Page 31 of A Little Puck Luck

“You and me both, but we’re playing it safe until we know who the fuck threatened her. Which means no more mention of Siobhan being at my place.”

Thankfully, it was Spencer who got the brunt of Carter’s death stare. I hated that stare since it was like he was looking straight into your soul, and it reminded me of my old coach, who used to kick my ass back when I was in juniors.

“Got it, man.” I mimed locking my lips shut and tossing the key away. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Spencer held up his hands in surrender.

“I know. It’s just weird you’re living with a girl, and you’re not engaged. It wasn’t part of the plan, so I could see you giving her a ring.”

Noticing how the guys were all talking in pairs or trios, I used my head and said, “So, captain, ready to lead the stretches before Benino gets here?”

Chapter 23

Scuba

AsIwastyinga ribbon on the small box, Eric came downstairs and climbed up to sit on one of the barstools.

I didn’t care that he loved the high chairs, but his mom hated him sitting on them. I probably should have told him to get down, but sometimes, a kid needed to learn on their own.

Besides, I loved his bravery.

“What’s that?” Eric leaned up on the island to the point where he was practically standing up. He was probably hoping to get a good look at the small box, but it was fully wrapped up and even looked pretty, if I didn’t say so myself. It wasn’t like it was professionally wrapped, but all the edges were neat, and it was a hell of a lot better than anything I wrapped the last time I gave Annie a gift.

“A gift for your mom.”

I slid the box across the marble surface so Eric could look at it. He immediately picked it up and shook the package. There was a bit of a rattle in the long, thin box. I loved his innocence in doing that, but I couldn’t help positioning myself behind him and holding an arm behind his back when he was standing on the chair.

“Is it jewelry?” Eric asked.

I plucked the box from his hand.

I would have gotten Annie jewelry if I wanted to ask her out or make a move on her if she was anyone else. But she never liked my over-the-top gestures. So, I went with the practical route for her. It was a doggie poop bag holder with a flashlight, doggie paw wipes, and a new leather leash that could be adjusted to walk multiple dogs at the same time. Sadly, the little purple treat bag wouldn’t arrive for another couple of days, but at least this was a good start to gifts that would let her know I still cared.

“Nope. Just some things to let her know I’m thinking about her and that I want her to be a rockstar.”

Eric gave me a toothy grin and a thumbs up.

My kid was on board with gifting things to his mom. Hopefully, he would be my little wingman when it came to wooing his mom. Seeing her opening up to me, being a good mom and friend, and just being around her, I was tired of just coexisting. It was time for me to make a move.

Speaking of time, I needed Eric to sit down before his mom came down to make breakfast since she would kill me if Eric fell or if I even just let him stand on the chair.

“Come on, let’s have some breakfast. And sit down before your mom catches you.”

“Can you make the Mickey Mouse pancakes again?” he asked eagerly.

I had a feeling he would ask for those, but I made a face.

In my shopping frenzy for Annie, I also picked up some pancake molds since Eric absolutely adored our pancake feasts. Then again, I loved them, too, and it seemed like they could be a ton of fun.

“Why should we make Mickey Mouse ones when we can make dinosaurs?”

Eric looked a little skeptical. “What type of dinosaurs?”

I pulled out the plastic molds that looked suspiciously like cookie cutters and said, “So we got a T-Rex, a brontosaurus, and a triceratops.”

“Let’s make all of them.”

I chuckled. Of course, he would want all of them because how could you choose between the awesomeness?

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