Chapter 11
Bri
After a sluggish weekend enjoying the thought that we didn’t have to get up and go anywhere in particular on Monday, I decided we’d get up and go somewhere as I lay in bed Monday morning.
We had several playdates scheduled for this week and had already hosted Tori once, yesterday afternoon, but Monday was our only totally free day.
A trip to the coast was exactly what we needed. Springtime on the coast was always busy, but we were lucky to be in a tiny town that most tourists overlooked.
Still, when we got to the beach, it was pretty packed. With it being spring break, it was likely a bunch of locals all doing what we were, and sure enough, I saw several of my students. I hadn’t been here long enough to have any former students.
We ate food that was really bad for us and played in the sand. Hayden spotted a necklace at one of the many market stalls that dotted the tiny boardwalk. They were all over the place and booming with business.
The necklace was an intricately shaped dragon with gold gems as eyes. Hayden looked at me with big eyes. I sighed and got out my debit card. “If you weren’t such a good kid, I swear.”
The older woman manning the stall chuckled. “Being a good daughter brings many rewards.” She winked at Hayden. “You have good taste in jewelry. This dragon is special.” She took it off the stand and put it on Hayden. “See the gems on the dragon’s eyes?”
Hayden clutched the dragon and looked closely at it. The chain was long on her, so it hung halfway down her chest. “Yes. They’re pretty.”
“They’re tourmaline. Wear the dragon all the time and it will protect you and your family.” The older woman winked at me, and I laughed it off. Some people really got off on how much protection they could get from a rock.
But Hayden was enthralled with it. She tucked it down inside her shirt. “It’s warm,” she whispered as I held out my card.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is it cash only? I have some here, depending on the price of the necklace.”
The older woman cocked her head at Hayden and a slow smile spread over her face. “This one is on the house. Your little girl reminds me of someone.”
I held out a twenty. “Oh, no, please take this. I can’t accept it for free.”
She pushed my hand back. “Now, now. Let an old woman indulge a little girl.”
Hayden beamed up at her before throwing her arms around her. “Thank you!”
The woman looked startled for just a moment, then melted and hugged Hayden back. “My pleasure, sweet one. Now, just promise me you won’t take it off?”
“I promise,” Hayden chirped.
She kept pulling it out throughout the day and looking at it. Once when she did, I could’ve sworn I saw the eyes glow, but when I looked again, I was sure it had to be in my head. A reflection of light.
We walked around a while longer before Hayden tugged on my hand. “I’m hungry again.”
I chuckled because, for an almost seven-year-old, she ate like a grown man.
“Come on, there’s a food truck up here.” We headed toward the closest parking lot as someone called out my name.
I turned to see Jace coming down the boardwalk behind us with two small children hanging onto his legs.
I didn’t bother fighting my smile. He looked so dang cute with the kids I couldn’t help myself. It was an adorable sight.
“You should’ve told me you’d be here today,” he said. “We could’ve let the kids hang out and explore together.”
Hayden waved at the little ones tumbling off of Jace’s legs, then looked up at Jace, seeming to notice him for the first time. “You’re the man who was dying at the store that day,” she said. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”
“Me, too,” Jace said conspiratorially as I laughed. “It did feel like I was dying, but I’m doing a lot better now.”
Hayden pointed at the kids who were a bit younger than her. “Who are they?”
“I’m Will,” the little boy said.
“And I’m Walker,” said the girl.
“That’s a weird name,” Hayden said.
“Hayden!” I hissed. “That was rude. Apologize now.”
Hayden looked at her feet, embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to say anything hurtful,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Walker.”
Walker looked at Hayden. “What’s your name?”
“Hayden.”
“That’s weird too. We can be friends.”
Hayden brightened up. “Okay!”
Walker took Hayden’s hand. “Have you played any of the games yet?”
Hayden shook her head. “No, where are they?”
All three kids looked at Jace and me. “Can we go?” Will asked Jace.
He looked at me. “Up to Bri.”
“Please, Mom?” Hayden looked so hopeful.
“I thought you were hungry,” I said.
She shrugged. “I can wait until after we play games.”
I laughed and threw my hands up. At least it would give me a reason to spend some more time with Jace without it being overly obvious. “I guess.” They squealed and took off. Jace and I had to hurry to stay on their heels.
“So, where’d you pick up a couple of kids?” I asked.
Jace chuckled. “My buddy, Wayne, you met him at the shooting range.”
“Oh, these are his kids?”
I smiled at Will, who tripped and fell in the sand but jumped up and brushed himself off before sprinting to catch up with the girls.
“No, actually, his sister’s. He was supposed to babysit but got called on a last-minute job. I told him I’d spend the day with them at the beach while he takes care of his client nearby.”
“What does Wayne do?” Taking care of a client sounded so ominous.
“He’s a personal chef. Stays pretty busy, too.”
I bet he did. He’d been a handsome one. Jace and I stuck close to each other as we watched the kids play. “How’d the rest of your weekend go?” he asked. “I was hoping you’d text.”
“I spent a lot of time thinking,” I admitted. “I was going to text you tonight about our date.” I chuckled. “It was hard to think about anything else, if I’m being totally honest.”
He’d sent several texts over the weekend, and I’d responded, but it hadn’t felt overwhelming. Just light and teasing. Flirty. Every time my phone dinged, I got butterflies again and had to force myself not to run and respond right away.
“Couldn’t think about anything else… besides me?” he asked hopefully.
“I did. I just don’t know exactly what we’re doing.” The kids found a giant bowling set and got in line to play. I loved that the city provided things like this free of charge. I also loved that we weren’t inundated with tourists.
“What are you uncertain about?” he asked. “I’ll clear up anything I can.”
At least he wasn’t afraid to talk about this stuff.
It could’ve been worse, that he wanted to avoid it at all costs.
“I haven’t dated anyone but Hayden’s dad.
I’ve been divorced for three years, and in all that time, not a single date until you.
” I gave him a sheepish look. “Men are foreign to me in my adult life. I don’t want to make assumptions and end up looking like an idiot. I feel… out of my element.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. I’m not in any way trying to rush you into anything. I just want to get to know you while you get to know me. That way you can decide if I’m someone worth knowing for a longer time. And if I’m someone you’d like to have in your daughter’s life.”
I smiled, happy to hear him include Hayden.
“What if we take it one day at a time and as we get to know each other better, then we can discuss labels. If that’s what you want.”
That sounded wonderful. “Okay. But I have to say… you’ve got a bit of a reputation. I hope you’re not playing games with me.”
He glanced to see that the kids were distracted and grabbed my hand.
“That’s the furthest thing from my mind.
I’ve never felt this way about a woman. You haven’t dated, but neither have I.
None of the relationships I’ve had have ever had an element of seriousness.
” He paused and let out a deep breath. “Not since my early twenties. With you, I want all of that. Dates, seriousness and whatever might come after.”
Jace remained with us for the rest of the day.
At one point, Hayden came over pouting because she lost a game and said she felt cheated.
I started to give a lesson about how she can’t win at everything, but then Jace asked me to hang on before he walked over to the booth where they were giving away one free game before you have to pay.
It was a basketball game, which Hayden was really good at for her age.
I had to admit I was a bit surprised she’d lost.
Jace looked closely at the ball before he looked back at Hayden. “Always follow your instincts,” he said. “You were cheated. Some of the balls are overly inflated, and the rims are smaller than the ball.” Hayden looked at the man running the game. “Ha!”
He shrugged. “It’s business.”
I couldn’t see Jace’s face as he was standing in front of me, but he said something in a low voice to the man. The man’s face drained of color before he waved Hayden over and told her to pick a prize. Hayden picked the biggest panda the guy had and high-fived Jace as thanks.
“That girl’s got my card now.” He chuckled.
Hayden knew an easy target. “You’re going to be winning me things all night,” she said excitedly.
Jace just smiled indulgently as Will and Walker clamored to see the panda. “I don’t mind winning things.”
The look in his eyes told me he meant it. My heart skipped a beat.
Sure enough, for the rest of the evening, Jace had all three kids playing and winning games, even if Jace had to help out.
By the time the sun set, Hayden was worn out. We got a funnel cake and sat down at a picnic table, and she laid her head on her hands and went to sleep.
Hayden was extremely tall for her age, and I wasn’t overly tall for mine. The result was that the child was darn near as tall as me already. I only had about a foot on her. I tried to pick her up, but Jace laughed at me. “I’ve got her,” he whispered.
He scooped her up in his arms and I gathered up Will and Walker.
They looked exhausted as well. “All three are going to sleep like the dead,” I said as we walked to the car.
Jace helped Hayden inside and strapped her in.
I stood by and she mumbled something in her sleep that I didn’t catch but Jace froze before he replied to her, then shut the door.
He cupped my face, so I looked up at him. “Thank you for allowing us to tag along with you today.”
I trembled when his thumb caressed my cheek. “No big deal. I enjoyed it.”
He glanced at the kids, who hopefully weren’t watching, and pressed the lightest of kisses to my lips. “Text me when you get home,” he whispered.
I nodded and got in, waving as we pulled away. On my drive home, I felt this pull in my chest that I couldn’t explain but something inside made me want to just roll with it. It all felt right.