Page 41 of That One Heartbreak

“I’m not scared,” Marley scoffed. He climbed houses for a living. He fought fires. Yeah, he had a healthy respect for life, but he wasn’t afraid of putting himself on the line when it counted.

“Yeah, you are. That’s why you’re going to babysit Kate’s kids while she’s out on a date. Because you’d rather lose her than have her reject you.”

“Ah, fuck off with the pop psychology. I’m going to babysit because I’m a friend.” Marley checked his watch. “It’s time to get back to work.”

Pres smirked. “Of course it is.”

Chapter

Twelve

Kate checked her watch.Marley was due to arrive in five minutes. And then she’d go out to her car, drive to Maple Cross, and spend the evening with a man she’d never met before.

She took a deep breath. She’d spent most of the week thinking about canceling the date, because the thought of eating dinner with this Allen guy was making her stomach twist.

Sure, he seemed nice. After Shana had installed the app on Kate’s phone, she’d actually managed to chat with him. He was a teacher, luckily not at any of her kids’ schools. He taught math at a high school over near Charleston, but lived locally. Apparently, a lot of high school teachers preferred not to live near their schools, so they didn’t bump into their students while they were trying to relax.

Truth be told, she hadn’t liked it when he said that. It made her feel protective of James and also wonder how Allen would feel about her teenager. He hadn’t asked much about her children, and she hadn’t volunteered.

“That’s a good thing. You’ll have more to talk about on the date,” Shana had reassured her.

But right now she wanted to take off the black sleeveless blouse and tight jeans she’d put on and climb into her pajamas and spend the evening watching movies with her kids instead.

“Can I try your lipstick on?” Addy asked. She was standing at Kate’s bathroom counter, where her makeup was still strewn across the surface.

“Not now, honey. You just had a bath.”

But it was too late. Addy was already smearing the pink goo across her lips. Well, around her lips at least. Kate tried not to laugh at the way her daughter looked like a clown.

“Come here,” she said, grabbing a makeup remover wipe. “I promise I’ll show you how to use it tomorrow, okay?”

Addy nodded as Kate wiped her face clean. “Can I stay up late tonight?” she then asked her mom.

“No. You have to go to bed when Marley says so.”

“What about if I get nightmares?” Addy asked.

“You won’t,” Kate said, reassuringly. “And anyway, I won’t be late. I’m just going out to dinner.”

“Witha man.” Addy wrinkled her little nose. Kate knew the kids had been talking about it. She’d tried so hard to hit the right balance of being honest with them and making itso not a big deal.She wasn’t sure she’d hit the mark, if she was being truly honest.

“With a friend.” Okay, that was a bit of a lie. She didn’t know Allen enough to call him a friend. But she also didn’t want Addy thinking there was more to it. “That’s it. And then I’ll be home.”

“Will you come see me when you get back?” Addy asked.

“You’ll be asleep. But I’ll check on you, I promise.”

“If I get scared can I sleep in your bed?” Addy looked longingly into Kate’s room at her queen size bed.

Kate let out a long breath. She was already working out how she could apologize to Marley if the kids misbehaved. Maybe she shouldn’t go. It was too soon. Not just for her but for them.

She’d barely been out of the house in the last two years without them. No wonder Addy was asking so many questions. Truth was, she was worried about Marley being able to handle the kids. Sure he had nephews and a niece, plus an extended family so big there were always kids around. But this was one-on-three.

And then there was the whole stupid thing of how attracted she was to him.Oh Allen, please take my mind off him.

“Okay,” Kate said, deciding not to fight this one. “You can sleep in my bed but only for tonight.”

Addy’s grin was huge as she wrapped her arms around Kate’s waist. “Thank you, Mommy. I love you.”

---