Page 52 of A Taste of Whiskey
“Me too,” Gus said sleepily.
“You’re getting so big, riding all the big-kid rides. Daddy’s proud of you for following the rules while we were there and being nice to the other kids.”
Sasha’s heart squeezed, and she walked out of the bedroom, giving them privacy. She remembered Ezra standing over Gus’s crib when they’d first moved to the ranch, rubbing his little boy’s back and telling him how much he loved him. She’d seen him softly and determinedly drilling that love into Gus’s little heart many times over the years, but after being in Ezra’s arms, everything hit differently.
She stood in the living room, getting nervous. Normally, if they’d hung out with Gus in the evening, after he went to bed, they’d watch a movie or sit outside together. But after spending the whole day together, and with their new arrangement, she wasn’t sure what to do. Her phone chimed with a text, and she pulled it from her pocket.
Birdie:What are you doing?
Sasha:I’m at Ezra’s.
An eyeroll emoji popped up.
Birdie:Are you pining again? Do I need to come over there and beat your ass? I swear all those Moore boys need to do is bat their eyelashes and you turn into a pile of mush.
Sasha considered telling her what had happened between them, but she heard Ezra moving around in Gus’s room and knew she wouldn’t have time to explain.
Sasha:It’s not like that. I can’t text right now.
Another eyeroll emoji popped up as Ezra came out of the bedroom leaving the door ajar. Sasha pocketed her phone and put on a smile. “I don’t know how you stand that cuteness every night.”
He came to her side. “My boy is a Casanova.”
She almost said,Like his daddy, but that wasn’t how she felt, and she didn’t want to minimize the truth. “He’s just full of love and not ashamed to show it.”
“Like I said, he’s a Casanova.”
“Maybe a little, but I think it’s bigger than that. I know you worry about how his relationship with Tina will affect him, and I see how hard you try not to be closed off like your dad.” She touched his arm. “I hope you can see how incredible a father you are and that all your efforts are paying off. That little boy in there knows how to give and receive love because of you.”
His jaw tightened, and she felt his muscles tense up.
Fearing she’d overstepped, her nerves flared again. “Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys today. It was a lot of fun. I guess I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow.”
“You’re leaving?”
“We spent last night and all day together. I figured you’d want some time to chill, and I obviously overstepped with what I said. It’s true, so I’m not taking it back, whether it bothers you or not to hear it, but I don’t have to be in your face after saying it.”
“First of all, I do want to relax, but I’d like to do that with you.”
Relief trickled in. “You would?”
“Yes. I likeyou, Sash, and I enjoy spending time with you whether or not we hook up. Our friendship is the foundation of everything, and it’s a big part of why we’re so good together. I don’t want to lose the fun and comfort of hanging out just because we’re sleeping together.”
She exhaled with relief. “Neither do I.”
“Good, and as far as what you said about Gus giving and receiving love, you didn’t overstep. I’m sorry if I reacted strangely, but it hit me pretty hard. You and your mother are the only ones who know how much I worry about those things, and I haven’t talked with your mom about it in years. It means a lot to me that you noticed and that you think I’m doing a good job as a father.”
I notice everything.“You’re an amazing father. I would tell you if I thought you were doing something that was bad for Gus. Not that I know much about parenting, but you know me. I’m not one to keep my opinions to myself.”
He laughed softly. “That’s one of the things I like most about you. You always tell me the truth.” He drew her into his arms. “I don’t want things to be weird between us.”
“Neither do I, but after last night…sometimes it’s going to be a little awkward.”
“I know. We’re navigating new territory, and that’s going to take some figuring out. But if we talk to each other when we feel that way, like we are right now, hopefully it won’t negatively affect our friendship.”
“That sounds good to me.”
“Good, because it’s still early, and I’d really like you to stick around and watch a movie with me like you usually would.”
