AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This isn’t bad at all. It was weird when he pulled into the driveway. The first thirty minutes were stilted between us, but the kids helped with that. Sitting at the kitchen table with Landon and the kids is actually nice. It’s been a pleasant two hours watching the kids feed the rabbits and coming up with names for them while they draw pictures of them for their report.
We even had a good laugh about the names. The adults were set on Captain and Tennille for the two carrot-eating lovebirds currently sharing a cage, but the kids overruled us with their favorite cartoon, Teen Titans Go! Bunny one and two are officially Starfire and Robin, may they live happily ever after. Providing Starfire doesn’t set Robin on fire for being a pain in the ass.
“Mom, we’ve finished our pictures. Can we play, please?” His hopeful eyes look at me and then Landon.
“Yeah, dad, I’m not ready to go home. It’s boring, nothing to do.”
“Are you kidding me?” Landon looks at me with an unbelievable smile. “The amount of toys and video games you have, I should be on the welfare line, with you dragging your sack of toys behind me as proof of being broke.” He ruffles his hair.
“But I didn’t ask you to buy them, you just did. Not my fault you bought too much.” He tilts his head, smiling at his dad. This kid is something else.
“I’ll remember that when it’s time for Santa to make his visit. I’ll give him the message. Too many toys for this little boy.” He taps his nose. “He’ll take them down to the shelter for the little boys and girls who don’t have any but will greatly appreciate your generosity.”
“Dad!” His head goes back in horror.
“Yes?” His father asks, calm as ever, like he didn’t threaten to snatch away his Christmas, replacing it with a lump of coal.
“I don’t mind sharing some of them but...I’m sorry, I love all my toys. Can we please stay longer? Jacobs going to show me his new video game.”
Landon looks at me and winks. I press my lips together to keep from smiling, so as not to ruin the lesson he’s trying to teach Jackson for smarting off.
“I have time, but only if it’s okay with Lacey.”
“It’s fine. I’ll make something to eat. Who’s hungry?”
“We are,” they yell.
“Pizza, Mom.”
“Yeah, pizza, Mom,” Landon says, as Jacob runs off to his room with Jackson.
I order two large pies, and Landon insists on going to get them in the rain because it’ll take them longer to deliver it. When he gets back the boys scarf down their slices and run off again. I barely finish my two slices, but Landon is on his fifth.
“Should I cut you off? Overeating and driving is a bad thing. You hit a bump, there’s the chance you could explode from both ends.”
He almost spits out a mouth full of pizza on a laugh. “Thoughtful of you, but I think I’ll be fine. I own a bar. I’m an expert at cutting people off. I have the license to prove it.” He wipes his mouth, recovering. “I know my limits, and I’m not there yet.” He looks into my eyes, clearing his throat. “I know my limits, Lacey.”
He takes a sip of his drink, so do I, looking away to break the pull I feel towards him with his words and the look in his eyes. “You were good with Jackson and the toy thing before. Better than I would have been with Jacob.”
“He’s a great kid, but sometimes his mouth gets away from him. He knows how to work a situation to his advantage, most of the time. I don’t know where he gets it from.”
I snort, incredulous. “Uh, I do.”
He stares at me, quirking his lips up. “Huh.”
“Yes, he is. He’s a mini-you. With the laid-back swagger, so sure of himself. You’re in so much trouble in ten years.”
“I think you’re right. But I believe it’s more like six and change.”
“Right?” I laugh. “I didn’t want to alarm you, so I stretched it a little.”
“Haha. Remember who his best friend is…keep laughing.”
He’s so right. I relax back in my seat, take another sip of my drink, and he lays into another slice.
“You remember the Pizza Shack?”
“Do I ever.” I nod. “We had the best times there with our friends. I haven’t thought about that place in years. God, good times.”
