"Nope."
"Then we're in the clear." I smiled. "Start that tale-tail, get it?-of Go, Dog. Go!"
"You're funny." Calder read slowly, not that I had any idea what constituted speed reading for a six-year-old.
After he stashed his book, I grabbed the hardback edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We snuggled into the corner of the couch and I started to read.
We were so engrossed in the story that neither of us noticed someone knocking at the door until it turned into pounding.
I vaulted over the edge of the couch and opened the door.
Rowan tried-and failed-not to seem annoyed. "I've been texting you for almost forty-five minutes."
"I think I left my phone on your kitchen counter when we went over to get food. Anyway, Calder and I are fine. We've been reading and lost track of time."
She walked past me and stopped in the living room. "What are you reading?"
"Harry Potter!" Calder yelled, and bounced over the edge of the couch to run at his mother. "Isn't that so cool, Mommy?"
"Yes, it is." She smiled and tousled his hair. "I missed you today."
"Did you know that Harry Potter had to live under the stairs?" he demanded.
"I remember that." She glanced over at the dark TV. "You guys aren't watching Chopped?"
Calder looked at me. "Uh-oh. We forgot."
I sent Rowan a challenging look.
"You'll never hear me complain about him choosing to read a book over watching TV, Jensen."
"Good to know."
"Grab your backpack, boy-o," she said to him. "Bath time, then bedtime, because you have to be up early tomorrow."
"Why?" Calder complained.
"Because I have to work in the morning and Talia is coming over to watch you. She hasn't been here before, so you'll have to show her around."
"Who's Talia?" I asked her.
"She's a former student of mine. Since she's enrolled in summer classes and only wants part-time work, she agreed to babysit Calder."
"But I thought Alicia was your nanny?"
"Just during the school year. Alicia's still in high school and her family travels a lot in the summer. I need a babysitter that'll be around."
"Rocketman could be my babysitter," Calder declared. "Then we could read Harry Potter every day!"
I grinned at him and then locked eyes with Rowan. "While that sounds great, I'm sure your mother would get tired of seeing me every day. That happens sometimes with friends."
Her cheeks turned bright red.
"I'd play with my friends every day if I could," Calder said.
"I'm with you there, Calder. It's fun to play with your friends until you realize maybe one of them is toying with you."
"That's not true-"
"I'd share my toys if you'd let my friends come over," Calder said, oblivious to the underlying conversation.
"How about you, Coach? Got any friends you want to invite over to play?"
Rowan seemed anxious to get away from me as she herded her son toward the door.
Hmm. Too bad, sweetheart. Patience is a virtue but persistence has a better chance of payoff.
"I'll tag along," I said. "Last place I remember having my phone was over there."
"You could bring the book and read more after my bath," Calder suggested. He walked backward, facing me. His mother had him by the backpack as she practically dragged him away.
"We'll save it for another time, okay?"
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Inside their apartment, Rowan disappeared with Calder into the bathroom and I heard their voices-but not what they were saying-until the water kicked on in the tub.
I found my phone by her stove. Then I parked myself at the end of the hallway, waiting for her to emerge.
Her cheeks were flushed. Red wisps of hair stuck to her face. She looked so damn cute and frazzled. She squinted at me. "You're still here?"
"Yep. Waiting for payment for my babysitting services."
"Okay. Let me grab my purse-"
"Rowan. I was kidding."
"Oh." She slumped against the wall, leaving about a foot of space between us. "Thank you so much for watching Calder tonight. Seriously, Jensen, you were a lifesaver."
"My pleasure."
A beat passed. Then two.
I said, "You all right?"
"No. You fluster the hell out of me, Lund."
There it was. Finally. "Are you expecting an apology, Coach?"
"Would you give me one?"
"Hell no."