Page 30 of The Parent Pick-Up
“Yes!” Olivia grabs Hannah’s shoulders and tugs her off the piano bench. “It will be so cool!”
“Give it a try.” I nudge Hannah’s side. “Olivia has a gift for the dramatic.”
Hannah giggles again. “Tell me about it.”
Over the last few weeks, the girls have become best friends.
They aren’t the only ones who have grown closer.
Owen and I have been spending a lot of time together. We watch movies, work on crafts or homework, and even manage to sneak in a few kisses. Despite not being alone since Hannah’s mom brought her home early that night, our level of intimacy has increased.
He even gave me his plumber’s contact, and now my shower is an amazing experience that rivals his.
I look forward to seeing Owen. Besides Olivia, he’s the best part of my day.
Hannah and Olivia twirl through the living room, nearly knocking Owen over as he comes in carrying a tray of something that smells delicious.
He dodges the girls, holding the tray over his head so they don’t bump into it. “What’s going on here?”
“They’ve decided to do the talent show.” I reach for the tray. “What’s this?”
He lifts it out of my reach and walks into the kitchen. “It’s my world-famous meatloaf.”
I can’t help but laugh as he pulls me into his arms and plants a kiss on my cheek. “World-famous?”
“Wait ’til you try it.”
I pull him into the pantry and kiss him like I’ve been dying to for weeks. He pushes me against the door and kisses me back.
“We should plan a weekend away,” he says, sliding his hand under the hem of my sweater. “There’s a great little inn on the outskirts of town. We could go out for a nice dinner. Maybe a hike.”
I shiver as his lips trail down my neck. “Or we can just stay in all weekend.”
“I can get my parents to take the girls,” he says. “If that’s okay with you.”
I didn’t think I’d ever find something like this again, but it seems it’s found me in Starlight Bay. “I’m okay with that.”
“Mom?” Olivia calls from the kitchen. “Where’d you go?”
Owen releases me, stepping back to open the door. “We were trying to find the red pepper flakes.”
“Yuck,” Olivia says. “Too spicy.”
“Girls, what do you think of a weekend away with Nanny and Pops?” Owen asks as he uncovers the meatloaf.
“Who are Nanny and Pops?” Olivia asks.
“They’re my grandparents, and they’re the best,” Hannah says. “They have kittens.”
“No way!” Olivia bounces in her seat. “I want one.”
Owen and I share a smile when they aren’t looking. Seems like we’re going away for the weekend soon.
We crowd around my tiny dining table and dig in to Owen’s delicious meatloaf. It feels almost like a family as Olivia and Hannah argue about whether their act needs more or less twirls and possibly a fog machine.
Owen raises an eyebrow at me. He doesn’t have to say a word to get me to laugh. I stick my tongue out at him. He grins. Then he slides his foot up my shin under the table, and I’m suddenly counting down the days until our weekend getaway.
By the timethe talent show rolls around, Hannah and Olivia couldn’t be more prepared.
