Bennett was cooking dinner, and he smiled at us from the kitchen. We hadn’t had much alone time since the photo shoot and our conversation about Kade. Bennett had been called into the clinic for an emergency, and then he’d stayed out late last night. I’d wondered if he was avoiding me, but I reminded myself he had a life that didn’t revolve around River and me. Even if I wanted it to. Even if it often felt like it.
I didn’t ask where he’d gone. And he didn’t offer an explanation. Just as I didn’t plan to bring up Kade again and hoped he’d let the matter drop. I’d meant what I said—it was in the past.
“Can I help?” River asked, returning from his bedroom in a different outfit.
River had been doing that a lot lately—offering to help. And not just with meals. River looked up to Bennett, and seeing a man in the house, doing chores, was clearly having a positive impact on my son.
“Sure.” Bennett smiled. “Can you set the table? Are your hands washed?” he added when River opened the silverware drawer.
“Be right back!” River ran to his bathroom.
“What can I do?” I asked, bumping Bennett’s hip with mine.
“We’ve got it covered,” Bennett said.
I rolled my eyes and turned so my back was to the counter, hands braced against the edge. “You always say that. What are you making tonight? It smells good.”
“Chicken, broccoli, and roasted potatoes.”
“Yuck!” River said, sticking out his tongue as he returned.
I turned to glare at him. “River, that is not polite. If someone’s prepared a meal for you, you accept it with gratitude. Do you understand me?”
He dipped his head and nodded, contrite.
“It’s cool,” Bennett said, turning off the oven. “I used to hate potatoes too.”
“What?” River laughed. “Um. No. I love potatoes. I hate broccoli.”
“Oh. Right,” Bennett said. “That’s what I meant. But you know what? I prepared it a special way that I think you’ll really like.”
River crossed his arms over his chest. “I doubt it.”So do I.
“Will you try one piece?” he asked, setting a plate at River’s seat. “Just for me?”
River shifted from one foot to the other, clearly torn between his dislike for broccoli and his desire to please Bennett. It was kind of funny, actually, and I was curious how it would turn out. I had a feeling Bennett underestimated River’s aversion to vegetables. Though, if anyone could convince River to eat some, it would be Bennett.
“Fine.” River sat in his chair with a huff.
Bennett waited for me to serve myself then did the same. Before we went over to the table, I leaned in and lowered my voice. “I wondered if you could help me with something. After River goes to bed.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
We joined River at the table, and he held up the broccoli with his fork, examining it as if it were a cockroach. “See!”
“Go for it,” Bennett said. “I think you’ll like it. And if you don’t—well, at least you tried.”
That felt like my motto for dating lately. I’d been chatting with several guys on the LoveBirds app and even set up a few dates. I’d been…trying. Or at least, I told myself I was. But it felt like my heart wasn’t in it. Not really.
River scowled, but then to my surprise, he put the broccoli in his mouth and tasted it. He chewed, and I waited for him to spit it out, but he didn’t. And then, the most shocking thing of all…he picked up another floret.What the what?
I turned to Bennett, mouth agape. I’d been trying to get River to eat some vegetables—anyvegetables—for months. And Bennett had succeeded. He preened in his chair, smug smile in place.
Despite his gloating, I said, “I could kiss you.”
He paused, fork poised midair. His eyes were suddenly very focused on my lips. It made me wonder if he saw me as more than just Liam’s sister.If only.I licked my lips, reaching for my water as if it would help my mouth that had suddenly gone dry.
“Ew. Mom.” River rolled his eyes, and we all laughed, the tension broken.
