Page 15 of Hat Trick Holidate

She comes back out with her phone and shares the contact for Cannon and Colby’s school, Admire Academy, and shows me pictures.

Brooke rocks the baby while reaching for my hand. “Admire takes a page from the Montessori curriculum, letting the kids be kids all while teaching them how to contribute to their family. But these other two were great also. They’re among the top ten in the state. One is a private school and the other two are public magnet schools.”

“I don’t even know what Montessori or magnet school means.”

“Tomorrow, bring Jolie here while you visit schools and go to practice. I’ll keep Cannon and Colby home so they can play together. I have to pick them up early anyway for an appointment,” Brooke offers.

Reed gets up and lays one hand on my shoulder. “Great idea. They seem to be having a good time.”

I look out, and Cannon is holding her hand as they slide down the long inflatable slide.

“Does Carly wear dresses all the time?”

Reed spews his beer. “That’s a big fat no. She has two or three, and she throws a fit every time we make her wear one.”

“Good to know it’s not just me.” I explain how Jolie’s mother dropped her off with a suitcase full of dresses. No shorts, pants, t-shirts. Just dresses and nightgowns.

Brooke furls her lip to one side. “Weird. Maybe Jolie only wants to wear dresses.” She twists her lips and then strums her fingers against her cheek. “But in exchange for me babysitting and helping you as much as I can, you’re signing up for my dating app.”

“Dating. I have a brand-new kid. When am I going to have time to use a dating app?”

Reed grins from ear to ear, knowing I’m not going to win this one.

Brooke pulls up the app on her phone. “It’s easy. Be as specific as you want. It will give you less matches, but you’ll only be paired with people with your requirements. And don’t put 36-24-26 and five-foot-seven in the description. Reed went out with plenty of girls like that and yet, here he is.”

“Damn right. Can you imagine a guy filling out a list of wants and saying I want a girl who reads romance, wears clothes that hide her body, preferably my coach’s daughter, and has a son? No but all those things were perfect for me.” Reed bends over giving his wife a chaste kiss.

“Fine, but I’ll make it, so I don’t have a match.”

Brooke hints at a laugh. “It will be a good test of our app.”

I focus my attention on the app and the second section asks what I want in a match. And all I can think of is the redhead from all those years ago. Plus, that will narrow down the results.

Confident

Red Hair

Curvy

Loves to dance.

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