Page 42 of The Manny

“But I’m not. He’s a nice guy. He’s hot. Of course I was attracted to him, but I’m not in love with him.” I watched Aiden laughing with Percy and Mia. “But you better really want this, Barb. Don’t you dare screw with his heart just because you’re bored or feeling territorial. That’s too cruel to him and Percy.”

“I moved back here to be closer to Aiden and Percy. I didn’t even know about you until the other day. I came back because I love Aiden.” She clenched her fists. “This isn’t a game.”

“Good.”

Aiden called her over as if on cue, and I was left on my own. I wasn’t sure why, but after my conversation with Barb, I felt a bit deflated. Most everyone at the party was married with kids, which made sense. It was, after all, a kid’s birthday party, not a meet and greet for singles. I’d been to a bunch of these parties in the past but, for whatever reason, today I felt isolated from the group.

Watching all the couples with their kids had me experiencing a loneliness I hadn’t acknowledged in years. I loved my job, but it made meeting someone difficult. I didn’t just work nine to five, I lived with these families. Night and day, I immersed myself in their world and made it my own. The problem was, their world wasn’t mine. It was all a facade. I was like an actor playing a role, and when that show ended I moved onto my next part.

I had the same hopes and dreams a lot of people had. I wanted to meet someone and fall in love. I wanted to one day have a family of my own. I still had time. I was only twenty-three. But I did have to wonder sometimes if how I lived my life could potentially keep me single far longer than I’d like. Most of the men I met were married, and I wasn’t the type to steal someone’s husband.

I got hit on a lot because I came across as carefree. What most men didn’t understand about me was that, when it came to my heart, I didn’t play games. Right now, I didn’t take life too seriously. But the day would come when I would.

Chapter Nine

Jack

When Thomas and Mia returned from the party, I was out back mowing the lawn. They came outside because Mia wanted to show me a gift Percy had given her. He’d handpicked a duck plushy, so she would always remember how they’d met. I’d never met Percy, but that certainly was a very romantic gesture from a child.

I was covered in sweat and shirtless, so I felt self-conscious as Thomas watched me. I felt stilted and wasn’t sure if I gave a good enough reaction to Mia about her stuffed animal. But she was in a good mood from the party, so maybe she didn’t care or even notice.

“Mowing the lawn is how you decided to spend your day off?” Thomas frowned, sitting in a chair under the patio umbrella.

“It has to be done. I can’t get to it on a workday.”

“You should hire a gardener.” He leaned back, shielding his eyes with his hand. “Then you could spend your day off actually relaxing.”

I rested my arms on the mower. “I find it relaxing to do yard work.”

“Seriously?”

Mia watched me. “Do you want help?”

Surprised at the child’s offer, I grimaced. “Oh, that’s okay, Mia. Thank you though.” It wouldn’t be very relaxing if I had to keep a watch on her the whole time. I knew sometimes kids ate dirt. Was she that young or did she know better?

“I helped Toby in the yard.” She bit her lip, as the afternoon breeze gently blew her hair around her shoulders. “I’m good at pulling weeds.”

“I’m sure you are.”

“We could both help you.” Thomas’ voice was cheerful.

I shot him an annoyed look. Had he not heard me? Why was he pushing this? “That’s okay.”

He frowned. “Really? You don’t want help?”

The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Mia’s feelings again. By not dropping the idea of them helping me, he was practically forcing me to say something rude. “I enjoy just focusing on the work,” I said. “It’s not a big enough job that I’d need help.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes.”

Twisting his lips, he addressed Mia. “How about we plant some flowers by ourselves, Mia? Apparently Uncle Jack only likes to work solo.”

“Can we do that?” Mia widened her eyes.

“Why not?” Thomas shrugged. “It will make the yard even prettier.”

Scowling, I said, “Wait. Plant flowers where?” I had the yard landscaped just how I liked it. I didn’t need him rearranging my yard like he was trying to rearrange my life.

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