Page 141 of Always Us

“You might want to work on being a little more discreet next time,” Garret tells Caleb. “You can get away with staring like that when you’re nine months old, but later, if you look at a girl like that, she’ll slap you.”

We all laugh.

The waitress returns with the drinks and Caleb stares at her cleavage again as she leans over to set our drinks down. Sara and I start laughing. I don’t want the waitress to think we’re laughing at her so I try to stop, but Caleb won’t look away from her chest and it’s just too funny.

When she leaves, Sara says, “Maybe he thinks they’re balloons. Or some kind of toy.”

The guys laugh.

“I think guys a lot older than him also think they’re toys,” Alex says.

Sara rolls her eyes as her cheeks turn pink. “We need to change the subject. And if he does that again, you need to distract him.”

“It’s nature, Sara,” Garret says. “You can’t stop it.”

“Boys.” I roll my eyes and she laughs.

Sara and I ignore the guys and she tells me more about Alex’s family, while the guys talk about football. Of course. What else would they talk about?

Our food arrives and we continue our separate conversations. During dinner, I notice Alex bringing out a jar of baby food and some finger foods for Caleb to eat. He feeds Caleb in between eating his own meal. It’s like Caleb is his own kid. Sara glances over at them now and then, but otherwise just keeps talking.

It’s nice seeing Alex helping out with Caleb like that. It makes me think that maybe Alex might consider marrying Sara someday. I think she’d like that. I guess I don’t know. She’s never shared her opinion on marriage.

We order dessert, and as we’re waiting for it, I decide we need to do this double date thing again. We all get along really well.

“Dinner’s on me tonight,” Alex announces.

“You don’t have to do that,” Garret says.

“You guys really helped out Sara and Caleb and I want to show my appreciation. I tried to get her out of that apartment for months and she wouldn’t accept my help, but you finally convinced her to move, so I owe you.”

“Thanks,” I tell him. “That’s really nice of you.”

Caleb starts fussing and Sara nudges Alex. “Can you take him out of the high chair? He’s been in there too long.”

Alex lifts him up and hands him to Sara. The three of them already look like a family. Sara and Alex look like they go together and Caleb could easily pass for Alex’s kid.

Dessert arrives and halfway through eating it, I’m stuffed.

“I can’t finish that.” I push my brownie sundae away.

“Their desserts are huge,” Sara says. “We should’ve split one.” She holds Caleb up to Alex. “Could you take him? I need to wipe his sticky face.”

He takes Caleb, whose chubby cheeks are covered in chocolate ice cream. As Sara’s cleaning up Caleb’s face, a guy stops by our table.

“Sara,” he says, trying to get her attention.

She looks up at the guy. Her expression is a mix of shock and panic.

“Brandon. What are you doing here?”

He nods toward the bar. “I’m getting a beer with Kyle. I came down to see him for a couple days.”

“Okay. Well, have fun.” Her eyes shift down to the table.

She seems really uncomfortable. Maybe she used to date this guy. He’s not much taller than Alex, maybe 5’10, but he’s much wider, with a muscular, stocky build. He’s got short, medium-brown hair and dark brown eyes and stubble along his face. He’s wearing khaki shorts and a bright green polo shirt that looks too tight on his arms.

“So how’ve you been, Sara?” He directs his body toward her, crossing his arms over his chest.

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