Page 29 of What About Now

“Yours maybe. Not mine.”

“What do you mean? Maddox is great.”

“We weren’t even dating, Briar.”

“Pft, who cares. This is your life, and you live it how you want. You know that’s what Susan would tell you. Have you talked to her about any of this?”

“No. I have an appointment with her next week.”

“Do you need me to go with you?”

“Thank you, but no. I’ll be fine.”

“Have you considered having Maddox go to an appointment with you? You know he’d go. When Forrest went with me, it was a great visit.”

“He was already in love with you and you with him by that point.”

“And you’re crazy if you think that man isn’t falling in love with you.” She points to where Maddox is standing talking to Forrest. He glances over and smiles at me before giving his attention back to his friend.

“He can’t go five seconds without looking over to see where you are.”

“He’s just hungry,” I tell her.

“My dear, dear sister, you are in denial. Come on, let’s eat.” She guides me back to the center of the kitchen, where the girls are already eating at the island. “Girls, let’s move you into the dining room so we can all eat together,” Briar tells them.

I get lost in her words, one in particular. Denial. I trust Briar more than anyone, and maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s not because he’s hungry, or maybe it is. Maybe he’s just hungry for me?

“Daddy said we could eat here,” River says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Razzle,” Forrest says gently. “I said you could eat there until Mommy and Aunt Brogan were ready to join us.”

“Please, Daddy?” Rayne sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.

Forrest looks to Briar, his eyes pleading. She shakes her head. He’s such a pushover when it comes to the girls.

“Don’t you want to eat at the table with the rest of us like big girls?” Maddox asks them.

“We’re big.” River squares her shoulders, and Maddox chuckles.

“Come on. I’ll give you a ride.” He turns and offers River his back, and she latches on.

“Hop on, sweetheart.” Forrest does the same for Rayne, and the girls giggle and laugh for the whole twenty steps or fewer it takes to get to the dining room.

Briar and I grab their food and cups and get them all set up before we make our own. The girls carry the conversation as weeat. Mostly that it’s weird that we call what we’re eating chili because it’s not red.

These two, they always manage to make me smile, and I miss them so much. I’m glad Maddox suggested we get together. It’s eerie how well he already knows what I need without me having to tell him.

“We’ll clean up,” Forrest says, when Briar stands and reaches for my bowl. “You two go get caught up. We’ve got this, and the girls.”

“Oh, Uncle Maddox, wanna play with us? Daddy said we could play salon and paint his nails.” River bounces in her seat.

“Sure,” Maddox says, holding his hand out for her to see. “What color are you thinking?”

“We gots lots of colors, Uncle Maddox.”

“Finish your dinner,” Forrest says, smiling at them. “Then we’re all yours.”

“Thanks, babe,” Briar tells her husband.

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