Page 39 of All Inn Thyme
“He seems like a good guy.” He shrugs. “Maybe give him a chance.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Does he know that we’re just friends?” I look into the kitchen window where Ty is now pretending to do dishes in the sink.
“Nah.” I grin. “I think he thinks you like me.”
“Want to mess with him a little bit?” he asks.
“Maybe,” I say with a devious grin.
“Give me a hug.”
I walk over and he wraps his arms around me in a brotherly hug. “Hereallylikes you,” he murmurs into my ear. “He’s dying in that window right now. You should definitely give him a chance.”
“Maybe.”
“Then why are we messing with him?” he asks, still holding me.
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out,” I reply.
“Alright, you do that.” He pulls out of the hug. “Later, friend.”
“Later, my dude,” I say as I walk across the gravel, close the door behind me when I enter the house, and click the lock out of habit before turning on more lights.
Ty pretends to straighten the dish cloth on the sink hook. “Everything good?”
“Yeah,” I say softly. “I’m just going to get Kase to bed.”
“Want to hang out by the fire with me after he’s down?” he asks.
His hopeful half-smile reveals a dimple that pulls me in. “I don’t know…” I’m exhausted, but everything in me is begging to say yes and unwind after this long day.
“I can make you tea?”
“Alright, give me fifteen.”
“Okay, I’ll get it going.” He pulls a mug down and turns on his kettle.For me.I’ve never had this before. Someone who just wants to spend time with me with no ulterior motive.
I head down the hall and open Kase’s door, finding him sitting on the floor with all his cars out. He looks up at me mid-yawn and my heart warms. If I could go back a year and show this very scene to myself, I wouldn’t have stressed and worried so much. Good things happened to us. Good things continue to happen to us.
“You ready for bed, honey?” I say, wrapping him in a hug.
“Awww, Momma. I’m not sleepy yet.”
“Let’s get you into your pajamas,” I coax.
I hear a whimpering at the door. It nudges open and Nova shoves her way in. She jumps up on the bed and circles until she finds her perfect spot, right next to where Kase is going to sleep.
“Well, look at that. Your buddy is ready for bed. She needs you to snuggle her.”
“Yeah, that’s her job,” he says as he pulls his pajama top on.
“Her job?”
“Ty says she’s a best friend dog, and her job is to protect me and keep me safe.”
My heart swells at this. “What else did he say?”
