Page 40 of Sighs By the Sea

George starts talking so fast, I can hardly understand. I hear words like dinosaur and poop. Maggie is laughing as he speaks, and I feel my heart further melt into my shoes.

"That’s awesome, except the kid pooping his pants. Gross." She scrunches her nose adorably and my chest tightens even more. "By the way, your daddy showed me the Batmobile. It’s waiting for you and me to keep working on when you get back."

"But daddy said you weren’t coming over anymore," he says, disappointment lacing his tone. I frown. At the time, I thought it was the right move, but now, I'm wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

"Did he?" Maggie shoots me a scowl. "Well, he was wrong. As soon as you’re home, I’m coming over, and we’ll stay up all night finishing it."

"Really?" George asks.

"Yes. We can watch the Lego Batman movie and get Bat Boogers for dinner."

I flinch. "Bat boogers?" I mouth to her.

Maggie flashes me a smile. "Don’t harp on them till you try them, Gray. Bat Boogers are delicious burgers with batman-shaped pickles."

More chest flutters. Am I having a heart attack? With a smile so big on my lips, that's probably not it. Enchanted. That's what is happening to me. This woman is casting some sort of magical spell over me. She's creative, and beautiful, and so good with my son.

"Okay, Georgie, I have to go. I think your daddy and I need to talk. Plan the party for when you get home." She winks at him before turning the camera my way for a quick goodbye.

He says he loves me, but with a hint of disappointment in his voice, and we hang up.

"Grayson," Maggie starts.

"You're looking for an apology?" I ask. My tone is too sharp, but I know that's what she wants. In fact, it's what I want too. To explain to her that I took out my frustrations on the wrong person.

"Do we need to do that? I think it's clear I've buried the hatchet," she says.

"I suppose we don't need to spell out our specific regrets," I say and switch lanes. The car is quiet as I contemplate my next words carefully. "And anyway, I've thought about them, obsessed over them even, for the last four days."

"Sounds serious."

"My scotch supply is dangerously low."

She barks out a laugh. "I tried alcohol last night as a self-medication. Not a fan."

"Hangover?" I ask and she nods. Damn, if she looks this good while battling alcoholic regrets, I wonder what an hour of primping after a good night's sleep would look like. I can picture it perfectly. Maggie slipping an earring on, a dress hugging her body, heels strapped tight around her ankles. Getting ready in my house for a date night. Trying to leave and Georgie begging her for just one more bag of LEGO's.

"I can stop for food if that would help."

"Oh I know. I might be a terrible drinker, but trust me, I know all the tricks to curing a hangover. Your donut was the icing on the cake this morning, literally." The car descends into silence again. I adjust my hands on the wheel.

"I'm really sorry, Maggie. I didn't mean…what I said." I almost add that it was the best kiss of my life and I think about it daily, but that might be going a little bit far.

"I thought we weren't doing this."

"I'm bad with directions," I say, withholding my grin.

"And yet, you're the one driving," she says with an eyeroll. Her gaze shifts out the window, and for a while, we quietly sit with my apology. "I'm sorry too," she whispers. Her voice is filled with emotion that tugs at my heart.

I clear my throat. "So, you were quite the party animal then?" I ask because someone needs to break the tension.

"Hardly," she scoffs and then chuckles. "Why?"

"You said you know all the hangover tricks. That usually comes from wild college days."

"Oh," she says, and her cheeks flush. "Uh, no. That is actually because of my parents. Dad mostly." I can read between the lines. Her dad was an alcoholic. When I'm silent too long, she lolls her head back. "Stop. Childhoods suck, all around. I'm sure yours wasn't all mob scouts and cupcakes."

"It certainly wasn't. Not that it matters now."

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