Thirteen
SMITH
Harry guns down the driveway as I load the small suitcases into Elise’s car.
She was right — he is an asshole, complete with small dick energy.
Slamming the car door shut, I climb the steps to the house, running a hand through my hair. I didn’t mentally prepare to meet Elise’s kids today, but here we are.
“Elise?” I glance around the small living area, but it’s empty and the house is quiet.
Then I catch sight of them on the beach, Elise holding Colton up to the sky and swinging him in a circle, the sun glinting off his blond waves. Cami’s laughing and trailing her mom, and the three of them are the vision of a happy family.
I stand at the window for a minute and watch them, running and playing in the surf. Elise is a great mom, I can see it from here.
Where do I fit in? Will I measure up? Not that Harry’s parenting shoes will be hard to fill.
But what do I know about raising kids? I have a niece and a nephew, but it’s not like I’m taking care of them twenty-four / seven. I don’t think I’ve watched the two of them longer than a few hours.
Swallowing hard, I shove my doubts away and get back to work on the demo. The sooner I can get the house ready for Elise, the sooner she can move down and we can be together.
I’m certain we can make it work, complications and all.