“Four is the perfect number,” I stated. “We can’t squeeze another kid into this car anyway.”
“You can buy a bigger car,” Lily pointed out.
“And one day, you will learn about gas mileage,” I muttered under my breath.
“I like that we’re two boys and two girls,” Mikey mentioned.
“Excellent point, little man,” I agreed.
They had no clue how many hours I had to crunch at the gym in order to keep up with them. I was forty-six years old, goddammit. I was done changing diapers.
“What about a puppy?” Lily asked next.
Nate looked back at her. “Wejustgot a cat.”
“But he won’t sit when I tell him to!” she yelled.
“Easy, girl,” I warned. Even though I wanted to laugh my ass off. “That’s enough with the attitude. Am I making myself clear?”
I eyed her in the side-view mirror.
She sat there, sulking.
Poor girl didn’t have an easy life.
Nathan Riley
As soon as I got back in the car, I texted Ash.
Picked up Micah and Lily. Did James and Jordan confirm they’re coming over?
“Everyone buckled in and ready?” I asked in the rearview.
Micah smirked. “You already checked our seat belts, Dad.”
Oh, silly me.
“Can I have my grapes?” Lily asked. “Please.”
She remembered to add the please. I was impressed.
She’d received a reminder about politeness last night from Ash.
I grabbed the pink silicone container from the passenger’s seat and eased it back to her until she could reach it.
“Thank you!”
“You’re very welcome, sweetheart.” I started the engine and backed out. “You sure you don’t want your snack now, Micah?” I gave him a glance in the rearview. He was usually starving after school.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m gonna eat with Dylan at the new house.”
Was that so? Well, if Micah was disappointed with Dylan’s usual after-school snacks, I was ready. If not, even better. It was a daily struggle to get Micah interested in fruits and vegetables. At the same time, most children his age were like that. We knew that from all the times parents brought snacks and food to various games. Juice boxes, sandwiches, and hot dogs flew off the shelves, so to speak. Apples and bananas, not so much.
“Grapes are the best,” Lily said with her mouth full.
The first part of the journey, we did our usual thing. I asked them about school, if Micah had any homework, if they wanted to make plans with friends, and so on. Micah was easy—a single question could get him to ramble. With Lily, I had to ask direct questions, because she stayed on topic like a pro.
Ash replied to my message, but I couldn’t check it until I reached a stoplight.
