Chapter 9
Julia
Ilost track of how many times I changed clothes for the trip to the petting zoo. I finally settled on a white T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
Normally, I wore my hair in a bun during the work week, but I allowed myself more flexibility on the weekend.
I had pulled my hair into an Afro puff at the back and added lip gloss to my lips and a little mascara to my eyes to round out my look.
Overall, my appearance was casual and practical, hopefully signaling that I wasn’t trying too hard.
Leanne appeared in the doorway. “I see you finally decided on an outfit.”
“I didn’t take that long,” I said, turning to check my back in the mirror. Booty looked good.
“This is me you’re talking to. It’s obvious you’re trying to impress the hot daddy you’ve been eating ice cream with all week.”
“First of all, I never said he was hot.”
“You didn’t have to. Every time you talk about them—especially him—you get this starry-eyed look on your face. Anyway, I came by to say have fun on your date.”
“It’s not a date! We’re going to the petting zoo, and there will be a child present.”
“Oh, excuse me. Have fun on your little outing to the petting zoo with a child present.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively before disappearing down the hallway.
I shook my head, laughing to myself. She was right about me taking extra time to get ready, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing she was correct.
Grabbing my crossbody bag, I exited the bedroom. On the way out, I said goodbye to Leanne and the kids and hopped in my car for the drive to the petting zoo. When I arrived at the entrance, Marcus and Noah hadn’t arrived yet.
Standing alone, I had time to question my decision as I watched families and single moms stroll in with their little ones. What in the world was I doing here? I should be home doing laundry like I had planned. Instead, I was waiting with bated breath for Marcus and little Noah to arrive.
“Miss Julia!”
I turned to see Noah’s excited face as he ran toward me, Marcus following at a slower pace behind him. As usual, Noah was wearing his Robin costume, but Marcus wasn’t Batman today. He wore dark jeans, a gray T-shirt that fit way too well, and sunglasses that hid his eyes. Dang, he looked good.
“Hey there!” I crouched down, catching Noah as he barreled into me and wrapped his arms around my neck.
His enthusiastic hug made me a little emotional.
He was so happy to see me, and there was something about his childlike, open, unadulterated joy that hit me in the feels. “Are you ready to see some goats?”
His smile was all teeth. “So ready! I want to see their eyes. Did you know their pupils are shaped like rectangles?”
Standing, I rested my hands on my hips. “No, but that’s pretty cool.”
“It helps them see all the way around so they don’t have to turn their heads, and it protects them from predators.”
“He watched videos on YouTube about goats all night last night,” Marcus said dryly, sounding as if he had had it up to his eyeballs with the goat commentary, but his smile was warm and easy. “I know way too much about goats—more than I ever thought I would or believed was even possible.”
I laughed a little.
“Goats are interesting, Uncle Marcus,” Noah said, completely serious.
“I agree with him,” I said.
Marcus removed the sunglasses and hooked them at the front of his shirt. “I see what’s going on. Two against one, huh?”
Noah giggled. “Me and Miss Julia against you.”
“Not cool.” Marcus poked him twice in the side, and the little boy giggled and edged away. Then, Marcus’s eyes quickly swept over me—long enough for me to notice, but short enough that it didn’t seem disrespectful. “He hasn’t stopped talking about this visit since you agreed to come.”
“I’m happy to be here,” I replied sincerely. In fact, the anxiety I had experienced while getting dressed earlier had pretty much evaporated.
“All right, let’s go see these goats and chickens and whatever else they’ve got,” Marcus said.
“Yay!” Noah threw up his hands in an exuberant cheer.
“I see he’s doing much better today. No more tummy ache,” I commented in a low voice.
“I convinced him that he’s had enough ice cream, so I think we’re going to avoid that for a little while.”
“Good call,” I said, though I was disappointed since it meant I wouldn’t see them every day like I had been.
Marcus paid our admission, and we walked into the zoo, which was already busy with families and filled with the sounds of children squealing and laughing. Noah grabbed my hand on one side and Marcus’s on the other and began swinging our joined hands.
“We’re going to see the goats first, right?” Noah asked.
“Definitely goats first,” Marcus confirmed, smiling at me above the boy’s head.
To an outsider, we probably looked like a family—two parents smiling above the head of their kid, who happened to be dressed like a superhero.
I couldn’t believe how large the petting zoo area was. The map the cashier had handed Marcus showed a huge property. In addition to the petting zoo, there was a duck pond, pony rides, and a swimming pool.
“We have to get the food,” Noah said, pointing at the dispensers.
When Marcus pulled out his wallet, I waved him off. “I got it.”
It was the least I could do, considering how much ice cream he had fed me during the week, and he had covered my entrance into the zoo. I fed quarters into the machine, and food pellets rattled into our plastic bucket.
We then approached a fenced enclosure with goats crowded toward the visitors feeding them. Frankly, they were rather aggressive.
“Damn,” Marcus said in a low voice.
“Be careful,” I warned Noah.
But he had the fearlessness of youth on his side, and he moved close, pointing at a large brown and white goat. “He’s big.”
A zoo volunteer was standing nearby, her hair pulled into a ponytail and long bangs covering her forehead. “That’s Munchie. He’s a big guy, but he’s very gentle and loves attention.”
Noah poured several pellets into his palm and reached slowly toward Munchie, who ate the pellets right from his hand.
Noah looked up at us, his eyes filled with wonder. “Look! He’s eating them!”
As if we couldn’t see.
He giggled. This was how a seven-year-old should sound and look.
“His lips are soft,” he said, pulling out more food.
“You’re doing a good job of feeding him,” Marcus said.
We stayed in that spot for quite a while.
It was funny to see the other children staring at Noah in his costume.
Some of the parents played along, pointing and making comments like, “Hey, there’s Robin.
” Noah really enjoyed those moments and every now and again posed with his chest puffed out, arms akimbo.
After what seemed like an eternity, where Noah fed every single goat in the enclosure—including their kids—we headed to where the rabbits were located. Noah led the way with Marcus and me trailing behind him.
“He’s completely different,” I said in a soft voice, watching as he waved at some kids who were pointing at him.
“I know. I’m worried he’ll shut down again, but he’s been like this since... Wednesday, I think?”
That’s when I had noticed his most marked difference, as well.
“Have you heard from his Aunt Zenobia again?”
He shook his head. “I’m hoping she’s given up and will leave well enough alone.”
We stopped as Noah entered the rabbit enclosure and stood outside with parents watching their kids on the other side of the wire fence.
“For sure she can’t say that he’s not happy with you and well taken care of. Did you know her before your friend passed?”
“No. Brandon and I met freshman year of college, and he talked about his family, but I had only met his parents once—at graduation. Still, he and I were really close.”
“I understand. I have the same relationship with my roommate. We met in middle school and we’ve been close ever since. She’s like a sister.”
“You get it. I have two sisters, so he was like a brother to me.” His voice became rough. “When he asked me to be Noah’s guardian, I said yes, but I never thought I’d actually have to do it. I never thought my friend would be dead at thirty-three.” Beneath his beard, his jaw tightened.
“I know that must be hard.”
I placed a hand on his arm and realized with a shock it was only the second time we had actually touched. His skin was warm and sprinkled with fine hairs.
His gaze found mine, and once again I experienced an odd sense of connection, as if we were the only two people present, though there were dozens of folks milling around us.
There was something intensely intimate about this connection I felt we had.
It wasn’t imaginary. It was real and alive between us.
A little scary too. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this type of feeling with another man.
Snatching away my hand, I broke the invisible, fragile thread connecting us. I took a breath because I needed it, and I noticed that Marcus inhaled deeply, too, as if he needed it.
“I’m glad you came today,” he said, his voice sounding deeper than normal.
“I didn’t have any big plans, as you know. I was literally only going to do laundry. So I didn’t mind at all, even if I do smell like goat now.”
He didn’t speak for a while, his eyes trained on Noah, who was petting a gray rabbit. “Why did you come?”
A loaded question. “I’m concerned about Noah, and I wanted to spend more time with him and see—”
“Is Noah the only reason you’re here?”
I let the question hang between us before having the courage to respond. “What are you getting at?”
“I was hoping you’d mention me.”
Very direct. “Why?”
“Because I’ve been thinking about you a lot. More than I should.”
I let out a little laugh. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“I was playing it cool at first because I was concerned about Noah, but now that he’s doing better, I figured I’d shoot my shot. Especially since you came today and didn’t have to. So I’m asking again, why did you come?”
My heart raced as I considered lying and using Noah as an excuse again. “I like spending time with Noah,” I said honestly. “And you.”
A satisfied smile slipped across his lips. “If I were to ask you out...”
“If you ask me out, I’ll tell you I have to think about it. At the end of the day, Noah is a client, and like you, he’s my priority.”
“Understood, but I do want you to think about it.”
“Think about what?”
“Going out with me, so when I do ask, you give the right answer.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “And what would be the right answer?” I asked, though I already knew what he would say.
He grinned, smooth and heart-thumpingly sexy. “Yes.”