A/N - i don't want this to be long so im gonna get straight to the point. ive been receiving rude comments lately on this book and how im choosing to write it. i understand this plot may be overused and cliche with lisbons abusive ex coming back and getting in the way of jane and her, but it's the way i WANT to write it so if you have a problem with that you can just click off. nobody's forcing you to read this. i am a teenage girl who writes in her free time for free. i write FOR FUN. nothing i write is going to be perfect so please refrain from commenting rude things. if you don't like the book, don't read it. simple as that. thank you.

When she was a child, her mother always warned her of evil men who lurked around, waiting for the right chance to strike on a young girl like her. In her mother's eyes, she was the perfect target for old, crusty men. She was petite, pretty, and feisty as the boys at school liked to call her. It's what made her "fun."

What her mother didn't warn her about was the 6'1 man who would end up turning her life upside down. She'd been perfectly content with her life before Evan made an appearance — lonely, but content. She worked her ass off to get where she was and she always went home to an empty apartment, which felt right to her because the thought of sharing her space with someone unnerved her. But then Evan came along with his charming smile and hidden wicked ways, and nine months after their first date Theo came into the world.

They weren't engaged before Theo. They were taking things slow; it had mostly been her idea since she never did do well with commitment. Evan agreed, and neither of them expected a child to be thrown into their path. It came as a shock to them, but Evan had been over the moon about getting to be a father. It wasn't long before he proposed, so they could "be one big happy family" as he'd put it.

Pregnancy was difficult for Teresa. When she was younger, she'd always wondered how being a mother would feel and if she'd be good at it. She just never thought it would happen to her. Having a child was a lot to balance especially with working in the police force. She wasn't sure how she was going to work for the CBI, get married, and have a baby. It all had been too much.

Evan seemed to have sensed her growing fear because he sat her down one night and offered to be a stay-at-home dad so she could continue going to work and do what she loved. It was a great suggestion, one she immediately jumped at. And for a while after that, things ran smoothly. He helped her through the pregnancy, got her whatever cravings she asked for, and promised she'd be the best mother ever to their baby.

When Theo was born, they couldn't have been happier. He was a beautiful and healthy baby boy who'd inherited his mother's green eyes and his father's cheekbones. He'd come out with a mess of dark hair and even while screaming at the top of his lungs, he was the most perfect thing Teresa had ever seen.

She'd dreamt of the day Theo would be born and the years following it. She imagined life to be nothing but perfect. But she should've known that good things never lasted forever, they were just temporary.

When Theo turned three, things started to go downhill between her and Evan. He'd become tired of being a stay-at-home dad and wanted to go out and look for a job, meaning she had to put Theo in daycare if she wanted to keep her own job. Every night when he came home from work, he'd be in a bad mood, but it wasn't terrible. Not yet, anyway. He'd just grab a beer and trudge to the couch to click on football. He usually didn't pay Teresa much mind until he wanted sex, which was usually around three in the morning when he finally came to bed.

Months passed and the routine was the same. After Theo's fourth birthday, things took a turn for the worst. The abuse started, both verbal and physical. He'd get in her face, screaming things like how she and Theo were a mistake. When she refused sex from him, he told her she was useless and ungrateful for all the things he did for her. He'd even get angry at little things, like there being too many dishes in the sink or Theo's toys strewn across the floor.

She could withstand the verbal abuse. She tended to ignore it until he got tired and passed out on the couch. But the physical abuse was something she couldn't tolerate, especially if it led to him laying a hand on Theo. She knew she had to leave him as soon as possible. Luckily he left them first, and she hadn't seen him since.

Until now.

Now he's back, and she's thinking about giving him another chance. She feels like the biggest idiot ever. After all he's done she wants him back in their life. The ache in her chest longs for him, longs for the way they were in Evan's first few years of life. They were good. They were happy.

Maybe Evan really has changed. Or maybe she's just really fucking lonely.

She'd bet on the latter.

"Mama?" Theo's small voice penetrates her thoughts, bringing her back down into reality. He must've padded down the stairs without her hearing him. He can be rather sneaky if he wants to be.

She looks down at the boy with a forced smile. "Yeah, baby?"

"Who was that?"

She's quick to respond. "Nobody."

"It sounded like somebody."

"Nobody you have to worry about," she rephrases, bending down to heave him into her arms. "Are you hungry?" He nods vigorously. "You want some Mac n Cheese?"

"Yes!"

"Let's go make some, then." They head into the kitchen together, and the little boy in her arms manages to make her forget her past for a little while.

XxX

The next day, she realizes she's run out of milk and eggs, so the first thing she does is rush to the grocery store with a sulking Theo in tow.

"I don't wanna grocery shop," he complains as she unbuckles him from his car seat. "It's boring!"

"We need food, Theo." She sets him on the ground because he demands to walk instead of sitting in a cart like a baby. "It won't take long, I promise."

Theo simply huffs but takes her hand anyway, trailing beside her into the grocery store. They immediately head to the frozen section but don't make it very far because Theo abruptly stops in front of the chip aisle, halting Teresa.

"Theo, we're not getting snacks right now," she says in a warning tone, but Theo doesn't listen. He releases her hand and runs into the aisle, all while shouting an excited, "Pat!"

Her eyes widen, knowing exactly what that word means. She hurries to catch Theo but he's already been lifted into a certain man's arms, a man she's absolutely livid at right now.

His sea-green eyes meet hers and his smile falters a bit. He knows she's angry with him, as if her anger is radiating off of her and burning his skin. He carefully places Theo back down on the floor despite his protests and stuffs his hands deep in his pockets.

"Teresa," he says softly. "Hi."

She stares at him, too petty to return the greeting. She grabs Theo's hand and turns to leave, but both the little boy and man complain.

"Mama, I want to see Pat!"

"Yeah, he wants to see me," Patrick cuts in childishly, his eyes pleading. Standing next to Theo with the same expression on their faces, they almost look identical.

She shakes her head so hard she thinks she's gotten whiplash. "Theo, we need to get our groceries and go home."

"Can Pat come with us?"

"No, Patrick's busy." She shoots Patrick a glare, daring him to say something different. But the blonde man only smiles defiantly and crouches down in front of Theo.

"Your mom's a little mad at me right now, with good reason, so she needs some space from me for a little while."

"Why is she mad at you?" Theo turns to his mother, his head cocked to the side curiously. "Why are you mad at him, mama?"

She opens her mouth to respond, but Patrick beats her to it. "I did something stupid the other day, and it hurt her feelings. I didn't mean to make her upset, I just do stupid things sometimes. It doesn't make it okay, though."

"Did you say sorry?" Theo inquires, taking on the stance of a boy older than he actually is with his assertive crossed-arms.

Patrick bites his tongue to refrain from chuckling. "No, not yet."

"Say sorry," Theo demands.

The blonde turns to Teresa, who's acting busy by reading the ingredients on a bag of Doritos. A smile creeps to his lips; he can't help it, the woman is just too adorable for words.

"Teresa," he starts, carefully taking the bag of chips from her and putting them back. "I have something to say to you."

She folds her arms over her chest, mimicking her son. "I'm listening."

"I'm sorry for being an as— an idiot," he says. "I shouldn't have done what I did. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I want you to know that I'm sorry and I'd like the chance to make it up to you."

He watches her chew on the inside of her cheek, thinking over his apology. He can practically see the wheels turning in her mind.

Then, she says, "this isn't a conversation we should be having in a grocery store."

"I agree," he replies quickly. "Am I allowed to come over to your place?"

Theo looks at his mother pleadingly. "Say yes, mama."

Teresa sighs. "Fine. You can come over after we get groceries."

"Yay!"

The fact that both of them shout the word makes her smile. As much as she wants to stay angry at Patrick, she knows it's impossible. That man could bring her to her knees in seconds just with a smile.

"C'mon, Theo. Let's leave Patrick to his shopping and get ours done." She guides Theo out of the aisle, glancing behind her shoulder to find the man aforementioned looking back at her with smiling eyes.

This man is going to be the death of her, and he knows it.

XxX

When they finally arrive home, Teresa hauls the groceries inside with a helping Theo and rushes to clean up the living room a bit before Patrick comes over. Five minutes into scooping crumbs into the trashcan the doorbell rings and Theo runs to answer it.

"Pat!"

"Hey, buddy. Where's your mom?"

"In the kitchen; she's cleaning."

"Let's go help her then, shall we?" He takes the boy's hand and enters the kitchen to find Teresa scrubbing the counters, her hair pulled back into a ponytail so it stays out of her face. Even when cleaning she looks stunning and he can barely look away.

She hears their soft footsteps and looks up from scrubbing, a loose, dark curl framing her face. His hand itches to push it behind her ear. "Hi."

"Hi."

She tosses the rag she's using into the sink. "Living room?"

"Sure."

He's never been this awkward before. Usually, he's at ease with the world, but this woman makes it hard for him to even get his words straight. If he says one wrong thing she could call things off and be done with him completely. He wouldn't be able to handle that. Despite only knowing her for a small amount of time, he needs her in his life, needs both her and Theo to keep him from going off the deep end.

They sit down on the couch inches apart, neither making a move to start the conversation. Oblivious to what's going on between them, Theo meanders his way into the living room with an armful of toy cars to show to Patrick.

"Pat, look," he says, shoving the cars into the man's lap. "These are all my cars. I got them for my birthday last year."

"Wow, that's so cool, buddy."

"My next birthday is soon," Theo tells him excitedly. "It's in...mama, how many months is it until my birthday?"

"Two months," Teresa answers with a ghost of a smile.

"Two months!" Theo repeats. "I'll be five. That means I'll go to kindergarten."

Patrick makes a shocked face. "Wow! You'll be so old."

Theo giggles. "No I won't! You're old."

"Now you made me sad," the blonde pouts, making Theo giggle some more.

Teresa smiles at the sweet scene in front of her before realizing that things aren't back to normal between her and Patrick yet. What he did was wrong and Theo is too young to grasp that. Theo already treats Patrick like he's his dad...she swallows hard, the smile melting off her face instantly.

"Theo, baby," she says, "can you go upstairs, please? Patrick and I need to have an adult talk."

"Are you gonna yell at him because he hurt your feelings?" Theo asks with a frown.

Before she can respond Patrick says, "well if she does, I certainly deserve it."

"No, I'm not going to yell at him," she rebuts. "Just go upstairs, please."

The boy doesn't argue and simply gathers his toys to take upstairs. "Okay."

Once he's gone from their view, Patrick turns to her with apologetic eyes. "Teresa, I'm sorry. I never meant to leave you and Theo at the park. It was supposed to be a good day, and it was! But something happened, and I...I had to leave. It had nothing to do with you guys, I swear. It was all me. I'm very, truly sorry."

"What happened?" Her voice is soft and curious, not angry. He knows that all she wants is the truth but he's not sure if he's ready to unload his trauma onto her just yet, if ever. It's too much and she has her own stuff going on. He doesn't want to make it worse.

"It's personal," he answers with his head hung low. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to share it with you just yet. I will in the future, Teresa, I promise, but for right now I just can't."

Much to his surprise, instead of getting upset she just nods in understanding. "Okay. You can tell me when you're ready."

Her calmness and understanding just make him fall for her even more.

"So, does this mean you forgive me?"

"As long as you never do something like that again," she replies.

He reaches between them to encase her hand in his. "I won't. Can we continue going on dates? I'd really like to take you to a movie sometime."

Unable to help herself, she chuckles and gives a nod. "We can do that."

"Excellent." He squeezes her hand and leans in to brush his lips across hers. It's a feather-light touch but it's enough to make both of their hearts race.

Maybe if they take things slow, nothing could go wrong. Patrick is a good man, a wonderful man, far better than Evan. She's moving forward, not backward. Evan is her past and tomorrow she's going to make that known to him no matter what.