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“Best friends,” I answer.
Her little lips frown.
Feeling like I just stole one of her stuffies, I add, “We didn’t become best friends until after we learned to read, write, and do lots of math.”
She nods. “’Cause school’s for learning.”
“Once you learn to read and write, the whole world opens up, and everything changes.”
“Like, what kinds of things?”
“The most important kinds of things,” I answer as I hit the turn signal to park near Nan’s place.
“What’s the most important kinds of things?” she asks.
“Things like”—I kill the engine and turn in my seat—“what waffle toppings do you like the most? Are you a blueberry, strawberry, or banana girl?”
She grins as I hop out. I round the front of the SUV, intent on opening the door for both of them, but Whit beats me to it and has a smug smirk on her face. She’s always been competitive, but never with me.
I turn to head for the door, wanting to make damn sure I get there to hold it open for them, but Nora grabs my hand. When I glance back, she’s holding Whit’s too.
I glance at Whit and notice she’s looking at the same damn thing. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that she and Kal don’t walk down Main Street while holding Nora’s hand like this, and both Whit and Nora deserve better. They deserve more than that fuck is possible of giving.
“You wanna swing?”
She looks up at me, squinting. “At the playground before school?”
“Right here and right now.” I look at Whit. “You got her?”
“She’s got me forever. Right, Mommy?” Nora twitters.
“You betcha.” Whit smiles and then counts, “One, two, three.” Whit and I lift her up together, and as soon as Nora’s little Chucks leave the ground, she lets out a belly laugh that should be scooped up and sold as happiness in a bottle. Her laughter draws the attention of everyone on the street.
When her feet touch the ground, she giggles. “Do it again!”
So, we do, all the way to Nan’s place.
We ate waffles. Banana and whipped cream were her favorite toppings, especially when I drizzled some chocolate sauce on them. When we dropped her off at school, she asked if we could swing her all the way in, so we did. When she asked if I could pick her up, Whit interrupted me by telling her that Popa B was picking her up, like he does every Monday.
I told her I’d see her around and gave her a hug.
As soon as I start the vehicle and pull out of Walton Elementary, all the warm and fuzzies turn to ice.
“Stop trying to date Nora.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, confused because the past hour or so has been amazing.
Whit shoves her phone in her pocket. “I should have put my foot down before, but this needs to stop. She’s going to get attached to you, and then you’ll be gone.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Whit. I’m?—”
She cuts me off. “I’m marrying Kal! Nora needs to bond with him, not you.”
“Let me ask you something, Whit. How long have you been engaged?”
“What does it matter?” she snaps.
“I’ve met Nora twice, and I already feel a bond growing. If he hasn’t bonded with her?—”
