Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
LOGAN
Sadie comes back with the kids and I’m on cloud nine. Asher keeps me company while Liv changes into her work clothes.
He’s talking about a cartoon he watched yesterday, fully immersed in the story. With the sound and motion effects, it’s hard to follow the story, but his enthusiasm is infectious.
He’s not done with the story, but as soon as Liv runs up to us, he sighs, saying, “I’ll let you two get to work.”
I barely contain my laughter as Liv rolls her eyes.
She has been a godsend on my stalling mission.
I would look like an incompetent fool for the last few weeks if I hadn’t had the opportunity to teach her.
We haven’t focused on the deck much, but I’m hoping she’ll be able to change a lightbulb, put up some family pictures, maybe even screw some 2x4s together.
Currently, we’re working on building the bench around the fire pit.
We’re also building a special surprise for her and her mom, which was Liv’s idea.
Even though she’s as focused as always, Liv seems like her heart’s not fully in it today. I give her some space while we work like a trained duo, her passing me the needed materials and me putting them together. But a half an hour later, she’s still not talking, and I don’t like to see her sad .
“You know, I had a terrible day a few weeks ago,” I start.
“I was feeling low, but as soon as I got to working, I felt better. There’s something about sanding wood that relaxes me.
” Yeah, we’ve also been sanding, though there’s absolutely no need to sand these pieces. “Does that happen to you sometimes?”
She’s pensive for a second. “I guess. It helps me not think about school for a second.”
“What happened at school?” I blurt out, my heart in my throat. I fear what she’ll say to me. And I fear what I’ll do if she tells me someone hurt her.
She sighs. “We’re doing a recital to mark the end of the school year. I’m part of the story section, along with a few other girls from my class. They’ll all be wearing pink.”
I wince, knowing how she feels about pink.
“I wanted us to wear a different color, but the rest of them voted pink.” She rolls her eyes.
“Do you have to wear the same color?” I ask, keeping myself busy so she doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
“My dad says I have to. He doesn’t understand why I don’t want to. But I don’t. It’s not me.”
“What color would you pick to wear?”
“Black,” she responds straight away, with a gleam in her eyes.
I shoot her a smile. “I might have an idea. How about you wear black tights,” her eyebrows raise, “with a pink top or dress?” Her mouth falls.
“That way, you’ll fit right in with them. But you’ll still be you. And even if others don’t notice it, you’ll know it.” I bump her shoulder with my elbow. “Like an undercover spy.”
Her face lights up, her eyes widening.
“You can also tell your mom, and you two can be the only two people who are in on the secret,” I continue, like I’m sharing a secret plan.
“You will know, too.” She bounces on her toes.
“Yeah,” I chuckle. “I will. And I’ll be thinking of you wherever I am. ”
She stops bouncing, her face furrowing. “No. You should be there, too.”
“Umm, I don’t know. It’s kind of a family thing, I don’t think I’m invited.”
“But I’m inviting you. I want you to be there. I’ll feel much better.” She nods her head, like it’s decided.
I scratch the back of my neck, unsure what to do. “Ok, I guess.”
“Promise me you’ll come.” She stares at me with wide, honest eyes.
“I’ll be there. I promise.”
She squeals with delight, a sound I never heard her make. The corners of my mouth lift, even though I’m sure Sadie will hate the idea of me joining them at her daughter’s recital. But I couldn’t say no to her.
The rest of the week is pretty much the same. I arrive in the morning, have jaw-dropping sex with Sadie, we eat some lunch, I pretend to do some work, listen to Asher’s crazy stories, and do some more work with Liv when they arrive from school.
I love it. The only thing I don’t like is when it’s time for me to leave in the evening. I try not to interfere by staying for dinner, but there’s nothing I’d like more. To help Sadie put the dishes away, and get kids ready for bed, and settle onto the couch next to her.
Jim, my foreman, makes fun of me daily. He asks me for a beer on Wednesday, but I make him accompany me to get a tux instead.
“What you need this for?” he asks me while I’m browsing the suits in the store.
“I have a date.”
“Where are you taking her? Buckingham Palace?” he deadpans.
I smack his chest. “Actually, she’s taking me . To an awards ceremony.”
“Whooo!” He lets out a low whistle. “Fancy. ”
“Very fancy. Hence, this.” I gesture to the clothes around us.
Luckily, the sales assistant approaches us, saving us from endless browsing.
“Give us your best tux,” Jim demands dramatically, and I roll my eyes.
The assistant smiles at us, her eyes lingering on me longer than necessary, but I’m not interested. Still, she’s more than helpful, bringing me multiple suits to try out.
“Who would’ve thought? You being so down for a girl,” he quips as I step out of the changing room in a gray suit.
“What do you mean?” I ask, heading back in because the fit of the suit is just awkward. My thighs are about the burst out of it, and the shoulders aren’t faring any better.
“Well, you are down for her, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m not questioning that part.”
He chuckles on the other side of the curtain while I try to fit my thighs into a dark blue suit. “It’s weird. The guys and I have never seen you like this. We couldn’t even think of the last time you had a girlfriend.”
“I’m glad to hear I’m paying you to gossip about me.”
Once again, he chuckles.
He’s right, in a way. I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of commitment, but relationships were never really a priority to me. Not until Sadie. And we aren’t even in an actual relationship. I’d love to call her my girlfriend, but I’m pretty sure she’d run away screaming if I suggested it.
Six suits later, I think we’ve finally found the one.
I smooth the dark fabric that I’ve put back on the hanger before heading to the register.
I have my work cut out for me, hoping to convince Sadie to give us a shot and the first step is to show her I can fit into her world.
My palms are clammy with jitters about the date, but the suit gives me confidence.
I’ll be way out of my depth, but at least I won’t look it.