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“Nope, I go ‘til I don’t get a match. So, I’ll ask you. Do you have a dabo-yoo?” Bradley makes a pinching motion as if anticipating success.
“Aww, shucks. I don’t.” He frowns for the boy’s benefit but immediately perks up when focusing on me. “I’m pretty sure Bradley doesn’t have this one. Grace, do you have an O?”
I quirk a brow. “How do you know? Nobody has asked for an O except you.”
“How about your V? I’d like to take your V and lie it down with my P.”
Bradley twists his lips. “Those letters don’t match.”
My head bobs in agreement. “That’s not how you’ll win. You won’t beat us that way.”
Garrett shrugs. “I don’t mind coming last.”
And he proves that to be true, double meaning aside. Although, to be fair, I threw the game in Bradley’s favor. Call me a softie but I love seeing him cheer for victory. Garrett catches on quickly and becomes my partner in the task. That’s precisely why Bradley is the first to run out of cards for the third time in a row. His stack of matches towers over ours too.
“Woohoo! I’m the master. Nobody can beat me.” He leaps off the bench and begins to dance.
“You’re way too good at Go Fish, buddy. I’m not sure I can compete in your league. Do you have a ball in that bottomless bundle of fun?” Garrett nods to the oversized tote I meticulously packed.
Bradley digs inside. “Uh-huh.”
His gaze sparkles at what the little boy whips out. “Ah, a pigskin. Even better. Wanna play catch?”
In response, the boy’s eyes light up like Christmas morning. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes.”
“Is that all right with you, boss?” Garrett is thoughtful to ask me, but there’s not a chance I’ll deny Bradley, who has his palms folded in a pleading gesture.
“Have at it. I’ve got this cutie pie to keep me company.” I peek over at Violet, but she’s still preoccupied with her drawing. That just means I can share my attention.
“This is really great, by the way.” He makes a circular motion around our group, then spreads the loop to the park in general.
“Worth ditching your other responsibilities?”
“And then some,” he assures.
“C’mon.” Bradley loses his patience and begins yanking on Garrett’s arm.
I bite my bottom lip to trap a content sigh. The picture they create is just too adorable. “You’re good with this?”
Lunch is one thing. Entertaining a kid is another. Especially when he has zero obligation to do so.
“Couldn’t be better.” His eyes are on me when he drops that conviction.
As Garrett trots off with the football spinning on his palm, I get an idea for our next date. A smile curls my lips just picturing his reaction.
Game on, bartender.
Grace’s knuckles turn white around the steering wheel. “I can feel you watching me.”
My stare doesn’t waver from her. “Can you blame me?”
“Not comfortable in the passenger seat?” Her lips twitch with the assumption.
“Wrong.” I make the sound of a buzzer. “The view from over here is exquisite.”
“Exquisite?”
I bite my fist and growl like the rabid beast she’s created. “Have you looked in the mirror? There better not be other men around wherever you’re carting me off to. I won’t promise to be civil when you’re wearing that.”
