Page 45 of Broken Grump

“Where are we goingagain, Mommy?” Luna asks while swinging from side to side with her purple backpack on.

I push little baby hairs away from her face and answer, “A business associate’s house, love.”

Her little freckled nose wrinkles. “A what?”

“Just someone I work with.”

“Oh.”

A few minutes later, the G-Wagon pulls up.

“Whoa!” Luna exclaims. “That’s huge!”

Hayden lowers down the window, revealing his handsome face behind the wheel. “Good morning, ladies.” He looks over to my daughter, “Good morning, Luna.”

I hold her by the shoulders. “You remember Hayden, Mommy’sfriend.” I know he initially wanted to solve this issue, but I’m grateful he finally conceded and left the decision-making up to me.

Friends. Friends is good. Luna understands friends, I reasoned.

But back to the present moment. She bounces her finger off her chin and mutters, “Hmmm.”

“It’s okay if you don’t. Hayden, Luna. Luna, Hayden.” With the two of them so close in proximity, I can’t help but notice the similarities.

“How’s it going, Looney Tunes?” he asks.

My daughter gasps. “Mom? How’d he know?”

“I—I don’t know.” I don’t recall telling him about her nickname.

“Come on, let’s get a move on!” He winks and gestures for us to climb on board.

He surprises me even more when he has the perfect booster seat in the back for her.

“Seriously, Mom?” Luna whines after seeing it.

“Yes,” I tell her, and then say a “Thank you” in his direction.

He looks at me in the rearview mirror and nods.

After getting her all set, I go to sit next to her, but Hayden stops me. “You aren’t going to sit up here with me? Don’t you think that will seem a bitweird?” He glances back at me and mouths the last bit.

I know he’s right. Especially if Randall or his wife are at the front of the house in a receiving line of sorts.

So, I get out and instead crawl in next to him instead.

“What’s your last name?” Luna pipes up right away as we start driving.

“Cohen. What’s yours?” I assume he already knows that, but part of me can’t wonder whether or not he’s testing me somehow.

“Flores, of course.”

I see the muscles in his face tense. “Of course.”

“Do you have a job? My mom’s last friend didn’t.”

“Luna!” I swing around and scold her. But Hayden just chuckles.

“I do,” he answers with a nod. “What about you? What’s your job?”

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