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“An ass. I know.” Her cheeks were flushed, though her eyes were mischievous. “How’d your hair get so messed up?”
A little growl escaped her. “Your shorts are on backward.”
I looked down. Oops. “I was in . . . a hurry.”
She was already gone.
“Think we should stay here? Forget about going back?”
Blake punched me in the thigh. I shrugged.
“Seems like a good idea.” I scooped him up. “Let’s go see what we can find to eat. While we snack, you can tell me how to get your mommy to like me the way she does you. Deal?”
I held up my fist and he bumped it. This kid. Up until a few weeks ago, I’d only seen Blake at family dinners. Somehow, we’d become buds as I sought more and more one-on-one time with him. Life was full, crazy, and unpredictable with a toddler, and my life had been one of order and structure before two weeks ago when I was first asked to watch Blake. And now? What was mind-blowing? I didn’t want to be away from him half the time either. As if Marlow would allow that.
“Mind putting in a good word for me? Tell her you really, really like me.”
He gave me a silly smile.
“Hey, are you coming to work tomorrow? We’ve got a ton of shi—stuff to catch up on.”
Blake pumped his fist in the air.
“I used to be that enthusiastic.”
I grabbed a bowl of blueberries and set them on the counter beside him. He plucked one from the bowl and smashed it against his mouth.
“No wonder Ella likes you so much. You’re a charming little dude.”
“Dude.”
I picked him up and held him above my head like he was an airplane. “Let’s go tell Mommy I taught you another new word.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Marlow
“Can you meet me?”
“Did Whitley do something to you? What were you thinking going away with him anyway?” Andrew lectured like he was the older sibling.
“Half an hour? Alone.” He let out a long sigh. “You know what? Forget it. We can talk some other time.”
“Stop it.”
“I got used to you always being there for me whenever. I forget sometimes you have a family of your own now.”
“If you came around more often, you wouldn’t.” The jangling of keys sounded. “Do we need cocktails or coffee?”
“Coffee.”
“See you in thirty.”
I pushedinto the coffee shop, and Andrew stood.
“Hey.” I shrugged off my coat.
He picked up Blake. “There’s my favorite nephew.” My brother bent to kiss my cheek.
