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“Snacks are not a reason to date someone, no matter how good they are.”
Wyatt spoke up. “No. But she’s sad a lot. I think she’s lonely and needs us.”
I peered over at my son, trying to figure out how a ten-year-old would notice such things.
But then, Wyatt had always been the quiet, more observant one.
Still, the perceptiveness of my kids was terrifying. Because now I wondered just how much they’d noticed about their mother and me, despite my best attempts to hide the worst of it.
Avery added, “She’s pretty too. Don’t you want to kiss her?”
“What the hell do you know about kissing?”
“Bad word, Daddy. But I’m not a baby, remember? One boy kissed me last year, when I asked him to.”
Part of me wanted to go back to Ridgefield to find the boy who’d kissed my daughter and tell him to stop kissing girls until after his voice changed.
But I tamped down my anger since it wouldn’t help anything. And after a deep breath, I replied, “You shouldn’t kiss anyone that’s not family until you’re older.”
“But even Disney characters kiss, Daddy. If I can watch it, I can do it.”
Holy hell, Avery was getting better at arguing with me. I didn’t look forward to her teenage years.
I stood. “By that logic, that means we should all go and toss lions off cliffs because it was in a Disney movie.”
“Daddy, no! Don’t mention that. That scene always makes me cry.”
I kissed Avery’s forehead. “Sorry, love. But I just wanted to make a point that we shouldn’t do something just because it’s in a movie. Do you see that now?”
She sighed and tugged the blankets up closer to under her chin. “I suppose.”
“Good.” I ruffled her head and she squealed.
Smiling, I turned toward Wyatt and kissed his forehead too. “Goodnight, Wyatt.”
“G’night, Dad. And don’t worry, I won’t toss lions off cliffs.”
I snorted. “Good to know.”
After flicking off the lights, I closed the door.
I was just about to head to my room when Beck came down the hall. He took one look at me and snorted. “What happened?”
“Apparently, my daughter is already kissing boys, and both of my children are giving me dating advice.”
Beck’s lips twitched. “It was bound to happen eventually.” I growled, and he smacked me on the shoulder. “You look like you could use a drink. Sabrina’s away tonight for a business trip, so how about we head to The Watering Hole?”
The Watering Hole was the bar for locals in Starry Hills, on the outskirts of town. Even in high-tourist season, it remained mostly free of out-of-towners.
Since Aunt Lori would keep an ear out for my kids, I nodded. “Let me talk to Aunt Lori about watching the twins, and we can go.”
“If you text her, it’ll make her day.”
“Why? She went on and on about not seeing me, and now she wants me to use my phone instead?”
Rolling his eyes, Beck shrugged. “It’s fun for her. And besides, maybe she’ll leave me the fuck alone if you amuse her for a little while.”
I glared at my little brother, and he took out his phone. “I could always start a group text with you, me, her, and Millie.”
