Chapter 24
LILA
Julian was supposed to start painting today, but I texted him when I woke up to see if he could begin the day after tomorrow instead and he agreed. After the date with Sutton last night, I need a day away. Cara and Maren were both happy to take an impromptu trip with me to Ohio.
The drive is fun. We blast our favorite music and stop at a couple of unique roadside shops along the way. I knew it’d be a good time, but another reason I asked them to join me was to get their opinion on things with Sutton.
Last night, when we were cuddled up in the movie theater, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore.
I’m starting to get feelings for him. I know we should probably end things.
That’s what you do when a fuck buddy situation gets complicated, but I’m struggling with it.
Hearing them say I should stop sleeping with him might help set my head straight.
That conversation can wait until tonight, though. First things first. We arrive at the playground equipment dealer in the afternoon.
“Wow, this place is massive,” Cara says, as the three of us enter the large glass doors to the showroom.
“It’s like kiddie paradise,” Maren adds.
They’re not wrong. The scent of plastic and rubber permeates the air and the place seems to explode with color. Climbing towers, tunnels, slides, bridges, platforms, swings, padded rollers…they have everything laid out.
A woman with a bounce in her step quickly approaches us, carrying a tablet. “Hi, what can I help you with today?” Her name tag reads Wanda.
“Hi, I’m Lila. I think we spoke on the phone.”
“Of course!” Her face lights up. “You’re looking to build out two rooms, one for ages two to six and one for six and up, right?” She taps on her screen. “I have some things saved to show you.”
“Great, thank you.”
“Let’s start with the options for younger children first.”
She leads us into an adjacent room. A low profile structure with crawling tunnels, soft steps, a mini slide, and a ball pit fills one area.
“This one is made for early development. It has a safe fall height, antimicrobial surfaces, and everything is modular so you can arrange and rearrange the parts to fit your space.”
It’s perfect, but another nearby item catches my attention. A thick sensory wall that’s covered in interlocking gears made of foam looks like so much fun. “Would it be possible to attach this along the perimeter of it? Maybe to fence it off on two sides?” If so, I know the perfect spot.
“Absolutely, let me show you how they fasten together.”
The saleswoman is incredibly helpful. After I know what I want from the young kids section, we move on to the main thing I came after. The huge “challenge course” we discussed on the phone has climbing walls, ramps, giant obstacles, slides, and a trampoline area.
I’m suddenly overwhelmed. It’s been one thing to imagine this business all these years. It’s another to stand in the middle of it. I can’t help but picture all the happy kids, running and climbing, free to be themselves.
The saleswoman has been running through her pitch while I try to wrap my head around things, and I tune back in as she finishes.
“If you plan to buy all three pieces we’ve looked at, I can get you a discount.
Plus, the financing we discussed. Zero interest for eighteen months and a custom payment plan that will include delivery, setup, and maintenance.
Why don’t we head to my office so we can go over the numbers? ”
“Yes, I also have some questions about the warranties.”
“We’ll just wait for you out here?” Maren suggests, glancing at me, then looking around again. Cara gives me a look, and the saleswoman laughs. “Feel free to explore the equipment. I know it’s irresistible.”
They rush off like two kids while I follow her back to her office. It doesn’t take long for us to make a deal. Delivery and setup is arranged, and it all goes a lot smoother than I thought it would.
I’m over the moon, thrilled that I got a good deal when I return to look for my friends.
Cara is laughing with another saleswoman and looking up at Maren, who stands at the top of a jungle gym made of thick, crisscrossing rubber straps. “Going up is easy. Let’s see you climb back down,” she teases, getting her phone out to video.
“There’s a slide,” the saleswoman suggests, gesturing to the opposite side of the platform.
“No, I got this!” Maren calls.
Famous last words. She steps out onto one of the straps.
It gives more than she expected and she falls backward.
Her ass goes through the center of the square formed by four straps.
But she doesn’t get stuck. Instead, it folds her in half like a lawn chair and her whole body slips through.
Suddenly, she’s hurtling toward the ground, falling through each level faster than the last. The lowest level catches her as we die laughing.
Maren lies on her back, one leg dangling down to the mat, and one arm still hooked on the strap above her. “Are you stuck?” I ask, when she stays there for a moment.
“I’m too old for this shit.” Her words only make us laugh harder.
I step onto the mat as she sits up. “You look like a spider in a web.”
She takes my hand for balance while she extricates herself from the grid of rubber and climbs out.
“I’m sorry,” the saleswoman says, still giggling. “That never gets old.”
“Are you okay?” I ask as we make our way out the door.
“Yes, but the damn thing tried to tie me in a bow.”
Cara snorts, climbing into my backseat. “It’s not the kind of rubber room I thought you’d end up trapped in.”
“I think I peed a little on the way down.”
“Let’s go to the hotel and get cleaned up for dinner,” I suggest, wiping my eyes.
It’s been a good day. I’ve got the equipment ordered, visited a couple of book stores with my friends, and now we’re at a Mexican restaurant for dinner and margaritas.
“Do you know when you plan to have your grand opening?” Cara asks, once we get our food.
“If everything goes well, it should be around the end of the year. I thought maybe I could do a sort of test run by holding a free holiday party there for the Happy Haven residents. Everyone could bring their kids and grandkids.”
“That’s a fantastic idea. Cooper and I were talking about doing a toys for tots sort of thing. We could provide the gifts,” Maren says.
“That would be amazing.”
Maren and I get a text at the same time containing the video of Maren’s trip through the rubber bands, and Cara grins at us. “I didn’t want to forget to share it.”
Maren rolls her eyes but her lips tilt up and she forwards it to her husband. “Cooper is going to love this.”
My first instinct is to send it to Sutton, and the realization gives me pause. This isn’t fuck buddy behavior. None of our recent behavior would fall into that category. All of our cuddling and time spent together, I just sort of let it happen and now I’m not sure what to do.
I forgot to text Amos when we arrived like I promised so I send him a picture of us instead. He sends one back that I can’t resist texting Sutton about. Why are they holding axes?
When I look up from my phone after our little text exchange is finished, Maren is looking at me.
“What?”
“You’re whole face is a smile. Is that Sutton?”
Damn it. With a heavy sigh, I lay my phone down. “Fine. I admit it. I’m catching feelings. I think I need to end things.”
“Hold up,” Cara says. “You have feelings for him?”
“It’s his fault. All I wanted was sex but then he started rubbing my back and the stupid cuddling, then we went on a date I didn’t realize was a date but it definitely was.
And now I’ve been away from him for not even twenty-four hours, and I want to text him to see how his day went and tell him about mine. Why did I even start this?”
They listen until the end of my rant, then share an amused glance before Cara says, “Okay, slow down. Remind me why this is a bad thing? Do you think he doesn’t feel the same?”
“I think he does. He acts like we’re together already.”
Maren stirs her drink. “You said that you misjudged him, that he’s grown up and everything so what’s the problem?” She holds up her hand. “And if you say the name Amos, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“I mean, that’s a big part of it. I’ve realized how much Sutton has supported him over the years, financially and otherwise. He would’ve ended up at my doorstep a long time ago if he hadn’t. He’s his best friend. I don’t want to blow up that friendship.”
Cara opens her mouth to speak, but I continue, the words pouring out.
“And is this really the best time for me to get into a relationship? When I’m unemployed and everything is so up in the air?
I should be focusing on my business not worrying about love.
” As soon as the word slips out, I correct myself.
“Not love. Feelings, whatever. You know what I mean.”
Cara sits back and sips her drink, looking me in the eye. “Have you talked yourself out of it yet or do you want to keep going?”
“I want you two to talk me out of it.” If they both tell me it’s a bad idea, maybe I’ll be able to believe it and stop thinking about him.
Maren shakes her head. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been into anyone like this. You always find something wrong with them.”
“Well, most men are annoying.”
“And Sutton isn’t?”
“He annoys the hell out of me but for some reason…” I flop back in my chair with a sigh.
“You like it?” Maren suggests.
At my silent nod, Cara leans in. “If Amos wasn’t a concern, would you date him?”
I take a moment to consider it but the answer is obvious. No matter how much I might try to tell myself the timing isn’t right, it wouldn’t stop me. “Yes.”
“Then don’t throw it away over some bro code shit. It’s none of your brother’s business who you date. Let them work it out. Amos will get over it.”
Maren nods her agreement. “And you won’t be living with either of them soon, right?”