Page 14 of The Keeper
“I should be asking you the same thing,” comes a voice from behind me. I look over my shoulder and see a stunning brunette, all long legs and brightness. “I thought you had some ‘unbreakable commitment’ today. You’re just getting food?”
Mack shifts in his seat and a look of embarrassment crosses his face, but he covers it by adjusting the little girl in his arms.
“Nice, Amy,” he mutters with a sigh. “Amy, meet RJ. My unbreakable commitment.”
Internally, I’m swooning and barely register as Amy’s eyes glance quickly between Mack and me.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, reaching my hand out to her. “Nice to meet you, Amy,” I respond.
She smiles at me, taking my hand in a firm shake.
“Nice to meet you, RJ. My little brother didn’t tell me he had a date today.” Her smile grows larger, practically taking up her entire face as she looks back at him.
“Oh, we aren’t on a date,” I say, grabbing my soda and taking a sip.
Amy’s smile drops just a bit. “Oh,” is all she says.
“Yeah, I mean, wouldyoudate a guy who screams from the top of buildings like a crazy person and brings you dead flowers?” I fake a creeped-out shiver. “No thanks. I’m just here for the free food.”
Amy looks confused, but I can see Mack’s shoulders shaking with silent laughter out of the corner of my eye.
Without giving her any further information, Mack interrupts.
“So, what are you up to today, Amy?”
Amy quickly recuperates and focuses her attention back on Mack.
“Kevin and I are celebrating our anniversary tonight, so Anna and I are grabbing some food before I drop her off at the sitter’s. I’m supposed to be there in,” she glances at her watch, “twenty minutes and she lives in Pasadena, so I better hurry because I’m already at least fifteen minutes late.”
“I’m sorry, Ames. I didn’t realize it was your anniversary. I can watch her,” Mack says, keeping Anna sitting in his lap, where she is happily stuffing a fry into her mouth.
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Amy responds, reaching out for Anna. “I don’t want to interrupt your… non-date.” She still looks slightly confused about it, which makes me want to laugh again.
“It’s really not a problem,” I pipe in. “I only live a few blocks from here. And we’re heading back to my place soon. We can feed Anna.”
Amy looks at me, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“You sure?” I glance over at Mack and see a happily perplexed expression on his face, but he just gives Amy a short nod. “Well, alright. I’ll call Chloe and let her know I won’t need her after all. Her mom practically forces her to babysit, so I’m sure she’d rather enjoy a Saturday night with friends anyway.” She smiles again. “Thanks a lot. I’ll walk over to get her when we get home?”
“Absolutely. I’ll probably swing through your place to grab some of her stuff, but we’ll spend the evening at mine. If something changes, just shoot me a text.”
“Thanks Mack.” She leans over and kisses Mack on the cheek, and then looks to me. “It was nice to meet you RJ.”
I smile at her, and then she’s out the door.
Over the next twenty minutes, Mack and I are wrapped up in Anna as he orders her food and we get her fed. She really is adorable, all cherub cheeks and chocolate curls.
“How old is she?” I ask Mack as we walk out the door.
“Four next month. Hopefully we’re edging out of the terrible twosomes, which extended into the thrillingly terrible threesomes,” he says as he swings Anna up into the air above his head. She giggles and my heart glows. “Sorry about our little date-crasher here.”
“I’m not stressed. I love kids. I’m glad we were there to help.”
“Yeah, me too.”
After unlocking our bikes outside, he lifts Anna up to sit on his shoulders and we start the fifteen minute walk back to my apartment. Mack guides his bike in one hand, his other clasped firmly around Anna’s leg, while I ride aimless circles around them as we make our way down the street of houses.
