with me. I was wondering when you wanted to break the news because I'd like to be able to introduce him to my dad and Jen."

He didn't want to do it at dinner the other night. So, again, the only people that know are Lucas, my dad, and me. Oh, and Charity.

I have yet to tell Ted.

"Oh, right. We can do it tonight before I leave and then you two can spend some time together while my dad is home."

"You sure he won't need you there after it?"

I do like how we've perfected talking in code around Jadon.

"I think he'll be fine." He'll be perfectly fine. I hope. He ran to Lucas first yesterday when we went to pick him up. He'll be excited to have Lucas in his life. I realize it hasn't been that long, but I know Lucas is more than serious about this.

"If anything happens and I have to stay home, then I have to stay home. It's no big deal. Ted will understand." It wouldn't be the first time our plans got canceled. Ted is always so understanding and sweet. Last time we had to cancel a trip Jadon was in bed with a fever. I was an emotional wreck while Ted and my dad calmed me down off the crazy train.

"Are you sure your boyfriend won't mind?" he presses for some annoying reason.

"Yeah. Ted is really easygoing which is perfect for this life."

"What life?" Lucas asks.

"Parenthood," I simply state.

Lucas doesn't say anything after that and we get to Jadon's school for drop-off. When we get to work, he does his usual wave goodbye and heads for his office, while I go settle in my desk. John will be out today so it will be a slow day, meaning I can get some of my assignments done for the next couple days for my summer class.

Around 2:30, a supermodel walks in. The kind with the hair and the face with the fresh runway look. She looks vaguely familiar, I just can't place where I know her from. She's absolutely gorgeous and has one of those bodies girls like me wish they had. That long and thin, flawless complexion type. I should watch more of those makeup videos. And get my hair cut.

She walks up to the main office desk, and I head up to see what she needs. Her eyes scan my outfit and, yep, I feel the weight of her judgment.

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Yeah, I'm looking for Lucas Kennedy. Can you point me to where I need to go?"

"Oh, sure. I can let him know you're here and he can come get you. It's just a bit of a maze trying to get there is all."

"Well, I was hoping to surprise him..." Her pink lips poke out like that duck fad from a few years back. I wonder if a filter could possibly even do anything to her face in pictures.

"Oh, okay. I can take you there if you want."

She flashes a perfect smile at me as I come out from behind the counter. This has to be Katrina. She's absolutely gorgeous. The kind of girl that would be with someone as gorgeous as Lucas. She oozes wealth right out of her perfect, invisible pores. She has on a dress I'm certain I saw in a fashion magazine I was flipping through at the grocery store, and she's wearing some shoes I would absolutely break both ankles in.

Yeah, she's definitely spoiled. I wonder if Lucas spoils her with stuff like this. She's wearing diamonds on her ears, neck, and wrist. He probably got her those, right? That's what you do when you date someone like Katrina, I'm sure. Not just date. Live with.

Meaning sex. They see each other naked and do naked things... Nope. Back it up, Allie.

Maybe Lucas comes from money too. You wouldn't know it by looking at him. I mean, the guy is gorgeous and dresses nice but not like he comes from money. They're just on that level of beauty like gods living among us mere mortals.

We make it to the quad facing the football field in a very awkward silence. Katrina obviously doesn't know who I am, and I know Lucas hasn't told her yet about Jadon. How exactly do I make small talk? So, are you ready to be a stepmom? Wait, what would she be to Jadon?

When she sees the field, I let her know how to get in, and start to leave.

"Wait!" she yanks my arm, digging into the skin with her long fake nails. "I'll get lost on the way down, do you think you can get me down there?"

"Oh, alright," is she stupid or something? She just has to open the gate I pointed out to her. We get to the fence and she stands by it waiting for me to open it for her like I'm some sort of maid or something. We walk up toward the coaches, well, she struts like it's a runway while I walk like a normal human being, and I notice all the players slowly stopping their plays turning to stare at the goddess stepping on the field.

Decidedly, I'm going to leave, but I just have this curiosity. I kind of wonder what they look like together. They look perfect, like the pictures inside frames when you buy them.

I catch my dad watching them, too. I don't know if Lucas told him or not, but I think his issue is more with Katrina's father than Katrina. He won't say anything to Lucas, though. He's not going to ruin whatever Lucas has going on. Not with that woman.

Lucas turns around after Katrina pokes a nail into his shoulder and he looks surprised to see her. Looks like she got the reaction she was going for. Lucas gives her a quick hug and a kiss and starts asking what she's doing here and if she needed something.

I make my way back toward the gate to leave when Katrina's voice carries across the field. Yikes.

Looks like the beginnings of an adult tantrum. I guess she needed a flaw. But it's not really my business. All I hear is something about going for lunch and then see her leave. Interesting.

A few minutes after I make it back, Lucas walks into the office with his bag looking like he's ready to go. "Hey, do you think you can get off a little early today since John's out?"

"Sure. Do you need to be somewhere?"

"No," he sets down his duffle. "I was going to see if you wanted to go get a smoothie. It's freaking hot outside and I figure we can get something for Jadon, too."

"Ah, you want to butter him up with sugar before you break the news to him," I say while packing up my textbook and closing up my laptop.

"Kinda, yeah," he scratches the back of his head. I've noticed he does that when he's nervous.

"Okay, that's fine. I actually need to pack still, so I wouldn't mind getting home a bit early."

"I was hoping that we could maybe talk for a bit before we get Jadon?"

"Talk?"

"It's nothing bad, I was just hoping we could sort of get to know one another without anyone else around, you know? I mean, we barely know one another and are going to be raising a kid, we should probably know some things about one another."

"Yeah, I guess that would be fine."

"Great," he looks relieved. That's weird. Maybe there's something on my face. I'm a touch self-conscious after the CoverGirl model walked through the doors. "Let's go."