Page 71 of Sweet on You
Ronnie winked, but continued talking. “Food is in the pantry. The bottles and pacifiers should be washed first. And I’m going to move her folded clothes into the basket now that it’s empty.” Ronnie looked around my little apartment and nodded. “I think you’re good.”
“I am now.” I slid my hands around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.
“Knock, knock,” a voice came from the doorway and I leapt back like a teenager caught making out under the bleachers.
“Mrs. Murphy,” I said, my heart lurching into my throat. I sent Ronnie an apologetic glance. She merely smiled and squeezed my hand before letting it go.
Her eyes shifted to Ronnie as Mr. Murphy followed in behind her, his arms filled with a diaper bag, a folded stroller, as well as several other things—I had no idea what they were.
“Here,” I sprang into action, helping to take some of the items from his hands and set them down in the entryway. Then, once his hands were free, I offered him one of mine for a handshake. He still seemed guarded around me and eyed me carefully. Although this time, I had to admit, he seemed friendlier. Slightly. “Good to see you, sir.”
He took my hand in a firm squeeze with one brisk pump. “You too, son.”
Mrs. Murphy smiled, bouncing Olivia on her hip. Her eyes darted between me and Ronnie. “I’m so sorry. The door downstairs was open and we just came right up.”
“Not a good idea to leave doors unlocked with a little one—”
“That was my fault,” Ronnie jumped in. “I brought Lex over some of my niece’s hand-me-downs and left it unlocked when I was lugging stuff upstairs.”
Mrs. Murphy nodded and turned to her husband with a smug glance.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “this is Ronnie, a, um, a friend. Ronnie this is Mr. and Mrs. Murphy. Olivia’s grandparents.”
Ronnie smiled that charming, dimpled grin that I’ve been growing to love for the past two years and reached out a hand, taking each of their palms in hers. “It’s nice to meet you. Have you ever been to Maple Grove?”
Mr. Murphy seemed to soften even more around Ronnie and he smiled back, lines creasing his face. “We haven’t. It’s charming though.”
“I think so, too. I’ve been here my entire life.”
Ronnie leaned over to Olivia, smiling. “You must be Olivia,” she said quietly with a little wave. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Olivia smiled shyly and dropped her face into her grandmother’s shoulder as Frost hopped up onto the counter to greet our new guests.
“You have a cat?” Mr. Murphy asked, his voice back to being gruff.
I nodded. “That’s Frost,” I said.
Olivia immediately perked up, pointing at the cat. “Kitty!” she said. “Kitty, kitty, kitty!”
“That’s right,” Mrs. Murphy said. “What does the kitty say?”
“Meow,” Olivia responded. To which Frost let out a real mewl that caused Olivia to squeal and clap her hands.
“You should have informed us you had a cat,” Mr. Murphy said. “We don’t know if Olivia is allergic or not.”
Mrs. Murphy rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. She’s been around cats before.”
“Not for a sleepover,” he mumbled.
“Oh, look!” Mrs. Murphy said, pointing to the car seat. “You bought one! We were wondering if we were going to need to take ours out of the backseat or not.”
I slid Ronnie a look and a smile, and she winked in return.
“Well,” Ronnie said, “I’m going to let you get settled.” She gave everyone one last smile and wave and let herself out.
Mrs. Murphy followed Ronnie with her eyes as she left, shutting the door behind her, then turned to me and gave me a little smile. “She seems very… sweet.”
I nodded, feeling suddenly uncomfortable for a reason I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “She’s just a friend.” Why did I say that? Ronnie was so clearly not just a friend. I shook my head, rubbing at my eyes and sighed. “I don’t know why I said that. She’s more than just a friend. She’s my girlfriend. I’m sorry.”
