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“I’m a mess.”
Avery rolls her eyes. “Come on, I’m trying to help you here.”
Then she turns on her heel and leaves.
“You don’t have to come with us,” Liv says.
I study her for a long moment. “I want to, but I’m not sureyouwant me to.”
“It can’t be considered a date.”
Oh, so that’s what she’s worried about. “No problem. I like milkshakes too.”
She nods. There’s tension in her shoulders but there’s hope in her eyes. It’s a weird combination.
“Thirty minutes enough time?”
I nod. “I’ll be there with bells on.”
I watch as she leaves, enjoying the sway of her hips. Houdini trots after her, pausing at the gate as if to ask if it’s okay to go home. I smile and nod. He barks as if he understands and follows Liv into her house. I grab the two buckets of veggies that I’ll use in the restaurant, and head into the house.
Liv might not be considering this a date, but I am. It’s time to start convincing this woman I’m date material, and I know where her heart lies. Those kids need to accept me.
ChapterSixteen
LIV
As we settle in one of the massive booths, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck tingle. Everyone—and I mean every single person—has their gazes locked on us. It’s weird. Don’t get me wrong. I understand small towns. There is always interest in your neighbors and especially new neighbors. But this is a little different. This is almost like we’re celebrities. Weird.
“I want a milkshake!”
This demand is not from one of my kids. They know better. It’s my sister.
“I’ve told you that you don’t need to demand. You’re an adult.”
“Aunt Avery is the best,” Sammy loud-whispers to Mason. He’s settled in the booth across from Avery, Callie and me, with Sammy. He cleans up nicely, but then, I already knew that, right? I was up close and personal with so much of his body.
Just thinking that sends a rush of heat to my cheeks. Mason meets my gaze, and the twitch of his lips tell me he knows exactly what I was thinking. It is dangerous spending this much time with a man like him. He’s sweet and sexy, a lethal combination that has me wondering why I don’t jump his bones.
Because you are with your kids and you’re in pubic, weirdo.
A waitress comes up to the table, smacking gum and eyeing our group. She served us the other day and she was horrible. We got our food okay, but she spent a lot of time flirting with Carter, who ignored her the entire time. It was kind of cute to see the way he doted on his niece.
“So you’re back,” she says, between smacking her lips. I hate feeling this way, but sometimes people just give off a vibe. This woman does. She’s not a nice person.
“Hey, Rhonda. How are you doing?”
“Okay now that you’re here.”
There is a long beat of silence before Avery snorts and starts laughing. “God, that’s a horrible line.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry.” But Avery doesn’t sound sorry. She never pretends. What you see is what you get with the youngest O’Bryan.
“Could we all get some waters, please?” I use the same soothing voice I use with the kids after they get their feelings hurt. The waitress tosses me a look I can’t decipher then nods before leaving.
“Avery, please remember not to piss of the waitress, at least before we get our food.”
