Page 70 of Resorting to Romance

“Thank goodness,” I say.

“Mom doesn’t like those things. I played one at Forrest’s house. He’s got Minecraft. Did you ever play Minecraft?”

“I don’t really play much. Bodhi does.”

“Minecraft?”

“No. Something else.”

“You didn’t get me clothes, did you?” Noah’s face scrunches up.

Kai chuckles.

“Noah.” I give him a mom-look.

“What? Clothes are boring.”

“He’s not wrong,” Kai says.

Except that T-shirt Kai’s wearing. That’s not boring at all.

Agh. What’s wrong with me? Probably the lack of sleep. And that shirt. Kai needs a different shirt. Baggier. A bag. That would work. A big burlap bag. I would feel nothing right now if only he’d wear burlap.

“Do you want to keep guessing?” Kai asks Noah. “Or do you want me to show you?”

I can feel the eagerness rolling off Kai in waves. He’s got a gift and he’s dying to give it. It’s adorable. This precious, generous, thoughtful man is as giddy as my son right now.

“Show me!” Noah shouts. “Is it here? Right now? Can we, Mom? Can we?”

“Sure. Clear your plate first.”

Noah grabs both plates, dumps what’s left of the mostly-eaten snacks into the trash, sets the plates next to the sink and bolts after Kai toward the main room. I trail behind them, loving the sight of the two of them more than I should.

When we’re all on the porch, Kai turns to me and Noah. “Close your eyes. Both of you.”

He gives me one last look, his one eyebrow raised and his finger pointed at me in a gesture that seems to say,Settle down, Mila. Let him have this.

I nod and close my eyes.

“Are your eyes closed, Mom? Are you peeking?”

“They’re closed. Are you peeking?”

“No way. Peeking ruins the surprise.”

Even with my eyes closed, I can feel Noah’s energy buzzing next to me like a hive of bees in springtime.

The door opens behind us.

“I’m done for the … What’s going on out here?” Chloe asks.

“Shhhh, Aunt Chloe. Unko has a gift for me.”

“He does, does he?”

“Yep. Close your eyes.”

“Okay, sweetie.”

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