Page 38 of Sticking Out

“I’m sorry. What was that?” I ask as Conner’s brow knits together, like he’s searching for a response at her unexpected reaction.

“Oh, we should go get a straw and get a drink,” Summer says quietly, a sadness about her as she loops her arm in Knox’s. He has a worried look on his face. I guess he thought things would go down differently.

“I want to drink from the big cup, Dani,” Zoe says as Summer and Knox walk away, Knox saying something into Summer’s ear. Something he doesn’t want anyone else to hear. I’m not sure how long that relationship is going to last. Come to think of it, I really never was much of a Summer fan. I think Conner dodged a bullet there. But people change and grow, and she’s likely a different person than she was two years ago.

With his arm still around me, and his eyes on me, not his ex, who happens to be showcasing her entire backside in a thong—yes, she looks gorgeous, just ask any of the single guys ogling her—Conner reaches for my hand.

“Drink?”

Noah hands straws to the kids. “Preferably one with alcohol.”

“Agreed,” he says. “But we do need to drink from the cup first.”

“Is that even sanitary?”

He laughs. “No, but we do what the cup holder wants us to do.”

“What are you going to do when it’s your turn?”

“I’ll probably just take it over to Mom and Dad’s for a picture. I bet your folks would like a picture too.”

“They would love that, Conner. That’s so thoughtful. Although.” He eyes me. “Dad might want to do something weird with it.”

“Weird?”

“Yeah, you know he’s huge into fishing these days and I can only imagine he’d want to make a fishbowl.”

“That would be fine.”

“Really?”

“Sure, one for the records because I’m sure no one has used it as a fishbowl before. We’ll ask Phil later, he’d know.”

I’m laughing by the time we reach the bar, and the tension inside me has eased. Honestly, why should I give Summer’s presence here another thought? We don’t mean anything to each other anymore. Why then is she staring at Conner, with a new kind of interest in her eyes? Dammit.

14

Conner

“That smells so good,” Zoe says, as she runs around the kitchen, excited after an afternoon of swimming, eating and hanging with friends. I have to say having her has been a blast, and has helped make this big old house feel less huge and homier.

“Do you want to carry it?”

She nods and I put the big bowl into her small arms. “Careful. I’ll get our drinks.” I pour wine into two stemmed glasses, and apple juice into the other. Zoe asked if she could have her juice like that and I don’t see the harm.

I carry the glasses into the room, and my heart does a little thump when I see Zoe snuggled beside Dani, leaving space for me on the other side, so she can be between us. She shoves a handful of popcorn into her mouth.

“Hey, save some for me.” She chuckles and Dani picks up a kernel and tosses it at me, like they’re conspiring. I couldn’t love this more.

I set the drinks down and slide in next to Zoe. She smiles up at me, and as I ruffle her hair, I can’t help but think this little girl could use a little male influence in her life. Gina’s not interested in bringing a man into her life and that I can understand, but I hate the thoughts of this sweet girl missing out on having a dad. When my child is born, I plan to be there for them no matter what.

I lift my head and find Dani smiling at me. “All set?”

I nod, and she reaches for the remote and hits play. For the next hour and a half, we eat popcorn, have our drinks, and stop the movie for a couple of bathroom breaks. Just before it’s over, I feel a nudge on my arm, and glance down. My heart pinches tight when I see Zoe slumped against me, sleeping. It’s a good thing we had her brush her teeth earlier. I should say, it’s a good thing Dani had her brush her teeth earlier. I’m guessing she saw this coming, and it once again reminds me she’s going to be such a great mom.

“I better carry her up.”

“She had a busy day.” Dani yawns and stretches as she pushes off the sofa.

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