I glanced across the room to find Reed smirking back at me.
What the hell?
Me: How did you get this number?
Reed: I programmed our numbers into each other’s phones while you were having your kitchen meeting with Annie.
Me: There’s no such thing as a “kitchen meeting.”
Reed: Sure there is. I witnessed it. Now, I asked…Are you having fun?
What a weirdo, I thought, but I realized there was probably more to this text. Reed never did anything without underlying motives.
Me: Uh…yeah. Are you having fun?
Reed: I am…but are you sure that you’re having fun?
What in the hell was he trying to get at?
Me: I’m sure, ya weirdo. Stop texting me from the same room.
Reed: So, you mean to tell me you wouldn’t be having more fun if you didn’t have to be the one calling out the numbers and you actually got to play?
Jesus in a peach tree. Did he have the ability to read my mind?
I love your penis, I thought as a test and stared at his face for a reaction. That was the best sex I have ever had, I added for good measure, and his expression never changed.
Thank. God.
Me: Am I that transparent?
Reed: Right now, you’re like a real-life version of the movie Big. You’re literally Tom Hanks in this scenario. A child inside of an adult’s body.
Me: Are you saying I can’t adult?
Reed: At least when it comes to bingo, you can’t.
Me: I’d like to refute that, but it’s useless. Sometimes, I really am a sad excuse for an adult.
Reed: I know. You’re fucking adorable.
Fucking adorable… Why does he keep saying that?
“Stop texting and call the next number, Aunt Lola!” Emma demanded.
“Yeah, I’m ready for the next number,” Henry agreed.
Reed got off the couch and walked toward me. “All right, I think Aunt Lola should play with you guys while I call out the numbers,” he said with a smirk and promptly took the bowl from my hands.
Was it weird that I felt like clasping my hands together and saying, “My hero”?
“You’re totally going down, Aunt Lola,” Henry said with a mischievous grin.
“Bring it on, little muffin,” I retorted and he glared.
“Stop calling me that!”
“What? You’re my little muffin, buddy. You’ve been my little muffin since you were a baby.”
“Ugh,” he sighed. “Stop calling me muffin.”
“Okay, muffin. I’m sorry. I’ll try to stop.”
Reed chuckled and shot a knowing grin in my direction.
Hey, you had to get creative when it came to shit-talking with humans under the age of ten. And I have no qualms about using whatever weapons I have to get into their little heads so that I can win. Bingo is serious business.
Ten rounds of bingo later, all three kids were falling asleep on the couch as they were halfway through their encore showing of Minions.
“I think I need to get them into bed,” I whispered to Reed and nodded toward a drooling Henry.
A soft smile tugged at the corners of his plump lips. “Where are they going to sleep tonight?”
“I’m just going to let them sleep in my bed. I’ll take the couch tonight.”
Reed stood up and gently picked Emma up off the couch without stirring her awake.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Just keep your bingo-winning ass on the couch,” he responded in a hushed tone. “I’ll carry them into bed.”
And without another word, I watched him carry each kid to bed.
What a demanding, kind, and thoughtful bastard…
The light to my bedroom was turned off, and the door clicked shut behind him as he moved back toward the couch and sat beside me.
“Thanks for doing that.”
“Thanks for letting me crash your sleepover.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and tucked me into his side. I probably should’ve disliked how good it felt.
“Banana!” the Minions shouted from the TV, and we grinned at each other.
“Want to stay and finish the movie?” I asked without hesitation.
I wanted him to stay.
“Like I’d miss opportunity number two to watch the Minions search for their evil dictator.”
I knew I was treading dangerous territory with Reed Luca, but I couldn’t help myself. I craved him—time, body, perspective…all of it. It was like everything I had originally assumed about him was completely off base.
He could’ve spent his Saturday night out doing a million other things, but he didn’t. He chose to spend his night with me.
His actions tonight spoke louder than any words ever could, and if the flutter in my chest was evidence, my heart had taken notice.