Yeah, I think Hazel knows.
Chapter
Forty-Five
Penelope
* * *
I lead the way to our seats for the end-of-the-year talent show. Most know Decker is part of our friend group, but they don’t know the secret we’ve been keeping. As much as I want to hold his hand or have him place his hand on the small of my back, that isn’t our reality yet.
We settle into our seats and are the annoying people who throw my purse and our coats across the seats around us, claiming spaces for everyone. Decker sits two seats away from me to help claim our row.
I’m still not sure if Hazel knows about Decker and me, but she held both our hands the entire time on the way to and from Portillo’s the other night. And when we got there, she wouldn’t let me sit on her side of the booth, saying she wanted it all to herself. Decker took full advantage, sliding his hand under the table and running it up and down my thigh throughout dinner.
By the time Hazel went to bed, I was a needy mess, and I had to have him even though it had to be fast and with limited clothing removal. It was still hot as hell.
“We’re here!” Easton waves, coming down the row holding Ellis’s baby carrier.
“You let him hold the baby?” Decker asks Callie. He takes the carrier and talks in a baby voice to his niece, telling her how much he missed her.
“He’s looking for single moms. Thought the baby would endear them to him.” Callie rolls her eyes as she comes down the row. We all slide over to make room.
Decker puts Ellis on the seat next to him, sitting next to me.
Callie slides past Easton.
“Hey, I’ll take care of her,” Easton says.
“Go find someone else’s baby to bait women with.”
Foster moves in next to Callie. “I don’t understand why we have to be here. We’ll have to endure these things with Ellis for years.”
“Because they’re our nieces and nephew.” Callie bats her eyes at him.
“I can understand a recital, but I’ve seen Monroe’s dance routine. I’ve seen the hula hoop routine. I’ve seen Lincoln do his magic trick or whatever he’s doing.”
Callie pats him on the leg. “Well, just think how many times someone might say, ‘I’ve seen Foster Davis pitch, it’s not all that impressive.’”
“Point made.” He turns to Decker. “She ready?”
How fast he shifts his stance these days still amazes me. Back in college, it was near impossible to change his mind on anything. Must be the Callie effect.
Hayes and Leighton join us with Lake, who sits at the end of the aisle, scrolling through her phone.
“Hi, Lake, such a pleasure to have you join us this evening.” Easton embarks on conversing first.
She’s a typical teenager now, so you never know what you’re gonna get. Where we all handle her with kid gloves since she can snap like a hungry bear, Easton seems to go with “How fast can I piss her off?”
“Not today,” Hayes says before whispering something in Lake’s ear.
Lake dramatically leans forward. “Hi, Easton, how are you this evening? I hope you’re well.” She smacks on the fakest smile I’ve ever seen.
Leighton sighs. “Good luck, all.”
“I’m only having boys,” Easton says, and we all stare at him.
Decker takes the bait. “You can’t control that.”
