“I was afraid we overslept.” He flipped me over and pinned both my arms at my sides. “You make me forget not every day is a weekend.”

I was trapped, and I liked it. “If you keep up the sweet talk, I’m never letting you out of this room.”

“Oh, really?” His eyes twinkled. “Were you born this sexy? Did Mensa reject you because you’re too smart? Do you teach porn for a living, because damn, girl!”

“Too far!” I said, kicking him.

He laughed. “Is this too far?” He slipped a hand between my legs.

“Not far enough. Grab a condom.” I slapped his butt as he climbed out of bed.

He waved the package dramatically. “Done and done,” he said with an accompanying ripping noise that was almost drowned out by the sound of his phone ringing.

I joked, “Way to ruin the moment,” until I saw Finn’s face fall. “Oh.”

His eyes flitted between me and his phone before he made his choice and climbed back into bed. “It can wait.” When the ringing ceased, the kissing recommenced. I tried to revel in the morning delight, but despite the lushness of Finn’s mouth and the heat of his skin on mine, I could feel he wasn’t into it. And the overpowering thoughts in my head had taken over. We’d officially been together less than a day and I was already being selfish. I couldn’t, wouldn’t make Finn choose between me and his father. The phone rang again, and I felt Finn tense against me.

“Finn.” I tugged on his ear with my teeth before pulling back. Running my hand through his messed-up, slept-in hair, I said, “Maybe you should see what he wants.”

He gave a reluctant nod of agreement. “I’m sorry.”

“No worries.” I kissed his forehead and pushed him playfully. “Go.”

While Finn took his phone into my bathroom for a more private conversation, I hugged my legs to my chest. What reason could his father have for calling him so early in the morning? Nothing serious, please!

Now more than ever, I gave a silent thanks for my own healthy mother-child relationship. My mom instinctively knew when I needed extra attention and when I craved space, and she gave it to me. And while I hoped she knew I’d always have her back, there was never a question which of us was the parent. Not everyone was as fortunate, and Finn’s devotion to his dad was admirable. I checked the time. Finn would need to shower for work soon, and the clock hadn’t stopped ticking on my own deadline.