Chapter 19
SLADE
“Mama! Wook what Swade found.”
Ollie busts through the back door, and I follow, the scent of spices and tomato floating in the air.
He uncurls his fingers to show Sarah the fuzzy brown and black striped caterpillar we found in the leaves.
She bends to look at it as it crawls around his palm, and he stops it from falling with his other hand.
“Swade said we’re g-going to get lots of s-snow this winter.”
She runs her finger over the crawling fuzz. “He’s cute. Did you name him?”
“No. Swade said we have to put him back.”
Sarah glances at me as Frankie climbs up her leg to see. “That’s a smart idea. Then it can build a cocoon. I bet he’s a vveerry hungry caterpillar.” Sarah tickles him, and he giggles.
“Let’s go put it back in the leaves,” I say.
“Aw. Not yet,” he whines.
“You only have a few minutes. Dinner will be ready soon.” Sarah runs a hand over his head.
The stove holds two pots, and one of them is boiling.
I lean to see what’s cooking. “What is it? It smells good.”
Her hands move to her hips. “Don’t sound so surprised, you big lug. It is good.” She grabs the wooden spoon and stirs whatever is in the pot .
I feel something at my feet and peer down at Frankie, pulling on the laces of my boots. Her blue eyes stare up at me as if she is testing the waters. I reach down and pick her up. Her eyes widen, and she studies me closely, completely unsure.
“We’re having what I like to call Awesome Chicken and—”
Sarah stops mid-sentence, and now both she and Frankie are staring at me.
Frankie uses her pointer finger and hesitantly pokes my beard. Sarah watches her explore my face, her little finger moving to my lips.
I fake-bite it, and she bursts out in giggles. She does it again, and I snap my teeth at her finger. Ollie laughs this time.
Sarah’s mouth turns upward into a soft smile, her head falling to the side.
I do it a third time, then let Frankie catch her breath, and her head drops to my shoulder.
I squint my eyes at Sarah. “Don’t look so surprised. I have held a baby before.”
Her smile turns into the real deal, stretching so far it reaches into my chest and tugs something loose, making it just a little difficult to take a full breath.
When Frankie puts that little chubby finger in front of my mouth, I snap one last time, making Sarah laugh, too. I like the sounds rolling through my kitchen way more than I should, and I don’t want it to stop.
“Hey. What’s with all the giggling?” Krissy enters the kitchen in scrubs, saving me from letting a desire resurface that I let die long ago.
She runs a hand over Frankie’s back before moving past me to inspect what’s cooking on the stove. “This smells amazing.” She lifts the top of the pot and inhales.
“Do you have time to eat with us?” Sarah asks, pulling plates from the cabinet.
“Uh, yes. Can you stay forever?” Krissy’s simple question blasts into that dislodged longing when I need it to settle back down .
“They said the main should be fixed tomorrow, but you’re welcome to come over for dinner any time.”
“I am not a good cook, and this guy is eh, so . . .”
I roll my eyes at her lies. “You weren’t complaining when you had food to eat,” I grumble.
Sarah lifts her chin. “I’d invite you, too, but I’m holding off until I prove your skeptical A-double-S wrong with the best chicken you’ve ever tasted.”
I match her stare. The only thing I’m skeptical of is what I’m feeling.
“Look, Kissy.” Ollie holds out his hand to show her the caterpillar.
She squats in front of him. “I used to collect these little guys when I was young, and Slade always tried to run them over with his bike.”
Ollie looks up at me.
Nice, Kris . I glare at her. “I always dodged at the last minute.”
I hear Grover growl and bark on the other side of the door. “Come on, partner. Let’s put the little guy back outside and make sure Grover doesn’t eat the rat next door.”
Krissy holds out her hands for Frankie, who dives for her.
“You think Stone Cold is funny, huh? You’d be in the minority, sweet pea,” Krissy says, taking her.
“I’m funny,” I say, following Ollie outside. “Your sense of humor just sucks.”
I hear her and Sarah snicker as I close the door.
I’m funny as hell. I just don’t give that shit away to anyone.
Ollie runs into the backyard, where Grover is pacing the fence, tracking the taunting wiener on the other side.
I call the dog, and he comes, shoving his head under my hand. I inhale the fall evening air, needing it to clear my brain from the fog of a really good day. The kind of day I want to hold onto. But that’s the problem. Tomorrow, things will go back to normal.
I exhale through my nose. I need everything to return to the way it was before the broken wheel bearing and water main, so I can focus on running my business and helping Krissy move out.
Then maybe, at some point, I’ll sort out if I want to do anything about these feelings I thought I had become immune to long ago.
Ollie squats next to a tree. “Do you th-think he will like it here?”
I drop down beside him. “I think so. He can either climb up if he wants or stay in the grass.”
He rests his hand against the base of the tree. “Here you go. I hope you find your f-family.”
Grover’s nose starts inspecting, but Ollie pushes him away. “No, Grover.”
“Come here, boy.” I grab the massive furball’s collar, realizing I’ll miss him terrorizing Brandon’s mini wiener.
I chuckle to myself. See, I’m funny.
I stand. “You ready for dinner?”
“Yeah.” He sounds sad. “I hope he f-finds his mama.”
I put my hand around his shoulder. “You know what I think?”
He shakes his head, still staring at the ground.
“Moms are really smart. If he can’t find her, she’ll find him.”
He peers up at me. “My mom’s really s-smart. She’s also a p-p-princess.” He takes off toward the door. “She even gots a crown.”
She’s too smart. She seems to know every single button I have and is intent on pushing each one of them. All at the same time.
Grover and I trail Ollie into the kitchen. Sarah holds him up to the sink to wash his hands. I hang my coat on the hook along with my hat.
“Mmm. Sarah, this is so good,” Krissy hums with Frankie on her lap, a long, fat noodle sticking between her tiny fingers.
I want to roll my eyes at Krissy’s exaggeration like she’s never had a decent meal before.
“You are definitely coming for Thanksgiving. Bring any dish you want,” Krissy says, twirling more noodles around her fork.
Sarah hands Ollie the towel, but he runs his hands down his shirt and then slides onto a chair. “I don’t know. My best friend is visiting, and you guys have your own—”
Krissy holds up her fork. “It’s a Friendsgiving. It’s so chill. Everybody brings something. Wind cooks a turkey, and we watch the game. You guys have to come.”
Sarah’s eyes flick to mine, still unsure.
“You should come,” I confirm.
I can feel Krissy’s wide-ass grin without seeing it.
Sarah nods once and grabs a plate, filling it with noodles.
“I don’t want that,” Ollie says, pointing to the chicken and tomato mixture Krissy is moaning over.
“I have butter noodles for you, but you have to eat your fruit and broccoli.” Sarah pulls a sheet from the oven layered with green stuff.
I take my turn at the sink, but not before I see his face scrunch, and I don’t blame him.
She scoops some on a plate filled with noodles and blueberries and then hands me a plate.
I take it, inspecting the pot of noodles, the chicken mixture, rolls, and the broccoli, which I won’t be touching.
I gesture for her to go first, and a slight smirk appears that makes me think things I shouldn’t.
Just one more night, and everything will be back to normal.
She fills her plate, and I follow, sitting beside Krissy.
She pops up. “I’ve gotta go.”
Sarah reaches for Frankie and moves her messy mixture within reach.
“This was . . .” Krissy kisses the tips of her fingers. “I’ll think about it all night while I’m orienting and watching babies be born.”
“You’re no longer in the ER?” Sarah asks.
Krissy grabs her coat and keys. “Nope. I got a position in Labor and Delivery, and I’m loving it.”
Frankie’s messy little hand opens and closes, and then she slaps her mouth, blowing a kiss.
“Aw. Bye-bye,” Krissy whines, blowing a kiss in return.
“Bye, Kissy,” Ollie says with a mouthful of noodles .
The kitchen falls quiet as the door closes, except for Ollie’s humming.
Sarah taps her fork in the broccoli-infested area on his plate. “Don’t fill up on noodles before you eat these.”
“Swade doesn’t have broccoli.” He wiggles in his seat.
Sarah eyes my food and then me. I don’t care what she says or does. I am not eating it. It doesn’t matter how much I like this kid. He’s on his own.
“You don’t like broccoli?” Sarah asks quietly.
I shake my head.
“Have you had it roasted?”
I shake my head again, silently pleading the fifth.
Her head falls to the side. “You should try it. You might like it.”
I take another bite of noodles and chicken and try not to make a noise as it melts in my mouth. It’s so freaking good. This woman may make cookies that look like boobs, but she can cook.
I glance up, and she’s staring at me, waiting for an answer. “No.”
She smiles. “Just. . .no. That’s not very brave or adventurous.”
I’m not into adventure. I like well-known outcomes. Although messing with her sly, calm challenge seems like a gamble I’d be willing to take.
Tomorrow, everything needs to go back to normal.
“No. I’m with Ollie. It’s the worst vegetable. Right up there with eggplant and turnips.” I take another bite of noodles and chicken to keep from gagging just thinking about it.
“Seriously, not even a little bite.”
My fork stabs my plate. “No. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me try it.”
Ollie snorts, slurping a noodle between his lips.
Sarah’s eyes narrow, telling me she doubts that to be true.
I hold completely still, waiting for her to dare me. Those lips move to the side in deep contemplation.
I want her to try me. But then again, there might be a few things—
Fuck. What is happening?
Her gaze drops from mine, and I might be mistaken, but are her cheeks just a little flushed?
I shove another bite into my mouth, needing the distraction.
“Well, sorry, Ollie, you have to eat it. It’s good for your muscles.”
“Swade has huuuggee muscles,” he expands his hands, “and he d-doesn’t eat it. It’s gross.”
This kid should be the lawyer.
Sarah’s eyes trace over me, stopping at my biceps. I think about flexing to help Ollie, but I refrain.
Her eyes jump to mine, and I let one side of my mouth curl up.
She rolls her eyes and tosses a balled-up paper towel at me. “Careful, don’t eat too fast. You might choke.” She grins. “If you have dinner at my house, the rules are you have to eat your vegetables.”
I’m tempted to ask her what other rules she has, but I shove a forkful into my mouth instead.
Ollie groans. “C-can we just stay here?”
Frankie drops a handful of noodles on the floor for Grover, but Ollie’s question has my stomach joining them.
“The water should be back on tomorrow, so it’s time for us to go home.”
“Aww.” Ollie whines. “Can S-swade read to me tonight?”
Sarah’s attention turns back to me. “I don’t know. Grumpy Monkey might be triggering for this guy.”
I rest back in my chair as she rolls her lips together.
“He’s J-j-jim Panzee,” Ollie laughs. “He doesn’t know why he’s grumpy. Can you read it?” His eyes beg.
“Sure,” I say, glaring at Sarah and her pure amusement.
Her eyebrow hitches upward. “You’ve got to make all the voices.”
Well shit. Absolutely nothing will return to normal. I am totally fucked.