Chapter 5
5
S nuggling Gabby on the couch, I press my cheek against her warm forehead, grateful I get to spend the whole day comforting her.
It’s been forever since we’ve had a lazy day in the house.
We hardly spend any time here, and it shows.
The walls around us are bare.
Watching her favorite cartoon, I feel relaxed until my mind drifts to the idea of texting her dad.
Should I let him know she’s sick?
No.
This is day two of this low-grade fever, and outside of her being a little lethargic, she seems good.
She’ll be recovered or at least a lot better by the time he picks her up tomorrow evening.
There’s no point in giving him an excuse to bail on his every-other-weekend duty.
When he’s with her, he’s great—he loves to read Gabby stories and be outside with her.
But getting him to show up is the hardest part.
He’s been able to come up with more than a few excuses about why he can’t make the less than two-hour drive from Chicago or even the one-hour drive if we meet in the middle.
A familiar bitterness creeps in.
My relaxation is over, and frustration takes hold.
I’m the one who has to make up for his absences, who has to smooth over Gabby’s disappointment when he can’t make it.
He acts like I should be so grateful for “his” money, like that makes up for everything or like it’s even enough.
But I would trade every cent for a dad who’s consistent, who’s a real presence in her life.
A dad she sees more than the few days a month that he can barely manage.
My phone buzzes on the coffee table.
Is this him canceling already?
That would be like clockwork.
Reaching for my phone, I see it’s a text from Aaron.
Do they need me at the bar?
Are they already slammed?
Aaron Olson
Jake, the firefighter from yesterday, is looking for you.
He has a gift for you and Gabby in hand.
What should I do?
Jake the firefighter.
A gift?
For me and Gabby?
Why am I smiling?
I shake my head, almost laughing at myself.
What a whiplash from being pre-mad at my ex to having some guy trying to be too cute.
To have a guy trying, I repeat internally more than a few times.
It’s been a while since anyone has.
Points for Jake.
At least he isn’t a barfly.
I’ve never seen him at High Five before, and I feel like I’ve met the whole town at this point since working there.
More points for Jake.
But who is he?
What does he want?
I glance down at Gabby, who’s completely enthralled with her cartoon.
We’re both still in our pajamas and rocking bedhead, leaning into the lazy day.
Maybe I should ignore this text, avoid the whole thing altogether.
Curiosity gets the better of me though, and I type back a quick response.
Claire Moore
Do you know anything about this guy?
There’s a long pause, and I imagine Aaron debating what to say.
Then my phone buzzes again.
Aaron Olson
Good guy.
Spent four years in the Marines after high school and is now a firefighter.
Not a player.
I knew he was in the military!
It was all over him.
Not a player.
I can’t help but roll my eyes.
If I had a dollar for every time someone vouched for a guy who turned out to be exactly what they swore he wasn’t …
but Aaron wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true.
Claire Moore
Are you trying to set me up?
Aaron Olson
Do you want to be set up?
What a question.
Do I?
I look down at Gabby’s sweet, flushed face.
I’ve gotten so used to keeping my guard up, to being cautious.
Since the divorce, I’ve made sure she hasn’t met anyone I’ve gone on a date with, not that there have been many.
I went on one date that ended faster than it started and a few dates with another guy.
The flutter in my chest is saying I should let Aaron set me up.
I mean, Jake’s smokin’ hot at the very least.
Claire Moore
Maybe.
Gabby stirs, snuggling closer, and I kiss the top of her head.
Whatever happens, I remind myself, I’ll take it one step at a time.
I’ve learned the hard way not to jump into things without thinking them through.
My phone buzzes again, and I glance at Aaron’s reply, feeling that flutter in my chest grow a little stronger.
Aaron Olson
I’ll let him know you’re not uninterested.
No pressure, though.
No pressure .
I shake my head, realizing how I’m mindlessly smiling at my phone.
Let’s see what happens.