On Tuesday Kiba was waiting for the bus to arrive and picked up Oliver who grabbed his hand as they walked back to the apartment together. Kiba wanted to remove his hand from the kid's but didn't know how to do it without hurting Oliver's feeling so he let it be. As he thought the kid was smart but he was having trouble with reading, writing, and mixing up his letters in general. Kiba worked with him for about an hour and all his homework was done by the time that Nate showed up to take him. Nate asked Kiba about working on his car again and Kiba told him to finish with his homework and then meet him downstairs. About 30 minutes later he was outside Kiba's door dressed in old clothes and ready to go. Kiba liked Nate's enthusiasm. They worked for a good hour before Kate showed up and the boys went to his apartment to wash up. Kate didn't join them this time and Kiba told himself he was fine with it.
The rest of the week went similar but on the weekend he went to the parts store to pick up parts for Nate's car. He wasn't going to make the kid pay him back because he understood trying to save for college and he wanted to help him have a reliable car.
The next Monday Kiba helped Nate start work on replacing things in the car. Nate was so excited it was hard for the bad mood that Kiba had been in to stay with him. Oliver helped them when he could getting more dirty than usual but he liked that Oliver was excited about something. Every time Kate showed up his gaze would follow her. He wanted her and he missed her. It had only been a week and a half but his body craved her. They stuck to pleasantries and it was killing him. He also noticed that with every passing day she was looking more depressed and he wanted to erase her worry lines. He wasn't much better, he was having trouble sleeping.
Kate missed him. She heard about him every waking hour that her son was with her. He was beyond smitten and she was worried about Kiba getting too close but his reading was getting better and he was happier. She knew this was going to end badly though so she kept her distance so maybe Kiba would be able to keep things going with Oliver as long as Kiba and her didn't get involved any more than distant friends. She was just losing a lot of sleep dreaming about his hands on her body or him pressing her into the mattress with his own and driving her over the edge. She would forget about that over time. Things had progressed with Tony and she was trying desperately to keep things out of court so she had agreed to let Oliver meet him.
She decided to talk to Oliver about it that night. Oliver was talking about his good grade on his reading when she sat down on the couch next to him.
"Oli we need to talk. It's important." She told him pulling him to cuddle her. "How would you feel if I told you your dad wanted to meet you?"
"What?" Oliver looked at her and she read the hope on his face. "My real dad?"
"Yes. He left a long time ago but he called me and he wants to meet you."
"Would you be there?" Oliver looked anxious.
"Absolutely baby. At least until you are comfortable enough to be without me. This is just a maybe thing okay?"
"Can we go tonight?" He asked the excitement was back.
"No baby. It's late and you have school tomorrow." She sighed. "How about I'll call him tonight and see if he is free tomorrow?"
Oliver nodded excitedly and then asked "can I go tell Mr. Kiba?"
"Yeah but if he doesn't answer you come right back okay?" She said to his back as he ran downstairs. She walked to the hall to listen for Kiba to answer his door and when he did she stepped back into the house and made the call she dreaded most.
Tony answered quickly. "Hey tony. I talked to Oliver and he wants to meet you. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"
"Yes. I can pick him up from school and take him to dinner."
"He wants me there for the first few times." She said.
"What now you don't trust me with my son?" Tony said harshly.
"No it's not like that, it's just you're new to him and he's shy." Kate said trying not to argue with him.
"Two times Kate. You get two visits with both of us and then he's mine or I go through the courts and I take him from you."
She felt tears sting her eyes. "Okay."
"Tomorrow. I'll text you the place. Don't back out on me." Tony ended the call and moments later she heard the beep notifying her there was a text from him.
She stood and walked to the kitchen. She felt like her son was slipping through her fingers and it built up anxiety in her chest making it hard to breathe.
