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“Cool, so maybe we could go next weekend?”
“To Legoland?” Max squealed.
“Max, inside voice.” Kia winced and stood up from her place on the floor. “Um, yeah, we could do that.”
Max threw his arms around her waist and squeezed. “Thanks, Mom.”
She hugged him back and laughed. “Don’t thank me. It was your dad’s idea.”
He let go of her and launched himself at Jeff. “Thanks Dad, you’re the best.”
Air lodged in her throat as she watched Jeff. The look on his face had morphed from shock to one of such peace and contentment, all in the blink of an eye, as he embraced his son.
Jeff cleared his throat. “You ready?”
“Yep.” Max turned around and grabbed the handle of his wheelie suitcase.
Jeff crouched to look at the picture on the suitcase. “Cool, an astronaut on a dinosaur. I like it.” He stood back up. “I guess I picked the right place going to the science center today.”
“That’s where we’re going?” Max began bouncing on his toes again.
“You bet.”
“Cool.” Max grabbed the handle and pulled the bag toward the door.
“Hold up, buster. Where’s my kiss?” Kia placed her hand on her hip and pretended to scowl at her son.
“Sorry.” Max giggled and ran back and planted a loud kiss on her cheek. “Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, sweetie. Have fun.” She turned and eyed Jeff. “Please make sure somewhere in the mix there’s some dairy or a vegetable or something.”
He nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m on it. Vanilla milkshakes it is.”
Max giggled again and Kia narrowed her eyes. He seemed to be embracing the whole dad jokes schtick.
“Kidding, kidding, we’ll have strawberry.” Jeff winked at Max.
The toothless smile on her son’s face clenched her gut. God, he was so happy.
Kia chewed her bottom lip as a zing of nerves slid down her spine. Letting him stay the night was harder than she’d expected. “I’ll pick him up around ten tomorrow morning?”
Jeff’s mouth curved up slightly as he looked at her. “Sounds good. It’s totally cool if you want to call or stop by later to check on him.”
Damn, so much for the poker face. “Thanks, but I think that would be more for me than him.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” Jeff winked at her, then strolled toward the door. He paused beside the booster seat resting beside the door. “I bought one, so you didn’t have to move yours back and forth.”
“Really?” Why did that seem so sweet? He was Max’s dad. He should want to have his own booster seat. What was the matter with her?
He scooped up the suitcase with one hand. “Alright, buddy, let’s do this.”
“Bye, Mom,” Max called as he hopped down the front steps and raced toward the car.
Unable to stop herself, she followed them out to the car to inspect the booster seat.
Jeff looked over at her and smirked. “Didn’t believe me?”
“No, of course I did. I just wanted to buckle him in so I could get one last snuggle before you leave.”
