Page 107 of Fall Over You

I love my niece Ada, and I started my kids program because I genuinely like kids. Some vague part of me has always known I’d want kids someday, but sitting here with all these bright eyes on me and a warm little tush in my lap, that tiny spark of hope shows its face again. Ellie’s certainly enough if Tyler later decides he doesn’t want more kids, but it’s hard not to want the whole experience with him: bringing a new life into the world together, getting to share the milestones with each other, with Ellie.

The thought alone makes my insides tickle.

When I close the last cover, I show off a few progress pictures of the chickens. I pull out a container and hold it up. “Now, Ellie and her daddy love banana bread, so I thought maybe her classmates might be hungry for some too. Was I right about that? You guys want some banana bread?”

My question is met with much enthusiasm and Miss Kristen and I hand out small slices for each kid.

“This is so good, Becca,” Kristen says. “I knew it had to be something extraordinary that made Tyler settle down with a wild child like you.”

I debate how to answer her slight dig. “Actually, you know what my secret is?”

Kristen leans in, ready to get the hot dish from me. I’ve always admired her sense of entitlement. She can dole out insults, then still expect to reap the rewards of friendship. “What?”

“My stunning personality and magical pussy. Really keeps him coming back for more.”

“Daddy!” Ellie runs into Paint Auto with her arms flailing. “Becca was the mystery reader!”

“No way, shug!” Tyler cleans his hands and crouches to hug his daughter. He kisses her cheek, then smacks his lips like he’s tasting something. “Did she bring banana bread too?”

“Yes! Our favorite!”

“That Becca sure is something,” Tyler says, winking at me. He stands and holds out his arm, tucking me into his body and speaking in his low, grumbly voice. “How’s my baby? You save me a slice of banana bread?”

I blush before he kisses me, because I still fold every single time he calls me his baby. “I didn’t. You get enough of it at home, mister.”

He pats his stomach. “Are you insulting my physique?”

I pop it with the back of my hand. “No, you’re just a grumpy bear when you sugar crash.”

Tyler’s jaw drops. “I can’t believe you’re calling me out like this.”

“You’ll get over it,” I say.

“What are you girls getting into?”

“El and I are going to grab lunch, then go out to see Ernest.”

One of my favorite things about being married to Tyler is visiting him at work and feeling like I’m somewhere I shouldn’t be, in the best way. Does being a mechanic make you a celebrity? Absolutely not. But I feel like I’m backstage with my rockstar boyfriend when I go see him at the garage.

Could I do repairs as good as the guy Ty hired to help him out? Probably, but I won’t hurt his ego by proving it. I lean over to greet him in the next bay. “How are you, Johnny?”

“Good, Reba!”

He’s overheard Tyler calling me Reba so many times that he thinks it’s my real name. I think it’s cute, so I’ll never correct him.

“You bring my puppy?” Mr. Davis asks.

“If you wouldn’t mind watching her,” I say.

He whistles twice and T-Bone saunters over to get adored by another member of her fan club.

“You girls mind if I crash your lunch?” Tyler asks.

“Ellie, can Daddy come with us?”

She nods, and after Tyler finishes up what he’s doing, we walk to Betty’s Diner hand in hand with her in the middle.

Sometimes, the ADHD demon comes for me. It says things I shouldn’t, makes me hyperfixate on things that could seem inconsequential mere minutes later, and is an overall impulsive gremlin. Since today was full of kid-friendly vibes, my hyperfixation du jour is having kids.