Page 47 of Falling for Her

“What do you think we should get your dad for breakfast?”

“A bagel. He likes the one with egg and sausage.”

We wait for our turn, and Ms. Maddie greets us. “Well, you two are early.”

“We snuck out of the house,” Asa tells her. “Dad was sleeping on the couch.”

“He got in really late last night.” I feel the need to defend my decision to leave the house with the child without his father’s permission. “We were going to get breakfast and then wake him.”

“Aren’t you thoughtful?” she states with a huge smile. “What can I get you guys?”

I order two bagel sandwiches for Lincoln and the same for myself, so as not to make a fuss. Asa orders his own bagel with cream cheese, and I get an iced matcha while he gets a chocolate milk for our walk back home. Ms. Maddie comes back and hands us two bags. “I threw in some sweet treats.” She winks at me. “Have a nice day, it’s going to be a hot one.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

As we turn to leave, we come face-to-face with an older woman.

“Hey, Cathy,” Asa says. She smiles at him and gives him a fist bump, then ruffles his hair before stepping up to the counter to place her order. “She works with my dad,” Asa tells me as he pulls the door open for me.

We play I Spy on the way back to the house, a game I learned from Asa just yesterday. I don’t know why, but I’m expecting Lincoln to come barreling out of the house the moment we reach the front walk and yell at me for escaping. Asa goes inside first, kicking off his shoes, and I follow, slipping off my flip-flops.

The moment we step into the kitchen, Lincoln sits up on the couch.

“Morning, Dad,” Asa says, rushing to him. “We left and got breakfast.” Lincoln rubs his hands over his face, a confused look on it. “We snuck out of the house while you were sleeping. You were snoring like a bear.”

“I was not,” he mumbles. He grabs Asa around the waist and falls onto his back, Asa laughing on top of him.

“Yes, you were. Ask Finley.” He giggles.

“I’m not confirming nor denying anything.” I put the bags on the kitchen counter and get three plates. “But we did sneak out, and you didn’t hear us. Just saying.”

“I’m hungry,” Asa declares. “Finley said I couldn’t eat my bagel until we got home.”

Lincoln lets him go, and he hops to his feet, running to me. Lincoln gets up more slowly. He’s wearing another pair of shorts, and as he raises his hands in the air and stretches, I can see the muscles ripple in his chest and arms. My mouth instantly waters.

“I’ll be right back,” he mumbles. He grips the railing firmly as he climbs the stairs.

I plate Asa’s breakfast, and he takes it outside to the deck. I’m about to pour my coffee when I hear footsteps. I turn to find Lincoln, still shirtless.

“I’m just making my coffee, and then I’ll get out of your way.”

“Okay.” He looks in the bag at the bagels. “Is one of these mine?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Two of those are yours.” I wish I had my frother here as I pour milk into my mug.

“Did you clean the floor with furniture polish?” I turn to see him standing with his hands outstretched to the side, leaning on the other side of the island.

My eyebrows pinch together. “Yeah, why?”

“I almost broke my neck on the stairs last night. It’s like pouring oil on a tile floor.”

I can actually feel my eyes widen. “I don’t know what that means,” I admit.

“It’s slippery, like dangerously slippery.”

I pick up the bottle from the cabinet. “But it says it’s for wood, right here.” I point to the label.

“Yeah, it’s good for dusting furniture, not the floor.”