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“Naomie is on a mission to create drama,” he says softly, and my stomach twists. “I hadn’t heard from her since we finalized our divorce, but she’s sent me about a dozen text messages today, asking if she can come over so we can talk.”
I press my lips together. “It seems like your ex and mine are reading the same book. Bowie told me today that you and Naomie are still…” I glace down at Kingston quickly before focusing back across the table. “You know.”
“We’re not.” His jaw gets hard.
“I know,” I say quietly, then add, “I didn’t believe him.”
“Good.”
“It seems like all is not perfect in paradise.”
“That’s on them.”
“Yeah,” I whisper because he’s right. That is on them, and they deserve each other.
“Do you want to play a game wif me?” Kingston asks, looking at Tucker as he takes off his headphones and sets them aside.
“Sure, bud.” Instead of Kingston asking for me to move so he can go around to the other side of the table, he disappears under it and appears a second later next to Tucker.
I watch the two of them as they play something on the iPad, then when our food arrives, Tucker sets it aside and helps Kingston stay focused on eating. It’s sweet and obvious that he’s had experience, most likely with his niece. By the time we are done and get home, it’s time for Kingston to bathe and go to bed, so Tucker doesn’t stick around long, but he does kiss me at the door before he leaves and promises to see me the next evening when he gets off work.
So, all in all, it’s a flipping great real first date.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
miranda
“M, your phone’s ringing!” Emma shouts, and I glance at her over my shoulder.
“I’ll call them back.” I finish rinsing out my client’s hair, then soak it with the toner I’ve already prepared. When I have it completely covered, I touch her shoulder, and she opens her eyes. “Fifteen minutes.”
“Okay.” She smiles before closing her eyes once more.
I go to the next sink and wash my hands, then set a timer before I wander back to my station. I check the screen of my phone, and my heart drops into my stomach when I see the call I missed is from Bowie, who would have picked up Kingston about an hour ago from daycare.
Dialing him back, I put my phone to my ear and wrap my arm around my middle as I listen to the phone ring.
“Hey,” Bowie answers, sounding totally normal, and with Kingston not crying or screaming in the background, my muscles relax.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Kingston and I were talking about what to do for dinner, and I think we’re going to go to that Mexican place you love downtown. I wanted to see if you’d like to join us when you get off work?”
“Umm, sorry, I can’t.” I look over at Emma, who I can feel staring at me from where she’s sitting in her chair between clients.
“Why not?” Bowie asks, and Emma raises a brow.
“I have plans,” I say slowly.
“With Tucker?” The question makes me want to throw my cell across the salon, and the only reason I don’t do that is because, right now, I can’t afford a new one.
“I’m with a client right now. Can you tell Kingston I’ll call him at bedtime?” I ask because it’s obvious I need to change the subject. It’s also obvious that Bowie is set to play a game I have zero interest in.
“Yeah, sure.” He hangs up without even saying goodbye, and I glare at my phone.
“Let me guess,” Emma says, and I look up at her. “That was Bowie, and he wanted to invite you to go out to dinner with him and Kingston?”
“How’d you guess?”
“Because Bowie is a jealous idiot who doesn’t want anyone to have what he considers his, even if he wasn’t taking care of it.”
“It’s so annoying.” I sigh as I begin to clean up my station and get ready to cut and blow out my client’s hair.
“I bet it is.”
“Tucker told me last night that Naomie has been messaging him too.”
“She and Bowie deserve each other.” Her eyes wander over my face, and she sighs. “I hate to tell you this, but they won’t stop. If the two of them are unhappy with each other, they are going to despise the fact that you and Tucker are happy together.”
“I know. I just don’t know how worried I should be.”
“Why would you be worried?”
“Tucker and I are just beginning to get to know each other. Things are fragile right now, and—”
“And nothing,” she cuts me off. “If Tucker has staying power, he’s going to take care of what Bowie should have been taking care of all along, and neither your ex nor his is going to be able to stop him from doing that.”
