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I sighed, knowing he was waiting on me to say something. “My past is complicated.”
He ran a finger along my shoulder. “And I look forward to hearing about it when you’re ready.”
“Daddy, can we get a snowball?” Cammie asked.
“I don’t see why not.”
Cammie’s eyes widened almost comically. “But it’s before dinner.”
“Live a little, kid.” He patted her cap, and she smiled wide, revealing a missing tooth, making it even more adorable.
Hunter slung his pack over his shoulders. “Can we go, too?”
I shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
We walked toward the parking lot together. The kids ran ahead, throwing a ball back and forth, occasionally diving for one and missing, squealing and laughing.
“They get along great,” I said.
Ben lowered his voice. “I was worried Cammie wouldn’t make new friends here. Thank you for sticking around.”
“You’re welcome. It’s good for Hunter, too. He tends to only play with boys.” My heart, which had been holding out hope that he was waiting for me to be ready to take a chance on him, stuttered, then started beating again more slowly. I had to remind myself it was about his daughter fitting in at a new school. It wasn’t about me or that kiss.
“Ah. That starts already?”
“Abby said he’s only ever wanted to play with boys. So, hopefully, Cammie shows him girls aren’t much different.”
“Not at this age.”
“Not at any age, really.”
“Some girls go through that boy-crazy makeup stage, but you didn’t.”
I looked at him in surprise. I hadn’t realized he’d noticed what stages I’d been in. “I cared more about school and my activities to worry about how I looked.”
“You didn’t need to.” His comeback was quick.
I stopped walking to look at him. “What are you saying?”
His lips twitched. “I’m saying I thought you were pretty in high school.”
“You did not.” Warmth cascaded over me. Was my childhood crush really admitting to having a thing for me?
We stopped by the cars, and the kids climbed into Ben’s sports car. I waited for Ben to admonish them or tell them to get their cleats off the leather, but he didn’t. He seemed perfectly content to stand with me.
“If I’d thought you would have said yes back then, I would’ve asked you out.”
“No.” I felt like my eyes were opened comically wide, like Cammie’s were a few minutes ago.
“Yes,” he insisted stubbornly.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t believe you.”
“You’re one of those people who needs to see it before you believe it.” It wasn’t a question. It was an observation.
“I guess so.” But it was worse than that. I was never sure what I was seeing was real.
Ben smiled. “Challenge accepted.”
