Page 69 of Play Book

“What’s a Nickelback?” Ally asks, wrinkling her nose.

Stevie laughs, taking the money. “Got it.”

“She needs…underthings too. I’m guessing you know what’s appropriate for an eleven-year-old? Bras and panties and stuff?” I’d noticed she didn’t wear a bra but she needed to. For one thing, it was a rule of the school she was starting, but the truth was, she was filling out.

Stevie hesitates.

“What?” I ask.

“I know what I think is appropriate for a girl her age, but what I think may not match what you think or what she wants.”

I sigh. “Look, she’s eleven. She’s not wearing thongs or push-up bras that are going to make her hang out of her tops. Beyond that, we’re good.”

Stevie chews the inside of her cheek.

“Now what?” I demand.

“You know five hundred bucks isn’t going to buy her a whole new wardrobe, right?”

“Can we start with bras, underwear, socks and…” I give Ally a pointed look before turning back to Stevie. “Toiletries. She’s not a fan of deodorant or shampoo. And I’m not sure how to get that point across.”

“Okay, kiddo.” Stevie seems to understand what I need from her. “Are you ready? Because we have a lot to do. And a lot to talk about.”

Ally groans. “You’re supposed to be the cool grown-up.”

“I am spectacularly cool,” Stevie tells her, “but you’re still eleven and need to listen when someone says deodorant is important. Now, come on. We’ll go shopping and get dinner. I’ll bring her home around…” She meets my gaze questioningly. “Eight?”

It’s not even noon.

Which means I have the whole day to spend with Saylor.

Assuming she even wants to see me.

I’m so grateful I want to kiss her, but just nod instead. “Thank you. That’s perfect. I really appreciate this. And if you spend the whole five hundred, just bring me receipts and I’ll pay you back.”

“If we spend the whole five hundred?” Stevie and Ally burst out laughing.

Great.

They’re ganging up on me.

But that’s okay.

I don’t care about the money.

All I care about is getting to Saylor.

And less than an hour later, I pull into her driveway.

I showered and stopped to pick up a mountain of flowers.

Hopefully, they’ll be enough to at least get her to open the door because I don’t know how upset she is.

“Look at you, turning on the romance!” Saylor’s neighbor, Joel, calls out from where he’s just getting out of his red pickup truck.

It will probably piss off Saylor even more if I punch him in the face, so I just wave and keep walking.

I knock and it takes a couple of minutes before she comes to the door.

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