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After playing catch, Wes and Katie drop down on the blanket I’ve laid out and both go for their water bottles. Wes sighs dramatically after taking an abnormally large gulp, and I have to bite back a laugh when Katie mimics his every move.
“You’re really good, kid,” he says, smiling at Katie, and from the lift in the corner of his eyes, I can tell he’s holding back a laugh too.
“I’m going to play when I get big,” she says, stretching her arm up as high as it will go, and then adds, “This was way better than swimming.”
Wes’s confused eyes briefly flash my way before they’re back on Katie. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to do swimming and Mom said I could skip it.”
His eyes meet mine again, and this time there’s a hint of concern there. I shake my head to tell him it’s fine, but his brows furrow for a moment before he smiles. “I love swimming. Why don’t you want to go?”
“I just don’t like it anymore,” Katie says with her arms crossed in front of her. In other words…conversation over.
Wes nods and replies, “Okay, good enough for me.” But I can tell he wants to ask me about it.
“Who’s ready for ice cream?” he adds, changing the subject and smiling when Katie’s mood instantly lifts.
We eat way too much ice cream and get take-out sushi on the way home, my idea of balancing out the good with the bad. Katie starts fading as soon as her plate is clean, and even though you’d think that would mean an easy bedtime for her, it won’t. It’s like she gets a second wind as soon as the wordbedis mentioned.
“All right, Katie. Say goodnight to Wes.”
“But Mooommm.”
“No buts. You’ve had a big day. It’s time for sleep. Wes is going home now. Aren’t you, Wes.”
He widens his eyes almost comically, clearly not expecting me to say that, but when he sees my expression, he recovers. “Yep, I’m off. I’m so tired,” he says with an exaggerated yawn, as he raises his hands over his head. His T-shirt rises and a sliver of skin peeks out along with that V. It’s so mouthwatering, I have to fight to keep my eyes on his face. “I had a lovely day. Thanks, Katie,” he continues, completely unaware of the effect he has on me. “Can we do it again?”
Katie yawns right back at him, as do I—those things are contagious—then she nods. “Yes, please.”
“Perfect. I’ll plan it with your mom. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
We head off toward the bedrooms, and even though I thought I made myself clear that I didn’t want him to leave, I throw a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure that he hasn’t.
As soon as our eyes meet, he smiles and nods, putting my mind at ease.
I need him here tonight, for so many reasons, and that smile is everything.
When I finally finish getting Katie off to sleep, I find Wes staring out my kitchen window. “Sorry about that,” I say as I approach. “Katie wanted you to help. It took some bargaining to win her over.”
He spins around quickly with a furrowed brow, as if processing my words before shaking off his thoughts and smiling. “Sorry, I was in my head. What did you say?”
Releasing a breathy laugh, I move around him, pouring myself a glass of water. “It doesn’t matter. Thank you for today. It was fun.”
“You’re welcome. Katie’s a great kid.”
“She has her moments. But I’ve always instilled it in her to behave around others. So, at least we know she sometimes listens.”
“Meaning she only givesyouhell?“
“Something like that.” I smile.
“Sounds exactly like how her mom is with me,” he jokes, and I smile until a thought comes to mind.
“I still can’t believe you thought that I’d keep her from you, Wes,” I say, bringing down the mood but feeling the need to talk to him about it.
He grimaces before running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want to believe it. But Luce, I barely trust myself anymore, let alone other people.”
