Page 14 of How We Fooled

He smiles, shaking his head. “Nope. My parents tried for years to have another one, then after they gave up, here came Ava.”

“God’s plan works in mysterious ways sometimes.”

“That it does.”

“I can’t imagine starting over like that. What? You must have been thirteen? Fourteen?”

He moves his head back and forth in thought. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Was it hard to welcome a baby like that into the home?”

“Nah. She’s been fun to have around. She likes for me to carry her everywhere we go.”

“I bet she does. You must be a giant to her.”

He smirks. “Yeah, kind of.”

“Is your dad this tall?”

He shakes his head. “Nope. I’m three inches taller than him.”

“Six-two isn’t a small guy though.”

“No, but when you see the two of us together, it’s a big difference. My mom laughs at how small she says I make him look when we’re in the kitchen together.”

I take a moment to think what he’d look like next to my dad and try not to laugh at the thought. My dad is pushing five-ten, on a good day. There definitely won’t be any fear tactics my dad used to try on the guys I dated when it comes to Eli.

“Tell me about your sister,” I say.

“Ava?” He grins, and it’s truly genuine, which makes me smile as well. “She’s a trip. She likes for me to watch Disney movies with her or play tea.”

A hard laugh escapes my mouth, and I cover it quickly. “You? Play tea?”

His expression matches my own. He points at me as he says, “Yes, but I don’t admit that to just anyone, so keep it to yourself.”

“Sounds like she has you wrapped around her little finger.”

He nods proudly. “That she does.”

“That’s cool you guys are so close, given your age difference.”

“What about you? Do you have any siblings?”

“One. A sister. She still lives in Stockton. We aren’t that close though.”

“Bummer. Is she older or younger?”

I sigh, remembering the days that I used to look up to her. Now, I don’t. “She’s older. She’s gotten into some stuff that just isn’t for me. I think that’s why my parents were happy that I chose to move here. To make sure I don’t follow in her path.”

He tilts his head slightly to the side, like he’s taking me in. “You don’t look like someone who would go down a bad path.”

I let out a breath. “Neither did she. She started dating this guy who was no good. Slowly, I watched her just slip away to a world of drugs and bad people.”

He sits up and leans toward me, making my heart instantly flutter. “I promise I won’t lead you down a bad path.”

I inhale a shaky breath as he moves closer to me, kissing me softly.

Before I know it, he pulls back, giving me just a soft peck, then going back to his position, leaning against the door.

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