Page 16 of Back to Willow

“How are you?” she asks, but before I can answer, Johanna cuts in.

“Oh my god!” Her hands flail chaotically around her, to match her excited reaction. “You’re the perfect person for—”

As if fate knew I was getting off too easily with something—anything—Dylan interrupts us by abruptly stopping by my side, eyeing both girls curiously. They look back at him, Johanna with a visibly confused expression on her face.

Is she going to judge?

“Who’s this little one?” Sofia is the first one to break the awkward silence, flashing him another megawatt smile. With an intrigued glance at me, she crouches down to his height, and Johanna weirdly follows.

“I’m Dylan,” he announces, his chest puffing in pride.

As if listening to him talk just broke a spell, she unfreezes, smiling at him for the first time, and greets him back, “Hi, Dylan. I’m Johanna. Nice to meet you, young man.”

Her hand extends to him with the obvious intention of shaking his hand, but my son, being the charmer he is, takes her hand and tugs it close to his face, kissing her knuckles. Johanna’s eyes widen in shock for a moment before she cracks up laughing. Sofia copies Johanna’s actions, laughing even harder when he does the same to her.

My cheeks set a flame, and I bury my face in my hand with a defeated shake of my head. This is what I get for letting my big brother be a bad influence on my son. Note to self: do not let Jacob Hanlon babysit Dylan.Ever!

“What a gentleman. Who taught you that?”

“My Uncle Jake,” he proudly admits, confirming my suspicions. “He says this is how a gentleman should greet pretty ladies.”

Seriously, what things has my brother been teaching my five-year-old kid? Jacob Hanlon is a man-child, that’s what he is. A hazard to all children around the world, the kind who’s not above using them as bait to seduce a pretty woman.

Jesus Christ.

Johanna clears her throat, catching my attention again. They’re both now standing, even though Sofia is still focused on Dylan’s cuteness. Johanna is looking at me instead with a curious glint in her eyes.

Then he, suddenly bored with the situation, says goodbye and happily runs back to where Nana and Abby are.

“Dylan is…” I pause, taking in a deep breath. “My son. I study, work, and raise a kid. There isn’t much free time.” I chuckle awkwardly.

Her mouth opens and shuts a few times, words evading her. Standing like a gaping fish, it’s safe to say she looks shocked.

“I didn’t know,” she comments.

“No, I know…” I trail off. It’s not something I like to talk about very often.

“He is so handsome, though,” Sofia comments, unfazed by the rising tension.

“Thank you.”

“Well,” Johanna claps her hands together, a clear sign of how uncomfortable she is. “I was going to ask, are you working for the next few days?”

“Yes, why?”

“I am going on a date with this guy I really like, but I’m nervous. If you wouldn’t mind, could we meet there? That way I’d be more at ease, with a friendly face around?”

“Sure.” I smile tightly. “Let me know when it is so I can make sure I’m working. Yeah?”

“I’ll text you.” She beams. “Alright, we’re going to continue our workout.”

“Of course, girls.” I nod. “Have fun.”

They say their goodbyes and run off on the park’s pathway, disappearing into the distance. It’s only when they’re out of my sight that my body finally starts to relax a little.

Just when you think the bad luck streak has ended, it comes back to bite you in the ass. Not literally, of course, but thingshavebeen running smoothly. Despite the professor that hates me for no apparent reason, things have been going rather great.

Of course, something had to give.

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