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“Working and college with a kid couldn’t have been easy.”
“It wasn’t but Lucy was worth all my hardships. I’m finished now though.”
Privacy forgotten, he turned his head. “Yeah? Is that why I don’t see you guys as much anymore when I’m getting home.”
“Yeah. I get more days off now.” His eyes fell to Eli’s head, but I didn’t think he could see anything else. “I’m a nurse at the hospital.”
“Sassafras’s?”
I nodded.
“So we both work with needles?” There was a playful grin on his face as he tilted his head.
“I guess so.” I hoped my cheeks weren’t as red as they felt.
His smile slowly slipped away as he watched me. There was something almost darker about his expression before he stared down at the floor and stood slowly. “I should let you guys rest. Just put the cars up, and I can stop by tomorrow?” I rose with him. He peered at me. A softness washed over his features. “What’s your last name, Hadley?”
“Reynolds.”
“Been buggin’ me for a while. Not knowing enough…”
I could feel the heat low in my belly and I gulped. Why would he want to know more?
“Mine’s Parker by the way.”
“Huh?” I wasn’t paying attention, too focused on my hot face.
He smiled. “Elijah Parker.”
“Oh,” I shook my head, and he laughed momentarily. “Call or text the next time you’re out so late. That shit’s going to bug the fuck out of me if I start wondering how often you guys shop at night.”
Maybe a few years ago, I was more confident in my own skin, but at that moment I couldn’t figure out why someone like him would care or go out of his way to think about me and my little ones. Maybe he still felt guilty. Feeling mortified at the thought, I held Eli tighter. “If you still feel guilty about your actions toward us in the beginning, please don’t. You’re only making me feel bad.”
He flinched like I slapped him. “You think I’m trying to befriend you guys because of that?” I squirmed as he scrutinized me. “That’s not the reason, believe me. I just can’t look away every time I see you guys. I don’t know. I never thought I’d befriend a single mother either, but here we are.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You look less tired now. I notice because I want to get to know you, Hadley. And your daughter is pretty cool for a kid.”
I laughed incredulously. “You truly don’t like kids, do you?”
“I can like some,” he mused. I rolled my eyes. “So, what is it, Hadley Reynolds? Are we friends or not? Are you going to stop acting like I’m the plague when Lucy yells at me?”
I scoffed. “I do not treat you like the plague.”
“You look like you can’t wait for me to leave.”
“I… I’m sorry, I just don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I’m just doing what I want.”
“And what is that?”
“I want to know you guys.”
That intense blooming of something I shall not name in my stomach grew larger, and I stared at the floor like it was the most fascinating thing I’d ever seen. “I’ll call if I need to,” I whispered reluctantly.
When I glanced up, he was beaming. “See ya.”
For once, those words didn’t terrify me. Instead, I was already waiting for them.
