Page 81 of Afternoon Delight
“What I’m hearing is you’re too busy hooking up to take me home,” Georgia said with mock annoyance.
“You heard me right, then.”
We all chuckled.
“Help me to that chair first,” Georgia said, taking both our arms. “I know I can walk it alone, but I swear, if I trip on a crack and break my back...”
We paced slowly beside her until she was safely settled in the lawn chair.
Mom came out then with two plates and a wide smile of surprise.
“Georgia! It’s good to see you!” She stooped to kiss her cheek, then insisted Georgia take her sandwich. “I’ll make more while I’m inside with Negasi.”
“Let me know if you need help carrying anything to the car,” I said before sitting down next to Georgia. “You really do look so much better.”
“I feel better. I’m barely taking any painkillers, and the physio feels good instead of, you know, like it’ll kill me. Why is your mom leaving crusts on my sandwich like she doesn’t even know me?” She frowned at the plate in her lap.
We snickered and ate, faces turned up to the spring sun.
“I thought I’d see your boy. Is he not here?”
“Which boy?” I said with a significant blink of my lashes.
“What do you mean by that? You got a fuck boi? Zak?”
“Maybe.” I gave her some smug side-eye, then wrinkled my nose with indecision. “I don’t know what he is, but he kissed me in front of Mom this morning before he took Roddie to help babysit his niece and nephews.”
“Oh. He’s acting like he’s your boy.”
“Yeah, a little.” I set my elbow on the arm of my chair and cupped my chin, cycling through all of Zak’s most appealing qualities. He called me priceless. He showed up to help without being asked. He took kids to fun places and offered to bring dinner.
Good grief, my bar was low if he was clearing it that easily.
“I really like him, but Mom’s finally looking ready to make a shift. You’re getting better, so you’ll be back at the shop soon. That means I have to make some of my own decisions. I just don’t know what the right decision is.”
“Good God, woman. Just pick something. If you don’t like it, choose something else later. I love your commitment, Meg, I really do. But you don’t have to devote the rest of your life to one thing. Especially not one guy. It’s okay to keep it casual and see what happens.”
“You’re not wrong, but changing my mind later feels like I made a mistake in the first place. I prefer to know I’m right from the jump.”
“And where would you get that from?” she teased.
As if on cue, Mom came outside with Negasi, each carrying a tub of craft supplies.
“I knew your theater friends would be able to use these,” Mom was saying.
Georgia and I exchanged a look of laughter, then I left my plate on my chair and helped bring out the rest of the things Negasi was taking.
Chapter 43
Zak
I glanced in the rearview mirror of Zara’s minivan to see Ollie sacked out in his car seat. Jade was leaning against the side of it, also fast asleep. Lance had put up a good fight, but he’d lost, too. His head was tilted against the window.
Sorry, Zar. They’d be up late on a school night—but maybe not. We’d logged a lot of miles today. It had been fun, especially having Roddie along. He was good with Ollie, Jade adored him, and he’d been willing to run point on Lance at the arcade while I entertained the little ones.
“Mom is driving Georgia home. She says she’ll pick up dinner,” Zak said after glancing at his phone.
“Tell her I’ll get it next time, but that it’s just you guys. I have to get these brats home. They’re all going to need a Silkwood shower.”
