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“I insist. Besides, didn’t you say you wanted homemade pancakes for breakfast?”
“Okay, you twisted my arm. I’ll text Love when we are awake and moving in the morning.”
Love and I both give Jade a hug as we head for the door, but I stop to have one last look at Connor. I want nothing more than to curl up with him on the couch and never move, but I need to make sure the girls both understand we are nothing but friends.
“Night, honey. Make sure you lock up when we leave,” I tell Jade as she slowly closes the door. I wait until I hear the deadbolt lock before Love and I turn and head toward home.
After spending the evening with Connor and Jade, I realize that’s the one thing Love and I have been missing all these years—a family. People to come home to who love and care for us as much as we care for them. Here’s to hoping that my attraction to Connor does not ruin this for either of us.
Chapter 11
Audrey
“Here goes nothing,” I whisper to myself as I shuffle the deck of tarot cards a few times before placing the stack flat on the table and cutting it.
I haven’t felt the need to use my tarot cards since we first moved here a little over a month ago, but right now, I’m in desperate need of some guidance.
“Should I start a relationship with Connor Bennett?” I whisper into the kitchen before taking a deep breath and flipping over a card. I gasp in surprise as I look down at the Two of Cups. “Huh, that’s not what I was expecting.”
This seems like the first time in years that the cards have given me the answer that I wanted. There is no hidden meaning or secret subtext to getting the Two of Cups when asking a relationship question. This card signifies the union of two souls. Although, it’s not only used to describe romantic relationships but also good friendships and partnerships between two people based on a mutual understanding. That describes Connor andme in spades. We’re both single parents, have a secret love for Disney movies, and prefer spending time with our children over just about anything else.
“See? Even the deck is telling you to give Connor a chance,” Love chimes in from behind me. “Can you stop avoiding him now?”
It’s been a few weeks since Connor injured his back, and things have finally gone relatively back to normal. I’ve gotten into a routine at work and even managed to get most of the house unpacked, which was a huge undertaking. Jade and Love have dance classes every Tuesday and Thursday night, and if they aren’t in class together, they text each other back and forth until the wee hours of the morning.
“I haven’t been avoiding Connor. I’ve just been busy with work and unpacking.”
I’m only in partial denial. Bristol has been keeping me busy at the studio. I’m working at the studio four times a week and the odd class on the weekends, ensuring that my schedule remains flexible in case Love needs anything or an emergency arises. But my schedule isn’t nearly as full as I’d like.
“Whatever you say, Mom. If it wasn’t for the texts he sends you almost every day, I doubt you’d have spoken to him since the doctor gave him a clean bill of health weeks ago.”
After spending time taking care of Connor, I know deep down he’s nothing like Ian. Not only is he drop-dead gorgeous, but he’s an amazing father and friend.He’s completely devoted to Jade, but he seems to have developed a soft spot for Love, as well. He always goes out of his way to check on her after dance class and makes a point to bring her favorite treat from Just the Drip whenever he picks up Jade from class. I expected him to have started to ignore Love, but he’s done the exact opposite. I know deep down that even if I never speak to him again, if Love needs anything, he’ll be there with bells on.
“It wasn’t weeks ago,” I mumble, knowing Love is right. “And we don’t text all the time.”
“Okay, maybe you don’t talk while you’re working, but I know for a fact that Auntie Bristol, Auntie Selina, and Auntie Leia aren’t texting you all night long. They have lives.”
“Rude. Besides, how do you know that?” I scoff, knowing damn well these four have been up to something.
Earlier this week, Leia, Selina, and Bristol all started wanting to know more about what was going on with Connor and me. Wanting to know how things went during dinner at his house and, more importantly, when I was going to let Connor take me on a date—the one thing I’ve been desperately trying to avoid. I know if I go on a date with Connor, that will lead to something more, which will lead to a relationship, which could blow up in my face. It is one of the main reasons I pulled out my tarot cards today. I want to go on a date with Connor, but all those pesky what-if questions keep swirling around in my mind. Love is doing amazing here in Tyson’s Creek,not to mention this is the first place that’s felt like home since my parents died. How can I risk ruining all of this for a man that I’ve only known for a month?
“Because we have a group chat. Those three are about to take matters into their own hands and force you to talk to Connor.”
“They wouldn’t dare.”
“You know as well as I do they would.” She narrows her eyes at me as her phone chimes loudly, signaling an incoming text. I don’t even have to ask who it is. Love’s eyes scan the screen before she turns her attention back to me. “Jade wants to know when we’re going to come over again for dinner,” Love questions as she plops down into a seat near the breakfast nook.
“I don’t know. I need to check my schedule with Bristol.”
“Nurture Space closes at six p.m., Mom.”
“And? I came here to help your Auntie Bristol with anything she needs, and sometimes that means staying late at work.”
“You’re avoiding them, aren’t you?”
“No. What makes you say that?” My voice raises slightly, knowing full well that Love is right.
When Connor was recovering from his fall, we spent almost every day, before and after work, at their place. Love and I headed over to Connor’s house to make breakfast and check on him. We’d have a loud breakfast full of laughter before I had to head to work. Love stayed at theirhouse to make sure Connor was resting, and the two of them would report his behavior, good or bad, to me when I let them know I was on my way to make dinner or grab them to head off to dance class. Afterward, we would have a nice dinner together, then settle in around the television for a movie before Love and I headed home for the night.
