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Ford finishes up and makes two plates. The way he arranges the pancake stacks is so precise, like he used a level. The man could make food for magazines. Or be one of those guys on TikTok who makes sexy cooking videos.
I follow him to the long dining table and sit down. He places a plate in front of me and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me. “You know, I’m just going to stuff these pancakes in my face. You didn’t have to arrange them so neatly.”
He shoots me a shy grin. “I don’t even think about it. It just happens.”
“I wish I could have just an ounce of your tidiness,” I admit before cutting off a section of pancakes and popping it into my mouth.
Nella fusses and Ford studies her. “Do you want me to hold her while you eat?”
I study his face, looking for signs of apprehension, but I only find genuine helpfulness. “Sure.” Gently, I hand him Nella.
She stares at him as he fumbles to get the right hold on her. I notice that his stomach doesn’t even bunch when he sits down. The rows of abdominal muscles just do this fascinating stacking thing.
He props Nella up on his shoulder, and she snuggles in there, dipping her tongue out and drooling on his skin. He laughs. “Whoops, I forgot to go get a clean shirt.”
Nella licks his skin, not even knowing what she’s doing, probably hoping to find milk.
He laughs again and I join him. Babies are so unhinged.
I start eating quickly so I can take Nella back and let Ford eat.
Ford clears his throat, his deep voice low when he asks, “So, not to be annoying, but what exactly can we do this weekend?”
I snort a laugh, but his stony expression doesn’t budge. “As long as I’m not running a marathon or giving birth, I’ll be fine. Try not to worry, please? It’s been forever since I got to hang out with you, and I don’t want the whole weekend to be ruined.”
With a resigned sigh, he nods.
After eating breakfast and getting dressed, Ford takes us to a local shopping area in Alexandria. He only has the morning with us before he has to head to a team photo shoot for the afternoon, but Nella and I are going to tag along and watch.
The area we’re in is newer, but the builders obviously worked hard to make everything match the historical part of town. The buildings are white and fresh, with gold sconces and brick accents. The sidewalks are red brick, distressed so they don’t look new. The shopping center is quaint, but it also feels fancy. It’s adorable. Every shop has its own entrance opening onto the brick path, everything from restaurants to clothing boutiques to salons. One shop, in particular, that catches my eye. It’s a salon called Luxurious Lather, and it stands out amongst the other establishments, with black details instead of gold and a blush pink rug out front. I stop in front of the large windows and glance inside, noting the marble counter tops, huge floor-length mirrors in front of each station, and blush pink salon chairs. There’s even a black velvet couch in the center of the stations where clients can wait. It’s the prettiest salon I’ve ever seen. The kind of place I always dreamt of working but ended up in a dumpy little salon in Ohio instead.
Nella fusses from the baby carrier, and I sigh. She prefers to be moving and is probably mad I stopped for so long.
“I get my hair cut there,” Ford says. “The stylist I go to doesn’t know who I am. It’s refreshing.”
I chuckle. “Ahhh, or do you just go here because they have the hottest stylists?”
“Well, I always go to a guy named Peter. So, no, that’s not the reason.”
I burst out laughing. “Peter isn’t a hockey fan?”
“If he is, he’s never said anything.”
Looking over my shoulder, I glance longingly at the chic salon once more. “I’d love to work at a place like that. It’s so pretty.”
“Why don’t you?” he asks, looking straight ahead as we walk.
“I already have a solid clientele built up where I work. Our prices are lower than the fancier salons, so if I switched, not many of them would follow me.”
He nods. “You should move here. I could send you clients.”
“Ford.” I huff out a laugh. “I can’t just move to D.C.”
He stops walking and looks at me. “Why not? What’s keeping you in Ohio?” His deep brown eyes bore into mine, and when he makes this much eye contact, I know he’s serious. “If you’re closer, I can help you with Nella.”
It warms my heart that he’s thought about this, and if I’m honest, there’s nothing besides my clients keeping me in Ohio anymore. But starting over when this year has already brought so much change feels daunting.
“You travel all the time. I’d rarely see you. And I don’t want to be a burden, I don’t want you to feel like you have to help me.” I take a few strides forward, the movement giving me something to focus on besides Ford’s intense gaze.
