Page 75 of My Song for You
“No, just friends.” The word tasted bitter in my mouth. There was nothing wrong with being friends, but I wanted more. I just didn’t know if “more” was a good thing at this point. Not when we had to consider what was best for Logan.
“Really? I could’ve sworn there was something more between you two. I’ve seen the way you look at her, all googly-eyed.”
I snorted a laugh. “You’ve been watching way too many of Emma’s favorite TV shows.”
Kristen’s gaze darted to Logan. I had no idea what Mom had told her, and I had no idea if she was aware that he was my son.
The waitress returned with our food. Logan’s eyes widened at the tower of whipped cream on his plate. He grabbed his fork and dived in.
“Would you like to order now?” she asked Kristen.
Emma banged her fork against the edge of the table. Maybe I could introduce her to Mason, then her first words would be enough to distract her mom from whatever she was thinking when it came to Callie and me. Kristen was a romantic at heart and believed in happily-ever-afters. Would she even approve of us being together, given my career? She had always loved Callie like a sister. She would hate to see either of us get hurt.
As she placed her order with the waitress, Kristen removed the utensil from her daughter’s chubby hand and returned it to the table.
Logan was busy eating the whipped cream off his pancakes. A white streak decorated his upper lip. The rest of the cream was brown, thanks to him stirring the chocolate syrup into it.
“I made mud,” he said proudly.
I laughed. “Now you just need gummy worms and it will look like worms and dirt. Do you want me to cut your pancakes?”
Fortunately, Kristen dropped the topic of Callie and me as we ate our food, our attention mostly on the two kids at the table.
“You know, being a father suits you,” she said at one point as I was helping Logan with his pancakes. My entire body froze. Fuck. This wasn’t how I wanted Logan to find out the truth.
My phone pinged. I glanced at him. He was peering at his aunt, the word “father” having caught his attention. Buying time while I frantically figured out how to talk my way out of this, at least until I could explain things to Kristen, I checked the text from Callie.How’s breakfast?
Sorry you were so tired that you had to miss out on these amazing pancakes,I typed.
She responded a moment later.Are you trying to make me jealous?
Absolutely. Is it working?
Maybe.
I chuckled and typed,While we’re gone, you could work on your portfolio to illustrate kids’ books.
You’re not going to drop that, are you?
Nope, you’re too talented to let it go to waste.
LOL. I love you too. See you soon.
At her words, an unexpected warmth seeped in. She hadn’t meant that she was in love with me, but it didn’t stop me from wishing the words were real.
“It’s rude to text while at the table,” Kristen said, barely keeping in her laugh. Mom had reprimanded her about the same thing on more than one occasion.
I rolled my eyes and placed my phone on the table.
Fortunately, before the conversation could return to Kristen’s unexpected comment about me being a father, the waitress answered my silent prayers and returned with our bill.Thank God!
After I paid it, we headed to the playground Kristen and I had practically grown up on. The equipment had long since been replaced. Now it was made from plastic in bright primary colors.
We were the only people here, other than an older couple walking their German shepherd along the path that cut past the playground.
Logan ran to the slide and scrambled up the ladder. Kristen slipped Emma into the empty baby swing.
“How much did Mom tell you?” I asked.
