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“I get to sit by myself,” Maggie said excitedly.
“Like a big girl,” I said to her, handing her the kids’ menu. Maggie nodded seriously as she perused the images, circling a personal-size pizza and oranges. “Am I going to school like ’Melia soon?”
“You were going to ask about that, weren’t you?” I asked Alice.
“There are no spots right now, but I put your name and contact information on the list. I hope that was okay.”
“Perfect. Thank you.” I didn’t want Maggie going to school full time, but a few mornings a week would be nice. Although I was fine with her spending her time with Alice too.
“I can work with her if you’d like. I did that with Amelia to prepare her for school.”
“That would be great.” And beyond what I’d hired her to do.
“Pepperoni?” Alice asked me.
I leaned over to ask, “Was it so hard to tell me what you like?”
Alice smiled. “A little bit.”
The waitress introduced herself, and we ordered drinks and the pizza. After she left, Maggie asked Alice to play tic-tac-toe on her children’s menu, and I sat back to watch them.
Alice leaned over the table to reach the sheet, her leg pressed against mine. I liked being close to her. Being here like this made it feel like we were a family.
I couldn’t help but wonder how things would be if I were dating Alice. If this was a normal Saturday for us, ice skating in the morning, lunch, and a walk around town to get hot chocolate. It was almost too good to be true.
I hadn’t allowed myself to consider meeting anyone who could fit into my family of two because I wasn’t convinced it was possible. I wasn’t sure a woman would want a ready-made family. I certainly wasn’t ready to let anyone in, but something about this woman tugged at my heartstrings.
I wanted to know what made her tick, or more like what was holding her back from living her life to the fullest. I had a feeling I was going to be intrigued even more when I found out.
With her brown hair in a ponytail, and the bulky sweater she wore, she looked like the girl next door, but there was a mystery underneath.
The pizza came, and the waitress handed a slice to each of us. When Alice took her first bite, a piece of cheese stretched long, and she laughed as she struggled to get it into her mouth. Finally, it broke from the slice, sticking to her lips. Without thinking, I reached over and used my thumb to remove it.
The smile fell from her lips as her eyes met mine. Her lips were so soft; I wanted to touch my lips to hers and see if she tasted as good as she smelled. Aware that Maggie was watching us, I snatched my finger back and shifted on the seat.
“Thanks,” Alice said to me before grabbing a napkin to wipe her mouth.
“You should cut your pizza,” Maggie said.
“You’re right. I should,” Alice said, her lips twitching again.
Maggie was so serious when she tried sounding like a big girl. It was endearing.
“Do you want me to cut your pizza for you?” I teased her.
Alice shook her head, laughing. “I promise, I don’t normally eat like a caveman.”
“I didn’t think that.” She seemed hyperaware of what people thought of her. But that made sense if she grew up with cameras.
“Daddy, is that foosball on TV?” Maggie asked, kneeling on the seat.
I followed her finger to the TV in the corner. “Football, actually.”
Maggie asked a few questions about what was happening on the screen, and I should have been able to ignore Alice all together. But I was hyperaware of our proximity, how her leg pressed against mine in the confined space, and the floral scent of her shampoo.
I’d done this to myself, sitting next to her and brushing cheese off her lip. I should be creating distance, not pursuing the sparks between us.
When the pizza was mostly gone, we asked for a to-go box and the check. I paid, brushing off Alice’s offer to contribute, and said, “I’ll pay when we’re together.”
