AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I don't know what he thought Luna needed to know. But the look on her face was stunned. Her cheeks had been pink, and she'd been staring at him. He'd said something that had surprised her, though.
Then he turned and walked out.
And now she is talking about how she wants him to ask her out, but he isn't.
What the hell?
"Anyway," she says, shaking her head. "Can I help you find something? Geez, I’m being a terrible hostess."
"Are you hosting this party?"
I know Crew McNeill very well. I know who Luna is because of Crew. Crew's family is very close and very supportive, but Luna loves to give her brother a hard time.
I'm sure she would be surprised to find out all of the things I've overheard and witnessed about her. But she's around a lot and, like I said, she draws people like moths to a flame.
Or maybe it's just me.
I would never admit this out loud, but I'm very attracted to her.
It bugs me.
She is far too young, and she is, frankly, a cool girl.
I never could've gotten a girl like Luna. Not even back when I was her age, a young hockey player, coming up the ranks, high scorer, in the best shape of my life.
I just never had the swagger.
Fuck, do people even still say swagger?
I'm only thirty-six, but I feel some days like I'm seventy-six.
Focusing on coaching and raising my son has made me feel out of touch with other people my age. I started off as a dad really young, and I did it as a single dad. His mom and I are on good terms, and we’ve co-parented since day one, but we've never been together, and we never parented under the same roof. We get along fine, but we each kind of do our own thing.
Worrying about Brady, worrying about if I'm fucking up, worrying about how he's turning out has consumed most of my time and attention.
"Oh, I came in for more cake," I admit. "I snuck into the kitchen because I didn't want everyone to see that it's my third piece."
She looks very pleased. "Well, I might not be hosting the party, but I am the baker. So I consider that a huge compliment."
I’d assumed she’d provided the desserts today. I knew she was a baker even before Brady and Lydia started working for her, but now I know a lot about her bakery and how amazing it is, and how funny she is, and how creative she is, and how caring she is toward her employees, and how hard she works. Brady and Lydia love working for her and think she can do no wrong.
I realize the kids talk about her more than I realized, and I know more about her than I thought.
Speaking of stalkers, I probably shouldn't admit that. I haven't found any of this out intentionally, but all put together it might sound a little creepy.
"You should definitely take it as a compliment, it's all amazing."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, I'm serious." I reach for a plate of cake on the counter. It looks like it's been cut and is waiting to go out to the dessert table. I grab a fork and take a huge bite. It's some layered thing with chocolate and pecans and some other flavor I can’t quite place. But I want to eat three more pieces. And to sneak some home with me at the end of the party. It is fucking delicious.
I close my eyes for a moment and moan. "I could eat your cake all day."
I open my eyes to find Luna watching me with her brows up and a wide grin. “Oh, really?”
"Yeah, seriously." But then I actually look at how she’s looking at me.
I said something wrong. Fuck.
