Page 52 of Broken Grump

Friends, right.Then, her daughter, Luna, pops into my head, and I remember all the fun we had on the drive to the cookout the other day.

“But what about Luna?”

“What about her?” Her energy intensifies, and I can practically see her quills pop out of her skin.

Oh, shit. That was clearly the wrong thing to say, but I can’t take it back now.

“I, uh. I just really like her. That’s all. She’s a great kid.”

“Yes, she is.”

I hold my hands up in hopes of lowering her guard down a bit. “I promise, I won’t ever bring up the topic of a paternity test again. I believe you that she isn’t mine. I do.”

Slowly, I see her soften again. “Good. Because—”

“I know, I know. She’s yours, and you went to the sperm bank. I got it, and I was listening.”

“I see that. I’m surprised.”

I dodge that bullet and continue, “But mine or not, as you said, she is yours. Gosh, she reminds me so much of you, Addie.”

She rubs the back of her neck and looks to the side of the room.

“And I guess, I guess I’d just like to continue getting to know her.”

As soon as she opens her mouth, I know she’s just going to question, “Why?” So, I jump ahead to avoid that.

“She did seem to like me, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

I knew she couldn’t deny it. “I guess I just want to be a positive male role model in her life, if that’s okay with you.”

I hope that isn’t a weird thing to say.

After mulling it over a bit, Addie actually manages to smile. “That would be great. Abuelo filled that role before he was gone. But someone is needed in his absence.”

“I would be honored if you’d consider me. Not to take his place, of course. But, as you said, just to fill the empty space.”

“And we’d continue telling her you are justmyfriend.”

I nod. “Absolutely. We don’t need to be those weirdos who make their children call their friends ‘aunt’ and ‘uncle.’”

She chuckles. “God, I hate that.”

“Me too.”

However, she then goes quiet. “But what about our agreement to keep Luna out of this whole mess?” Her eyes roll. “Not withstanding that disastrous barbecue, obviously.”

“This isn’t about business anymore, Adds. Like I said, I just want to get to know her.”

“. . . Okay.”

To prove that my intentions are pure, I pull out two, prepaid tickets for the San Diego Zoo, and I slide them over just like I did with the pizza box.

“What are these?” she asks, holding them up closer to her face. “Oh.” I assume she read the fine print. “Luna loves the zoo.”

I already knew that because she told me.

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