“Hurry up. These sandwiches are awesome but only when they’re still hot. I got you cheese fries, too,” Jake says as he starts dishing out the food in the bag.
“Hi,” I say as I approach the table, looking at Maddox.
“Hey. Jake couldn’t handle Brooklyn by himself so he bribed me with cheeseburgers to come by and help him.”
“I can handle her. I just needed someone else to sit in for me this afternoon and play Barbie’s.”
“Wait. You never said anything about Barbie’s,” Maddox states matter-of-factly.
“Of course I didn’t. I’m feeding you first, and then I break out the fact that you’re going to be playing Barbie’s all damn afternoon.”
“Mommy, Uncle Jake said a bad word.”
“Jake, watch your mouth,” I tell him with a big smile on my face. I bend down and kiss my daughter on the top of the head and then scoot around the table to sit between Brooklyn and Maddox.
After I get Brooklyn settled with her food, I dive into my cheese fries like I haven’t eaten in days. “Hungry?” Maddox asks with a smirk.
“Their cheese fries are my all-time favorite food. I just wish I wouldn’t have to go run five miles just to work off the calories I’m consuming.”
“You don’t need to run. You’re fine,” Jake says with a pointed, big brother look.
I look over at Maddox as he gives me a once over with his eyes. I can almost feel his eyes remembering what I look like naked. “Agreed,” he mumbles and quickly looks away before Jake catches him.
“Well, thank you. I do get plenty of exercise chasing a three year old around all the time.”
We enjoy a quick, semi-quiet lunch at the bakery. Mom was able to come over for the last fifteen minutes of my lunch break and relax with us after the lunch sweet-tooth rush died off, chatting with us all about our afternoon plans. I help Maddox clean up the lunch, get Brooklyn ready to head back to Jake’s, and gather my stuff to head back to work. I kiss Brooklyn and hug Jake and my Mom before I head out the door. Though it’s the most difficult task, I don’t make eye contact with Maddox for fear that everyone in the room will see my eyes linger too long.
As I step outside and head back to the office, I pull out my cell phone and send Maddox a quick text.
It was a nice surprise seeing you at lunch today. Let’s do it again soon.
He responds almost immediately. Let’s. Say tonight after Brooklyn goes to bed?
You’re on. See ya tonight.
Absolutely.
I walk back into my office building and can’t help the smile that’s spread across my face. Another night with Maddox. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Who knew entertaining a three year old would be so exhausting? I’ve played Barbie’s, had a tea party, watched cartoons, and even played outside for a bit, and I’m pretty sure I could have laid down and napped when Brooklyn did this afternoon. If I’m being honest with myself, I actually had a great time with the kid. I drew the line though at playing house and dress-up. I’m already pretty sure that the pictures I caught Jake taking on his phone of me playing Barbie’s are going to bite me in the ass soon.
Jake and I were trying to get control over the mess in the living room while Brooklyn slept in Jake’s bed when I remembered that I wanted to tell Jake about running into Erin Anderson. “So, I ran into Erin this morning.”
Jake instantly perked up and turned to face me. “Where?” he asks, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.
“Hardware store.”
“Did she say anything to you? About anything? About me?”
“What is this, sixth grade? We BS’d about her moving back to town, though she wouldn’t tell me where she was going to be working either. Just said that she’d be starting soon. She was buying stuff to fix up the house she’s renting. Apparently, the landlord is cutting money off her rent if she puts a little TLC into the place.”
“What place is she renting?”
“The old Johnson house on Third Street.”
“Really? That’s a pretty big house for one person.”
“Maybe she’s not the only one who’s living there.”
Jake looks wounded at the thought of Erin living with someone. “I didn’t see a ring on her finger.”
“There doesn’t have to be a ring on the finger to live with someone, Jake. Erin’s gorgeous. I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t have a guy living with her.” I see Jake’s ears turn red when I call her gorgeous, but I choose to ignore his irritation at my comment. He’s trying very hard to hide it, and I don’t feel like calling him out on it again.