Page 30 of Crashing into Love

Selma laughed and said, “She’s kidding. We’re good. Thank you, Jimmy. And you, stop that.” She pointed at Drew, who was still laughing. “I’ll be right back. Behave.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Drew teased.

But there was something about the way she’d said that that had Selma squeezing her thighs together as she walked toward the front desk.

CHAPTER 11

“I need to get her up to bed,” Selma said.

Gia was pressed to her mother’s side, with Selma’s arm protectively around her.

“She’s out, huh?” Drew asked.

“She is, yeah. I’ll carry her up, and she won’t even wake up. She’s the soundest sleeper I’ve ever met.”

“It’s that overworked brain. It needs to rest,” Drew replied. “Need any help? I can carry her for you.”

“No, I’ve got her. I’m used to it. I’m convinced I gain more muscle from carrying my kid than I do from actual weightlifting.” Selma chuckled and moved to stand up from the sofa.

They’d moved from the table after their meal when others needed the spot to have one of their own, and Drew had been surprised that Selma hadn’t told her goodnight or made some excuse to leave or get back to work. Selma and a returning Gia, tired from coloring in the back but still not ready to go up for the night, moved to the sofa instead. Drew had joined them and sat opposite on a sofa of her own, watching Gia get more and more tired as the night went on.

“I should go up, too,” Drew suggested. “It’s getting late.”

“It’s, like, nine o’clock. This one’s going to have to take a shower tomorrow morning before school because I wasn’t able to get her in a bathtub earlier, but you can stay down here as long as you want, Drew.”

“I know. And I’m good. I’m tired. Is it okay if I ride up with you?”

“Of course,” Selma replied and then hefted the child, who was probably far too big for her to be lifting.

Gia’s arms and legs instinctively wrapped around her mother’s body. Drew smiled at it, and as she met Selma at the end of the sofa, she had an instinct of her own, so she held her hand out at the small of Selma’s back to let her know she could go first. She pulled it back right before it touched Selma, though, and lowered her hand to her side. Then, she rushed to the elevator, pressed the button to go up, and waited for Selma, who was obviously walking a little slower, to join her. The elevator arrived quickly, and they got inside. Drew was about to ask what floor they were going to, but Selma had pressed the button for both herself and Drew before she could.

“Told you; I’m used to this,” Selma said, holding a protective hand around Gia’s back.

“She’s lucky to have you, you know?”

“I wish she had her dad, too.” Selma rested her chin on Gia’s shoulder. “She deserves two parents.”

“My guess is that you’ve done a lot to make up for the fact that he’s not around, and she doesn’t even notice.”

When the elevator arrived, Selma looked out the opening doors.

“This is us.”

“Okay. Have a good rest of the night.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow probably, right?”

“Highly likely,” Drew replied.

“Good night, Drew,” Selma said before walking out of the elevator.

“Night, Drew,” Gia muttered to Selma’s clear surprise.

“Good night, Gia. Sleep well.” Drew smiled at the little girl.

Then, the doors closed, and Drew was left alone in the elevator.

???

---