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“Maybe nine. That’s when things get fun over there, but it’s really up to you.”
Bending at the waist, I dipped to pick up the scraps from the cut he’d made with his table saw, just for something to do.
“How about eight? That way it’s not so packed, and I won’t be tempted to bail.”
He gave me a wide smile and nodded. “Eight, can I pick you up, or…?”
“I’ll meet you there. I have to help at Liam’s for a bit before I go.”
I turned so I didn’t have to see his response to that because it didn’t matter. I had made a deal with Liam to help him, and I’d honor that regardless of whatever confusing shit had happened between us. In the meantime, I was making my own friends, and I was going to have fun.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Cute Kids Sized Drinks
Dreaming about the Future
Boy short underwear for platonic reasons
New Friends
Baking
Ignoring Red Flags
Orgasms
I helda cardboard drink carrier in my hand when the yellow school bus stopped by the row of mailboxes a block down from Liam’s house. I watched as all the little kids hopped off and ran to waiting parents who readily pulled them into hugs. It made something ping in my chest, as if a light suddenly shone on something I had never dared desire. Seeing them all; the smiles and cute little faces. Yeah, I could definitely see myself as a mom someday.
It was the first time I had ever really considered it, but for whatever reason, it was imprinted on my mind now. Like a little picture pinned to my dream board.
Maybe I could settle down with a guy like Jeffery. Objectively, he was handsome. Suddenly I imagined what that would be like. Growing to like him. Eventually learning to love him. We could have a family and be happy like these other families seemed to be. But that scenario suddenly flipped quickly because I’d always know that across town lived Liam, Maddy, Mila, and Seraphina. Suddenly that ping in my chest turned into a tight squeeze.
“Haley!” Maddy called, stepping off the bus. She waited for Mila to come next and held her hand, leading her away from the bus. Seraphina came after, and all three girls walked over to me. I knelt and pulled them each into a snug hug.
“Here, I got us mochas.” They were more like milkshakes, made with chocolate instead of any coffee, but the cute, kid-sized cups made it look like they were drinking coffee.
“Yay!” Mila squealed, reaching for hers.
I plucked each drink out of the holder and handed it to each girl.
We walked in easy conversation while the sun shone brightly down on us. The weather had started to warm up, which was such a nice reprieve. It was still the first part of January, but the sun felt nice, and seeing all the melting snow made me think spring might be on the way.
“Are you going to pick us up every day?” Maddy asked as we crossed the street and headed into their driveway.
I focused on entering the code Liam had given me and then opened the door.
“I’m not sure yet. This is still something we’re trying out, but I would like to,” I said, shutting and locking the door.
The girls all dropped their things in the entryway, jackets on the ground, boots all tossed chaotically, and backpacks dropped randomly. We’d done this yesterday too; I walked them home from the bus and then came inside, only to have them drop everything and walk away.
“Ladies,” I called, staying in the entryway.
They all turned toward me. I tucked my boots under the bench, and hung up my coat on the wall hook, all while raising my brow, hoping they would catch on. Maddy moved first. She picked up her backpack and hung it, then her coat, and put away her boots.
I smiled, watching as the other two fell into line next, copying their older sister.
“Can we have a snack?” Mila asked, tipping those big blue eyes up to me. Her hair had come loose from this morning, but it was still so adorably perfect.
