Page 38 of Playing the Neutral Zone

“Hi,” Scarlett said back, smiling at Mia, but that smile didn’t meet her eyes.

Mia turned back to me, held her little hand by her mouth, and asked, “Is she going to dump coffee on us again?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on Mia’s face.

“It was fun!”She giggled, which caused Scarlett and me to laugh.

“Mia, this is my friend Scarlett,” I said, looking over at her as she turned her attention to Mia.

“Daddy, she’s pretty,” Mia said, holding her small hand up in a wave.

“Yes, she is beautiful,” I whispered back to Mia, then up to Scarlett as her eyes fell to mine.

“Levi, about last week…” Scarlett began, but I stopped her before she could finish.I didn’t want to hear she’d made a mistake by telling me her feelings.I’d decided that it wasn’t a bad thing to have things out in the open.

“Scarlett, how about you join Mia and I tonight for dinner?”I said, smiling down at Mia as she looked up at me and over to Scarlett.

“Oh, I couldn’t.”

I looked at her, my eyes falling to the items in her cart again.

“What do you think, Mia, should Scarlett come to dinner at our place tonight?”

Mia smiled and nodded, turning her attention back to her game.

“I think you should join us,” I whispered again, this time winking at her.“I’m making my famous Thai crispy beef with vegetables.”

Scarlett’s eyes lit up.It had always been a favorite of hers, and so I’d always tried to make it when she was home from school.

“God, I haven’t had that in years.”

“So, I guess we can expect you around six?”I said, glancing down at my watch, noticing that it only gave me a couple of hours to get things home and start preparing dinner.“Or will those peanut butter sandwich cookies and mango be sufficient?”

She looked around, then down to the things she’d apparently chosen for dinner and nodded.“Sounds good.”

Mia and Scarlettheaded into the living room while I cleaned up after dinner.I listened as Mia talked a mile a minute, showing Scarlett some of her favorite toys.I glanced in every few minutes to see Scarlett watching and listening with intent as Mia rambled on.

Mia hadn’t been around many women, mainly because I never brought the odd date home.I didn’t want to subject her to anyone who I didn’t feel I could see myself having a long-term relationship with.Since I also didn’t have many female friends, the only women Mia were around were Lorelai, Aurora, Peyton, Ella, Mrs.Fletcher and her grandmother.When I finished the dishes, I entered the living room, waiting until Mia finished showing Scarlett her collection of Disney movies.

“Alright, pumpkin, time for bed.”

“But, Dad, I haven’t shown Scarlett Potato.”

I winked at Scarlett.“Do you think you can share Potato with Scarlett next time?It’s already past your bedtime.”

Mia let out a huff, placed her hands on her hips, and looked at Scarlett.“Dad always makes me go to bed early.”

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Can you read me a story?”she said, coming over and taking me by the hand.

“A short one.”

“Can Scarlett come?”

“I don’t think Scarlett wants to hear a story.”

“Sure, I do,” Scarlett said, smiling at me and winking at Mia.

---