Page 136 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Seven

His smile makes my heart skip a beat. “Yeah. Sure. That’d be great.”

“Okay. Great.” I nod compulsively and pat his chest. “Just be warned that Violet and I have the same lack of verbal filter.”

“Okay.” He follows me down the hall.

I clear my throat when I reach the kitchen, which is pointless because my heels announce me, anyway.

Violet is sitting at the kitchen table with her pencil poised between her fingers, her eyes on the doorway we’re now occupying.

“Violet, honey, I’d like you to meet Sidney. Sidney, this is my daughter, Violet,” I sweep out a hand like I’ve suddenly turned into Vanna White, but younger and with darker hair, and a lot shorter, with no sparkly dress.

He steps into the kitchen as Violet pushes her chair back. Unfortunately, neither of us is known for our stellar coordination, so her chair goes clattering to the floor and Violet goes down with it.

Sidney rushes around the table and helps her to her feet. I nab her glasses from the floor and pass them back to her.

“Are you okay?” Sidney asks.

“I’m fine. Embarrassed, but fine.” Violet’s neck turns red in patches. She holds out her hand. “Hi, it’s nice to meet your face in three-dimensions instead of your butt.” She slaps her hand over her eyes. “Oh my God. Please don’t break up with my mom because my mouth is stupid.”

Sidney chuckles. “I’m sorry our first introduction left such an unfortunate and lasting impression.”

Violet drops her hand. “It could’ve been worse. I could’ve seen your dangler and not your butt.” Her eyes bug out. “I’m sorry, Mom. So sorry. I’d like to say I’m not always like this, but that would be a lie. It calms down a little with subsequent interactions, though. People make me nervous, especially new people, and you’re a new people. Instead of losing my ability to speak, I word vomit the first thing that pops into my head. Maybe by interaction three or four I’ll just say normal things. It’s nice to meet you. Again, please don’t break up with my mom. She really likes you and this is the first time I’ve seen her this happy in like…I don’t know. I’m going to stop talking now.” She bites her lips together and her eyes dart briefly to me.

Thankfully, Sidney has spent enough time with me that Violet’s rant seems normal. “I’m glad to hear that your mom likes me and that I make her happy.”

“She had stars in her eyes for days after that morning delight,” Violet says, then gives me an imploring look. “You two should go. I’m at maximum capacity for embarrassment tolerance and I don’t think my word hole is going to stop with the truth vomit anytime soon.”

I skirt around Sidney and hug my daughter.

“I’m so sorry, Mom.”

I pat her back. “You did great.”

“Liar face.” She kisses my cheek. “Have fun, though.”

“Take an antihistamine, but not the non-drowsy ones, otherwise you’ll be up all night.”

“Good call. I can feel the hives setting in.”

She nods and waves when Sidney says it was nice to meet her. I usher him out the door.

“That went well,” I say once we’re safely inside his truck.

“You think so?” Sidney taps on the steering wheel.

“Oh yeah, definitely. A couple more brief hellos and the word vomit will slow to a trickle. She just needs time to get comfortable.” And get over the fact that she’s seen his bare butt. “Exposure therapy is the best way to get over the nerves.”

“I can handle more exposure therapy. Once she gets comfortable enough with me, maybe we can try getting the kids together. Eventually. No rush, though. I know that’s kind a big step.” More steering wheel tapping.

I shift in my seat so I can stare at his profile. “You like me that much, huh?”

He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “Is that a serious question?”

I open and close my mouth a couple of times. “I mean…even talking about getting the kids together sort of implies a level of seriousness.”

“I feel pretty serious about you,” he says softly.

“I feel the same. I was nervous about you meeting Vi because I really want her to like you,” I admit.

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