Page 14 of Hard to Get

“Hey,” he says as he nears us.

“Hey.” I return his smile.

Our dogs greet each other with nose sniffs, tails wagging.

“This dog is Frank’s twin!” the little girl cries.

“Pretty close, huh?” Jayden grins at her. He looks back at me. “This is my niece, Layla, and this guy is my nephew, Hugo.”

“Hi,” Layla says with an up-and-down look worthy of someone twenty years older.

“Monkeys, this is Stella.”

“Hi,” I say to them, smiling. Layla’s about five, I think, and I guess Hugo is three.

“My sister’s kids,” Jayden says. He pauses. “Have you ever heard of the three-meeting theory?”

I turn to him and meet his eyes. “No. I have not.”

“It’s the idea that if you meet up with the same person three times, it’s for a reason.”

Three times.

A smile tugs at my lips as I nod.

“The first time you meet, you’re strangers, obviously. The second time, a connection is made, but it’s bad timing.”

That was the game at the arena.

“And the third time, it’s a sign of destiny,” he continues solemnly. “Synchronicity.”

“I think that was also bad timing,” I say. “You had plans that night.”

“Oh. True.”

“So this is the fourth meeting, technically.”

“Right. Anyway. It’s a message from the universe.”

“You’re really into this.”

His lips curve upward. “Maybe.”

“What is the message the universe is sending us?” I ask, sounding flirty.

“That we should pay attention. It could be a soul connection between us.”

My smile breaks free. “Ah. Or… it could be because we both walk our dogs here at the same time.”

“That’s not as interesting.” He’s still holding my gaze. “I think it means something.”

“Yeah?” I glance down at the two kids who are patting both dogs. “What does it mean?”

“It means…” He pauses and drags a hand down his face. “I think it means we should have that drink. But also… the universe’s timing is still wrong, because I’m babysitting tonight.”

“We’re not babies, Uncle Jay,” Layla says.

“I know, kiddo.”