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“I said not today, bud. You've got Nan today, and I took tomorrow off. Uncle Nova or Uncle Bane the day after that. Then an Evangeline day.”
Hunter's face falls, his shoulders slumping forward.
“I'm never too hurt to hang out with you. Best friend summer, right?” It was Hunter's idea to name our summer mood boards, and I love it. “But your dad already made plans for your grandma to spend time with you. And you know what? He's probably right, I should rest just a little bit so I'm ready to hang out with you in a couple days.”
“Well, how are you going to rest? Watch a movie? Take a nap?” he asks, eyebrows high and hopeful.
I nod a few times, pretending to think it over. I don't actually know what I have to do today, other than head to Magnolia Lane. But there's probably a list of things I need to do.
“Definitely. I have to go home for a bit. And I'll probably take a nap.” I shrug a shoulder.
His eyes widen as he looks at me. “You're really gonna take a nap?” He beckons me closer as he climbs back up on the stool next to me. Of course, I'm going to oblige him. “Eve, that was a trick question. Onlybabiestake a nap.”
He says the word babies like I say brussels sprouts. There are some things in life that aren't meant to be eaten, and those mini cabbage bombs are one of the top tiers.
I laugh. “I tell you what. How about we can have a rest day together too? We can make our own popcorn and watch a movie.”
“We'll need to go to the store because Dad ate all the microwave popcorn last week and hestillhasn't gotten more,” Hunter says, casting a pointed look toward his dad.
“I'll bring over my popcorn maker and we can make our own on the stove. How does that sound?”
“Yes,” Hunter crows, his excitement palpable. “I can't wait!”
God, when's the last time I was that excited about anything? And something as simple as fresh popcorn? I can’t even remember.
“Save some energy for your grandma day today, hm?” Dixie smooths Hunter's wild hair back off his forehead.
Hunter's smile falls into a sort of grimace. “It's just . . . Dad said you can't play with me for the rest of the summer because your shoulder is broken and you need a new one.”
She nods, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Which is why I thought I'd take you to the splash pad.”
His eyebrows fly toward his hairline. “The splash pad! Yes! Let's go right now, Nan! C'mon, I gotta get my swim trunks on!”
He jumps off the stool, grab's Dixie's hand, and pulls her toward the side door.
“Alright, guess we're going now,” Dixie says with a laugh. She snags the handle of her purse and lets Hunter pull her across the kitchen.
“Aren't you forgetting something, bud?” Silas asks, amusement bouncing around his words.
Hunter stops a foot from the door and spins around. He drops Dixie's hand and bounds toward his dad. Silas bends all the way down, his ass practically resting on the heels of his black boots, and opens his arms wide to scoop his son into a hug. He plants a kiss on top of his head and murmurs something into his hair.
Hunter nods, his arms wrapped tight around Silas's neck. “Love you too, Dad.”
Silas runs a hand over his son's back, and I don't know what the hell is happening, but something inside me melts a little.
I've never really believed the heroines in romance novels who swear their ovaries cry or explode when they see a doting father, but damn, I think they were onto something.
I blink a few times and squash whatever squishy feeling he was eliciting.
Hunter pulls back from their hug and thrusts his fist between their faces. “Here, Dad, you better hold onto this just in case Eve needs more magic, okay?”
It's the little tin of antibacterial cream.
I have to stifle the grin that threatens to spread across my face. If reluctance had a name, it'd be Silas St. James right now.
He's entirely too slow at grabbing the tin. His fingers take an entire year just to curl over the top of it. “Have fun with Nan, yeah? I'll come get you this afternoon.”
He pushes off of his dad and yells, “Okay, see you later, Dad!” To I think everyone's surprise, he beelines to me and leans against my legs for a quick, slightly awkward hug. “Bye, Eve! See you tomorrow!”
