Trying to Score (Assassins) Read online

  Because she was crazy.

  Why did it matter? Who cared what he thought?

  She did, which was sad all in itself.

  Fallon rolled her eyes and slid her feet into her yellow flannel Kate Spade flats. She went to her closet, grabbing a bag that matched her shoes before transferring everything over. Once she was ready, she slowly walked out her room, passing by the bathroom where the shower was running. Audrey was up late this morning, which was surprising. Audrey was always up early.

  Fallon shrugged her shoulders as she went down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she looked up to see that Aiden’s last show was about to end. Her heart started to pick up when she thought about Lucas leaving with Aiden. Where would they go? What would they do? Would Aiden miss her?

  When Lucas stood up suddenly, Fallon’s eyes went wide. He moved his arms up, stretching, and Fallon could see every muscle in his back move underneath the shirt he wore. Her mouth watered at the sight, and her fingers itched to touch each of the muscles of his back. Fallon had to force herself to look away just as Aiden turned to see her.

  “Lucas’ whole day is mine, Momma! Isn’t that cool!” Aiden exclaimed.

  Fallon smiled as she nodded. “Sure is honey, so what are y’all gonna do?”

  Lucas turned, shrugging his shoulders. “Not sure, what are we going to do bud?”

  Aiden thought for a minute. “Can we go to the zoo?”

  Lucas nodded with a grin on his face. “That sounds great.”

  “It does. Aiden loves the zoo,” Fallon said as she came around the couch, wrapping an arm around her perfect little boy. “Don’t you, honey?”

  “It’s pretty much my favorite place, other than the Adventure Science Museum.”

  “We’ll go there Monday since I’ve never been. I haven’t been to the zoo either, so I hope you’re a good guide.”

  Aiden nodded his head quickly. “I am, ain’t I Momma?”

  Aiden looked up at her with his smoky gray eyes glowing with excitement. “The best,” she basically croaked out as her eyes filled with tears. Oh God, this was hard.

  “Okay, well you ready buddy?” Lucas asked as he clapped his hands together.

  “Yup! I gotta get my shoes,” Aiden said, running around them to go to the stairs.

  “Grab your coat too, Aiden James. It might get chilly,” Fallon added before he ran out of sight. She looked over at Lucas and he gave her a reassuring smile.

  “He’ll be okay with me.”

  “I know,” Fallon said quietly. “I’m just nervous.”

  When he took her free hand in his, she quickly looked up at him. “Don’t be.”

  She blinked twice before looking down at their hands. The palm of her hand burned against his but it felt at home. She cleared her throat before pulling her hand away and tucking it into her back pocket.

  “Um, you can’t listen to what you were listening to when you pulled up,” she blurted out. Lucas started to laugh.

  “What?” he asked with an amused grin on his face.

  “The music, when you pulled up. I know that you weren’t listening to Justin Bieber. Basically don’t listen to rap around Aiden.”

  Lucas’ eyebrows pulled together. “Why? He doesn’t understand that stuff.”

  “I don’t care. I don’t want my kid listen to men rap about fucking bitches and slapping hoes. If you can’t do that, then he ain’t leaving with you.”

  “Oh come on, it’s not that bad, and you used to like that music,” he challenged, and by God, Fallon would never tell him she still did. She loved her rap music as much as he did, but Aiden didn’t know anything about it, neither did Audrey.

  “I don’t anymore,” she lied as she looked away. “Listen to the radio.”

  “I hate the radio.”

  “Fine, Aiden can bring a CD for y’all,” she said. Fallon turned to look up the stairs, waiting for Aiden to appear. When he did, Fallon said, “Aiden, bring a CD. Lucas doesn’t have anything good in his car.”

  “Okay, Mommy!”

  “Yes I do! I have the best rappers ever in my car,” Lucas said through his teeth.

  Fallon knew she was hitting a cord with Lucas. She knew not to mess with his music. He was very adamant about what he listened to and what he liked. Fallon wanted to laugh out loud at the face he was making but figured she didn’t want to fight with him this morning. Well, at least not more than they already had.

  They both looked up the stairs as Aiden came running down with a CD and coat in his hands.

  “I’m ready, Lucas!” he gushed as he jumped off the last step, stumbling into Lucas’ legs.

  “Whoa buddy, be careful,” Lucas said nervously with his arms bracing Aiden’s shoulders.

  “Sorry,” Aiden said before looking over at Fallon.

  “No don’t be. I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

  Aiden looked up at Lucas as the brightest grin came across his face. It made breathing unfeasible, her baby was so beautiful.

  “What CD did you bring?” Lucas asked. Aiden held the CD up as high as he could for Lucas.

  “Big Time Rush! They are the best.”

  Fallon choked on her laughter as Lucas’ eyes went wide. “There are still boy bands?”

  She had to look away or she was really going to laugh in his face. Fallon didn’t answer as she turned, going towards the door for her light jacket.

  “Yeah and they are the best!” Aiden gushed as Fallon put her jacket on.

  “I don’t know if I agree with you on this kid,” Lucas said, still holding the CD up as he looked at the back. Aiden stood there grinning as Fallon came over, wrapping her arms around him.

  “I gotta go honey, have a good day. If you need me, call me okay. Lucas has my number.”

  “I will Mommy, bye,” Aiden said before placing a sweet kiss on Fallon’s lips. She took Aiden’s hand in hers and they headed out the door, with Lucas behind them, still looking at the back of the CD. Lucas was parked behind her, so she opened the back door for Aiden, seeing that Lucas had gone shopping for a car seat for Aiden.

  “Is this even music?” Lucas asked. Fallon watched Aiden climbed into his seat, buckling his seat belt.

  “Bye honey,” Fallon said before shutting the door. She turned to looked at Lucas, “Sure, it’s great.”

  Fallon knew she was wrong for lying but hey, just the thought of Lucas driving around a huge black Escalade, rocking out to Big Time Rush would have her grinning the whole day.

  “I’m pretty sure you’re lying to me,” Lucas said with a grin on his face. He looked down at her. “But if you give me a sweet little kiss, I’ll forgive you,” he said with a wink.

  Fallon laughed as she turned away from him, heading for her car. “Good thing I’m not looking for forgiveness.”

  She gave him another smile before waving at Aiden and getting into her car. She took in a deep breath as she watched Lucas shake his head and get into his car through her rearview mirror. He opened the CD, and placed it into the CD player with a look of disdain on his face. When Aiden’s head started moving to music, Fallon couldn’t help the wide smirk that came across her face, or the giggle that escaped when she saw Lucas roll his eyes.

  **********************************

  Lucas wanted to bash his head in.

  “Your boy boy b-b-b-b-b-boyfriend. Your boy boy b-b-b-b-b-boyfriend,” Aiden sang.

  While his son sung about being some girl’s boyfriend, all Lucas could do was bite his tongue. Who in the world made these guys famous? This wasn’t even music, more like torture in the form of sound. Lucas looked in his rearview mirror to see Aiden breaking it down as he sung the chorus, his hand moving with every note he hit. The kid could sing, but Lucas wished it was something better than this crap.

  When he saw the sign for the Zoo, he almost yelled out in happiness. He reached for the volume button, turning it all the way down.

  “Hey, it was getting to the good part,” Aiden complained.