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I never noticed him this way before—all the small details aplatonicfriend probably wouldn’t notice. The way his biceps flexed under the short sleeve of his uniform. The way his forearms pulsed as he grabbed onto the strap on his shoulder. His defined chin-line along the collar of his shirt with that small hint of five o’clock shadow. The way the uniform pulled at his shoulder blade and down to his lower back…
I shook my head.
Maybe it was just the uniform.
Even though I’ve seen him in the uniform a million times.
“I’m sorry,” he mused. “It was supposed to be my week off.” He turned and walked to Holly, who was focused on the Nintendo Switch, not even caring her dad was leaving the apartment. “I’m sorry, Holl. I’ll be back late tonight, but Aunt Maddy is here and she's gonna hang out with you while I work.”
“I’m eight years old, Dad. I can be home alone,” Holly retorted.
Milo and I both let out a laugh. Holly was so independent. She was determined at her young age that she could own her own house and do the upkeep on it better than Milo did with his small apartment.
“Yeah, no,” he replied, “Maddy’s here, and you are going to follow her rules. Do you understand?” He rubbed her short brown hair, messing it up even more than it already was. Her independence always ended with hair brushing.
“Yup,” she muttered. “Can we order a pizza?”
Milo groaned. “Yes, you can order a pizza.” He turned to look at me, and I lost my breath again. It wasn’t the uniform. His sea blue eyes hit me, and they locked onto me. His eyes, I remembered, being thrown back twelve years, was something that I had first noticed about him, only to forget about their ability to captivate me over the years of friendship. He was obviously oblivious to any reaction I had to the newfound attractiveness to his eyes because he just kept talking. “Can I Venmo you?”
I nodded, knowing that if I were to talk, I would squeak.
“Thanks, I gotta run. They said it was going to be a half shift since Jeremy got sick.” He passed by me, and as if it was something he did every day, gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Most likely midnight.”
I choked back a cough. “Not a problem,” I said, trying to keep my voice together. “We will order pizza and watch a rom-com.”
Holly perked up and looked over at us.
“Spider-Man can technically be a rom-com…” Milo retorted.
“Go.” I placed my hand on his shoulder and pushed him out the door, ignoring the feel of his body against my hand.
He wiggled his eyebrows and shut the door, and just as he was gone, so were the flutters and crazy thoughts. I smiled and looked back at Holly, who still had her nose on that Nintendo.
“Holly,” I said loud enough for her to turn her eyes toward me. “I get your mom doesn't have a Nintendo, but let’s get that pizza and movie. Do you think your dad will mind if we go get Niko?”
Holly jumped off the couch instantly and placed the Switch in its charging dock, turning toward me with a smile. She loved Niko. “He won’t care. Just let me get my shoes! Can we go to the Flying Pie?” Her voice faded as she ran down the hall into her bedroom.
“Is that even a question?” I responded.
There was a faint “yaaay” from Holly’s room, and she emerged moments later with her tennis shoes on her feet. “Can I walk Niko?” Her smile grew as she mentioned Niko.
“You’re getting stronger now. I bet you can handle him.”
“Yes!” She gave me a fist bump and opened the door to the apartment. I turned to follow her, using my key to lock the door behind us.
Thankfully, Niko loved car rides, and he loved Holly even more. Holly sat next to him, her arm around his big floofy body, and the pizza sat with me in the front seat, filling the car with the delicious scent of pepperoni and sausages. Instead of going back to the apartment, I took the road to Mount Tabor Park, knowing full well we could sit on a table and eat our pizza, and then Holly could go play on the play set to get all her energy out, allowing me to pick my favorite rom-com and have her pass out on the couch.
It was the perfect plan. Niko and Holly both got excited when I parked. Holly grabbed Niko’s leash and ran out of the car, finding the nearest picnic table next to the playset, Niko basically pulling her along as they ran. Holly sat and waited patiently for me to arrive with the pizza.
“What movie do you want to watch tonight?” I asked, even though I knew I would most likely veto her option.
“Hmm…” Holly hummed, narrowing her eyes and acting as if she were deep in thought. “What aboutMy Big Fat Greek Wedding?”
My jaw dropped, and my eyes went wide. No way was I vetoing that! “How do you know about that movie? That's way before you time.”
“Mom has it. She says I’m too young for it.”
“Well, that’s bullshit.” I said, the swear coming out quicker than expected. I stopped, tightening my lips to a line and looked at Holly.
