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“Nice to meet you, Chance.” Isaac shoots him a smile, and Chance nods.
“You too, sir.”
His manners make me proud, and I can’t help but smile as well.
“So, I’m going to head over to Ashley’s. She lives just the next street over. I’ll talk to you later,” Isaac says, and I nod, grateful we’re on the same page about our kids.
“Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Isaac turns and heads down the sidewalk, his hands tucked into his pockets. I admire his form for a split second, but more than anything, I’m attracted to his selflessness. His heart is so caring and genuine.
“Is he your boyfriend, Mom?”
“What? Oh, no. No.”
“But you want him to be?”
“I’m not sure about that yet either, son. Now, let’s get you inside. I want to talk about you.” I unlock the door and wave him inside, taking one last glance down the street before going in myself. “You get cleaned up. I’ll call your dad, and then we’ll talk. Just me and you.”
“I love you, Mom.” He kisses my cheek before kicking his shoes off at the bottom of the stairs and then taking them two at a time. How many times have I reprimanded him for leaving his shoes there? But after months of them being gone, I think I’d let him pile every pair he owns up there now.
Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I take out my phone to call Greg just as someone knocks on the door. Oh, the pizza. I open the door, trying to remember if I left a tip on my card, and find Isaac on my front stoop.
“Hey.” He smiles. “The Uber driver called. You left your purse in the car.” He hands it over to me.
“Oh, thank you so much. I was in a rush and—”
“I would have been too. No problem. I’ll talk to you later.”
We stare at each other for a moment, and someone clearing their throat makes us both jump.
“Hey, I’ve got your pizza.” The pimply teenager looks super enthused to be here. He hands it to Isaac and walks off without a backward glance.
“Well, while I’m here, I better try the pineapple.” Isaac flips open the lid, surveying the pie cautiously. “I just want one bite.”
“Yeah, for now you do. Wait until you actually taste it.” I choose a particularly fruity piece and lift it out, careful not to drop it, and as he takes a bite, his mouth closing around the end of the pizza, my body reminds me of what we started earlier. He chews thoughtfully, then his tongue darts out to catch a spot of sauce in the corner of his lips.
“And?” I raise my eyebrows expectantly, ready for him to admit the truth.
“Okay, it’s pretty good,” he finally says. “But I don’t think I’d want it all the time.”
“Oh, sure, sure.” I laugh. “Let me take mine out and put it on a plate and you can take your half with you. Hang on.”
I take the box from him and hurry to the kitchen, divvying out the pineapple slices for me and Chance on a plate and then heading back to the porch. Isaac takes the box with a grateful smile.
“So, let’s try this again,” he says. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He hesitates for a moment, his eyes darting behind me, and I chuckle.
“He’s in the shower.”
He leans down and kisses my cheek, his lips warm and soft on my skin. I turn my head just enough to press a small kiss to his mouth, and before I even close my eyes all the way, the crunch of my driveway gravel interrupts us.
We move apart at the slamming of a car door, and I look over to see my ex-husband sprinting across the yard. He stops short at the front steps, eyes darting between Isaac and me.
“Is he here?” He’s frantic, his normally sleek gelled hair ruffled and his clothes thrown on haphazardly.
