Page 41 of Even Ground

“Are you coming with me?” she asks.

Hell yeah.

“On my way.”

I follow Pania inside and up the stairs.

The sound of cartoons comes from the living room, and I laugh softly to myself. Amelia has her grandparents twisted around her little finger, just as she does everyone else.

“Hello, you two,” Cal says. “Did you have a good day?”

“It was amazing.” Pania drops onto the couch beside Amelia. “It doesn’t feel like we did much, but it was a long day.”

“Did you want dinner, you two?” Ros asks.

I shoot a glance at Pania. “Actually, we were going to try a pizza place Josh recommended.”

She smiles. “He’s mentioned it. I understand Amelia’s a big fan. Maybe you could take her.”

“Can we get pizza?” Amelia climbs onto Pania’s lap.

“Melly, did you want to go to—” Pania turns toward me “—What’s the name of the pizza place?”

“Lorenzo’s.” Amelia claps, and I chuckle. It figures she knows all about it.

“Yes, Miss Melly. Lorenzo’s.”

Amelia’s forms an O with her mouth. “I know Maria from there. We have playdates.”

Pania looks at me with one eyebrow raised, and I hold up my hands, palms up.

“I’ll grab her spare car seat,” Cal says.

Pania turns to me. “Did you ever think your car would have a child’s seat in the back?”

I shove my hands in my pockets. “There’s a first time for everything.”

Cal chuckles. “Come on, Reece. I’ll help you install it.”

He ends up doing all the work because I have no idea, and then Pania and Amelia wait while I have a quick shower.

When I walk back into the living room, Pania stands and walks toward me. Her back’s to everyone else, so no one sees her as she takes a subtle sniff at my chest.

“Oooh, that is better.”

Playfully ignoring her, I look over at Amelia. “Wanna go get some pizza?”

She leaps off the couch. “Yes.”

“Come on, sweet pea,” Pania says, holding out her hand. She looks up at Ros. “We won’t be too late.”

“See you soon.” Ros blows a kiss to Amelia who pretends to catch it before grabbing Pania’s hand.

I lead them to the car, and Pania helps Amelia into her seat. She buckles her in before climbing into the passenger seat beside me, and I sigh with relief because it all looks like a tangle of belt and buckle to me.

“Let’s get going..” I look up directions for Lorenzo’s, press the GPS to start, and turn on the ignition. “Ready to go fast, Amelia?” I ask.

Amelia claps, and I grin.

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