AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Why in the world does Jamie want me to go to Chicago with them? I stare at him with my mouth hanging open. “You want me to go with you?”
“Sammy adores you and I was hoping you could stay with her while I meet with Beth.”
I lift my sunglasses and gaze at him intently. “You must have a lot of friends in the city.”
“I do.” He takes off his sunglasses as well, showing off his shockingly beautiful blue eyes. “But I’m not sure they’d support what I’m doing, and I don’t want to have to explain myself.”
While I’m pretty sure Beth has forfeited her right to know her daughter, Sammy has the right to meet her mother if she wants to. “I’m sure they’d support you no matter what.”
“Are you saying you won’t go with us?” He sounds borderline panicky.
“I don’t know what I’m saying,” I tell him honestly. “I’m just super confused as to why you’d want me to go with you. You hardly know me.”
“I know you,” he says somewhat passionately. “I know that you’re kind and caring. I know that my daughter means something to you. What else matters?”
Now is probably not the time to tell him that I still want him to kiss me. Even after going out with Tim again on Wednesday night, I have Jamie on the brain in the worst way. “My being there might make Sammy uncomfortable.”
“Not only does she adore you, but talks very freely in front of you,” he says. “I’m guessing if she had a choice in the matter, she’d want you above anyone else.”
“Shouldn’t you give her the choice?” Yes, I’m stalling, but this seems like a highly personal thing for me to be doing for someone who until very recently made it clear he wants nothing to do with me. Now, apparently, he wants me to be his friend, but just so I’ll help him.
“Why are you so resistant to this idea?” he wants to know.
Because I know what it’s like to spend hours in the car with you and all I can think about is jumping on your lap and kissing you senseless.Obviously, I don’t share that bit of information. Instead, I go with, “I could only do it on Sunday.”
All the tension drops from his face. “Sunday is great. Thank you so much, Melissa.”
I bob my head up and down, but I don’t say anything.Why did I cave and tell him I’d go with him?I must be a total glutton for punishment.
As I try to avoid his gaze, I see Tim across the pool sitting on a lounge chair. He’s clearly not working today as he’s wearing swimming trunks and nothing else. I’m about to wave to him when I notice he’s not alone. It looks like the scantily clad blonde sitting next to him is with him. I know he told me he was going to date other people, but even so, this is highly uncomfortable.
I’m tempted to drape my towel over my face and fumble my way to the nearest exit. But before I can, he spots me. Tim waves easily which prompts me to stand up and stroll over to him. “Hi there, bro,” I call out, remembering us teasing about how we’d react if we ran into each other while we were on dates with other people.
“Sister Missy!” he replies with a smile. “Fancy meeting you here at the pool.”
“I’m here with Jamie and Sammy,” I tell him.
“How are things going?” Tim was clearly serious when he suggested I date Jamie as well as him. Heck, he practically threw me into Jamie’s arms onourdate here.
“We’re going to Chicago next Sunday,” I tell him. I don’t bother explaining why.
“That sounds promising.” He doesn’t sound the least bit jealous.
“We’re going for Sammy.”
Tim notices my eyes turn toward his companion, so he offers, “Missy, this is my date, Shandy.”
As soon as Shandy looks up, I see that she’s young. Like, not a day over twenty-four. She smiles sweetly. “Hey.”
I’m tempted to tell her that hay is for horses, but I’m not sure she’s old enough to recognize that particular idiomatic phrase. Heck, she’s probably never even heard of an idiom. “Hello to you, too.” I sound like her grandmother’s maiden aunt.
“Are you Tim’s sister?” she asks. I suppose I should be grateful she didn’t ask if I was a nun. Not that many nuns hang out at pools in hot pink swimming suits.
“Yes,” I say at the same time Tim says, “No.”
Tim takes the bull by the horns and tells Shandy, “Melissa and I went to school together when we were kids. We’re dating.”
I’m not sure how I expect Shandy to react, but I don’t expect her to wink at me and say, “Cool. We should get together and compare notes some time.”
