Page 29 of The Problem with Fire
“Ooooh, what’s for lunch,” she said, coming into the kitchen. “I’m starved.”
I snorted. “Right.” I’ve been at Karma’s when the Merrills have had Saturday breakfast. They made enough for an army.
I could hear Leta chuckle behind me. “Me and Jennifer didn’t fall out until close to two this morning,” she confessed. “We missed ESB, and Karma took no pity on us.” ESB stood for Epic Saturday Breakfast, and she was right. Karma took no prisoners when it came to the rules of her household.
“Well, serves you right,” I retorted, taking a page out of Karma’s playbook. “But since CPS frowns upon letting a child starve, sit down and I’ll share my lunch with you.”
“Are you also going to share what’s going on between you and Mr. Hayes, next door?” she asked, dropping that bomb with no care for the casualties around her.
I closed my eyes, gave myself a quick second, then turned around. The little shit was grinning like a loon. “What makes you think there’s something going on between me and our neighbor?”
Her grin turned into a smile that showed all her perfectly white teeth. “Dad mentioned something about it a couple of weeks ago, but I thought he was just being nasty again, so I had ignored him,” she admitted, flooring me that she hadn’t mentioned Thomas’ bullcrap. “But when you went over to talk to him Wednesday, after the fire, you guys looked a bit…chummy.” Leta let out a soft laugh. “Plus, Dad being pissed was a dead giveaway.”
I almost groaned. “Your father has no place to be pissed or anything else when it pertains to my private life,” I told her.
Her brows shot up. “You don’t have to tell me,” she quickly agreed. “With as many women as he’s entertained since the divorce, talk about being the world’s biggest hypocrite.”
Baby steps.
“We’ve…been talking more lately,” I hedged-okay, lied. I lied damn it. “He’s a nice guy.”
Leta smirked and leaned her elbows on the countertop. “Nice?” she replied.“That’show you’re going to describe the sexy fireman next door? Nice?”
I could feel my face rush hot with shock. “Leta!” I exclaimed. “Please, do not refer to Mr. Hayes as sexy.”
The little twit laughed. “Why not?” she asked, knowing full well that she was embarrassing me. “I’m not blind, Mom. Even for an old guy, he’s pretty hot.”
Old guy?
Okay, that made me feel a little bit better. If Leta saw Sayer as an old guy, then I didn’t have to worry about my teenage daughter developing a crush on my younger boyfriend.
“If he’s old, then what am I?” I asked wryly.
Leta just laughed some more. “You know what I mean,” she replied. “He’s a grown man, Mom. And as good-looking as he is, he’s still a grown man. Like he owns a house and everything.” I sputtered out a laugh. Ah, the young.
“Well, on top of being good-looking, he’s a nice guy,” I repeated. “We’re becoming friends.”
“But you like him, right?” It wasn’t what she said that gave me pause, but the tone in her voice that had me cocking my head and regarding her.
She sounded hopeful but…scared.
“Yes, Leta,” I answered honestly. “I’m getting to know him, and so far, I like what I’ve learned.”
“Enough to date him?”
Lunch forgotten, I walked around the kitchen island and sat down next to her. “Why?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Just curious,” she mumbled. But then I hit her with my all-knowing Mom stare, and she caved. “I liked that Dad was jealous.”
“Leta…”
Her hazel eyes turned dark and bothered, and I hated that. “He deserves it, Mom,” she said, lashing out, but not lashing out. “He deserves what it feels like to see the best thing that’s ever happened to you move on.” She was breaking my heart, and I didn’t know how to help her. “He doesn’t get to have it all.” Her voice was rising, and I knew she was getting upset. “He doesn’t get to just leave you, and carry on with an entirely new life, while still feeling safe that you aren’t going anywhere.”
“Leta, we’ve been over this. I’m not still hung up on your father,” I reminded her.
“I know you’re not, but he thinks you are, and he shouldn’t be able to think that,” she insisted. “He should have to see you with a sexy fireman, who’s nice and decent.”
“Leta, though it’s sweet and awesome, you can’t continue to be mad for me,” I told her. “Especially, when I’m not mad anymore. And with or without dating Mr. Hayes, I’m happy, Leta. I really am. I…yeah, your father broke my heart, but I moved past that heartache a long time ago.” She didn’t look convinced. “Leta-”
