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“Honeymoon glow,” I tell her.
She laughs. “I suppose so.”
Naomi tells me about the book she’s writing now and hoping to publish before the baby comes, and we talk about Boone a bit and how he’s being a bum where Paisley is concerned. Paisley is a friend of Naomi and Corbin’s they met when they were in Gatlinburg for a girls’ weekend and she moved to Red Oak for a teaching position.
“It’s driving me crazy. They’re perfect for each other.”
“They are,” I agree. “But as a single parent, I understand how scary it is to start a relationship. I got lucky because, well, Cash…”
“Who’s crazy about you and your daughter. But Paisley’s crazy about Cody and Boone, too.”
I give her a look.
“Okay, she tolerates Boone. But I think it’s her putting up her defense against him. Love and hate, two sides of the same coin, you know?”
“I get it. Maybe you’ll have to write their story. Like enemies to lovers type of thing.”
Her eyes widen. “Exactly! They play argue but it’s like all this foreplay leading up to the big show for them. I know one day they’re going to give in and then we won’t be able to tear them apart.”
I laugh. “Probably. But Boone seems pretty stubborn and I think he likes having his time with Cody. From what I understand, he was pretty badly burned by Cody’s bio mom so I can understand why he doesn’t want to jump into anything.”
“I know. I get it, I do. But I honestly think the reason they argue at all is because they don’t want to admit their feelings for each other.”
“Oh, absolutely. But if you push either of them on the issue I think it’ll make them run in the other direction. I think it’ll happen naturally.”
“I hope so,” she murmurs. “My pregnancy hormones can’t handle much more of it.”
I laugh and I reminisce about my time being pregnant with Brooklyn, look at pictures she has from the wedding and honeymoon, and talk a bit about what it’s like to have a teenager who’s dating.
“It drives me half insane and makes the other half incredibly happy to see her so happy.”
“This is why they start as babies. I can’t even imagine having to deal with all the teenage junk yet.”
“They make you fall in love with them when they’re sweet and don’t talk back so that when they become sassy know-it-alls, we’re already attached.”
She laughs at my assessment and we talk a little more before she sighs, saying she needs to get back to writing.
“I’ll see you at Leah’s for Sunday supper?” she asks.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good. Have a good rest of your day,” she says, giving me a hug.
“You, too. Thanks for meeting me.”
“I always have time for you.”
After I get home from my coffee date with Naomi and picking up some groceries, Brooklyn blows through the door, only home long enough to change clothes and get ready to go to the playoff football game in another town. She’s riding with Boone and Cody and sporting Weston’s jersey. Her hair is in a high ponytail and his number is painted onto her cheek.
“Have fun, honey!”
She kisses my cheek and chirps, “I will! See you after the game, okay? Boone said we’re stopping for food before the game.”
I point to the cash on the counter and she snatches it up, stuffing it into her cream-colored belt bag that is actually a fanny pack but this generation doesn’t use real terms and think they are part of new inventions.
“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Thank Boone for me.”
