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“Never too old for fun.” I bent and chased Jack around the basement, swooping him into my arms and tickling him, earning a gale of giggles.
“What’s going on with that girl you told me about?” Gemma asked, checking the time on her phone.
She was heading out to a day out with some friends, and I’d resoundingly agreed to babysit.
“She doesn’t want to see me,” I said.
“What did you do to her?”
“Nothing. I was my normal charismatic self.”
Gemma considered. The kids screeched, the sound filling the basement, and she covered her ears. “You haven’t tried contacting her since? Don’t you have her number?”
“I—well, yeah.”
“I’d better get going,” she said. “Give ita try. What’s the worst she can do, turn you down? Keep it friendly. Give her time to warm up to you.”
“Time is something we don’t have,” I said, holding out my fist to bump knuckles with Jack’s big brother, Ike. “She said she’s moving.”
“Then I’d say you’d better act fast,” she said, making her way toward the slide. “I’m out of here. Thanks for watching the kids.”
“You bet. Hey, guys, candy upstairs!”
“Yeah!” The kids all bolted toward the rope ladder while Gemma took the stairs like a boring stuffed shirt.
I wrangled each of her kids into my arms, letting them escape, and then climbed slowly after them, serving as the monster and earning my badge as the fun uncle once more.
Baskets of candy awaited them on the granite countertop upstairs. Gemma may have asked me not to give them too much—but she had to know what I’d do if they were coming to my house for the afternoon. I mean, I owned a chain of candystores.
“Thanks for watching them. I’ll be back around six. Wrappers go where?” Gemma said as she headed toward the front door.
“In the garbage!” they shouted, waving goodbye before snatching the bags they’d brought with them and dashing down the hall to the pool.
I chuckled and followed them, waiting as they changed into their swimsuits. Jack was too little to swim on his own, so he entertained himself in the indoor playpen Gemma brought over. I sat on the bench inside the muggy pool roomwhere I could best keep an eye on all three of them and pulled out my phone.
I’d tried giving Ella space. Did she really want nothing to do with me? Did she not think about me?
The two older kids laughed and splashed. My nerves splashed inside of me too as Gemma’s words played back through my mind.
Keep it fun. Keep it friendly.
Okay, then.
Me: Truth or dare?
For a moment, I worried Ella wouldn’t answer. Then bubbles appeared and so did her reply.
Ella: Don’t do this.
Me: Humor me. It’s a harmless game.
…
Ella: Truth.
Jackpot. She was participating. I pumped my fist into the air.
A smile stole the corners of my lips. I couldn’t get too personal, or she wouldn’t talk to me anymore. Time to be a smooth operator.
