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Was that the wrong thing to say? We were already dating? Was I being misleading?
“Are you?” Kendall asked, her gaze darting from me to Sophie.
She was more perceptive than I’d given her credit for.
Sophie turned slightly in her seat to face Kendall. “We’ve reconnected.”
“What does that mean?” Kendall’s lips pursed.
I took over for Sophie. “We started talking as friends, and it led to something more. I want to make sure you’re okay with it.”
“Would it matter if I wasn’t?” Kendall sat back in her seat, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked out the window.
“Of course, it would. That’s why we’re having this conversation.” I alternated checking the road with looking at her in the rearview mirror.
Kendall was quiet for a few seconds and then she asked, “What does it mean for me?”
“Nothing has to change. Sophie will still give you baking lessons. But we might do more outings like this, where all three of us hang out together. Would that be okay?” Was I making a mistake by leaving this up to her? She was a child. We were the adults. Shouldn’t I tell her how it was going to be?
That reminded me too much of my parents.
The tension on Kendall’s face had eased. “Yeah, okay.”
Relief flooded my body, my muscles easing with each exhale.
Sophie smiled at her. “We will always consider your feelings. If you have any problem with us dating, you can tell us. We wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable. Your feelings matter.”
Sophie was saying all the right things, but her words grated on me like nails on a chalkboard.
I wanted Sophie to be a priority in my life, too. I wanted her to feel just as important as Kendall. But how was that possible?
Sophie smiled at me, but mine felt stilted.
Were we going about this the right way? Was Kendall truly okay with us dating? Something felt off.
I didn’t want to repeat history. This time, I wanted to make decisions with Sophie.
The question that hung over me was what would happen if Kendall’s mother returned? Would any of this matter?
“School starts next week.” Kendall’s voice was flat.
“Are you excited?” Sophie asked, but I could already tell she wasn’t. “You’ll get to see Drew.”
Kendall’s expression was grim. “We’re not even in the same class.”
My stomach dipped. “I didn’t realize you knew that already.”
“Drew’s mom told me. You need to sign in to get my teacher assignments and schedule.”
Ellie was a teacher, so she could probably check class lists, but I should have done it.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” I was already failing as a parent. But then again, this was new to me. I’d need to pay closer attention to the paperwork from school and be more involved.
“I’m sure it’s in the registration paperwork.”
I’d registered her earlier in the summer, but the fact that school was starting soon had slipped my mind.
Kendall tapped her fingers on the door. “We need to get school supplies.”
