Damn, is this what flirting feels like?
I shake the idea and clear my throat—reminding myself that Tess is taken despite how atrocious Trevor seems, and Ruthie and baseball have to be my focus either way. "She's right upstairs," I add, finally throwing her a bone.
Tess's shoulders slump, her face twisting into a pout that's undeniably adorable.
"Come on, that was good. I had you guessing."
She shrugs her shoulders, tossing the strap of her purse over her head. "Jokes on you. I assumed you meant Grandma Birdie from soccer."
A laugh rips out of my chest. "Oh my God, you met her? Did you happen to figure out which kid she belongs to?"
"No," she giggles. "But Lily's dad is now taking bets in case you're interested."
Tess rounds the corner of the island, and I really take her in for the first time tonight. "Oh, I'm definitely interested."
She grins, turning toward the door only after she gives me a casual once-over, her throat moving up and down before she does. "I'll see you tomorrow," she says moving down the hall.
I trail behind, catching up to her as she slides into her New Balances. "Oh, hey."
"Hmm?" She looks up, her shoes on but her laces still untied.
"What was that look about before? When you were talking about the mall?"
She hesitates, then quickly ties both sneakers before standing again. A slight panic passes through me as it hits me that she may not have given me any look at all. "We passed a bra store," she says, the words only deepening my concern—and burning my ears as I hear them. She must read my expression, because she doesn't wait for my response before continuing. "I told her she should talk to you, but I think she's embarrassed."
"What?" I say quickly, a pinch in my chest like a side-stitch to the heart. "She knows she can tell me anything."
She inhales slowly, nodding to amuse me. "I'm sure she does."
I sigh, resting both hands on my hips. "Bras?"
She offers an apologetic smile, and I squeeze my eyes shut. "Looks that way."
I take a minute before responding, gathering my thoughts—and my heart off the floor. I knew this day was coming—Ruthie will always be my little girl, but I'm not delusional. She's growing up—getting older and transforming more and more each day into the amazing woman I know she'll eventually become. But that doesn't make it any easier. And it doesn't make it hurt any less knowing that she felt more comfortable telling Tessa than she did telling me.
"I'll talk to her," I say, distress evident in my voice.
"Let me know if I can help."
"Thanks but I got it."
She half-smiles, then lingers there like she's trying to decide if she has something to say. When she reaches for the door and pulls it open, I suspect she doesn't, but then she spins back around.
"I'm really sorry about Trevor yesterday."
Surprised she's bringing it up again, I huff out a laugh as I close the gap between us. "Hey, you're the one who took the cart to the ankles," I remind her, saving her the embarrassment—and me the visual—of talking about her ass.
"I meant about what he said."
I freeze, my hand propped up on the open door, peering down at her. The second the words leave her mouth, her eyes glaze over with something I can't quite name and her chest rises and falls in quick waves.
"Don't be. He was right," I say before I can stop myself. I stare into the green that feels like it could swallow me whole.Why is it so easy to get lost in her?
She lets out the faintest gasp that I'm afraid to admit does something to me I wasn't sure would ever happen again. Her lips fall open, and my gaze darts to her mouth as she attempts to form a response. But before she can, I explain.
"Ruthie will always be my baby."
Tess exhales a breath, her shoulders falling from her ears. "Right," she says, her cheeks pink and her voice soft and breathless.
