Page 211 of Small Town Firsts
The door upstairs opened and closed and footsteps sounded on the stairs. I turned, still holding my squirming kid, to see both Ally and the mother who’d asked me out on the phone, Tina, gaping at me.
“You filled your entire family room with sand?” Incredulously, Ally hurried down the rest of the stairs and hiked up her dress to pick her way around the sandbox. “You do realizehow impractical that is? You’re never going to manage to get every grain out, and it’s going to embed in the floorboards.”
“There’s safety rubber underneath.” I glanced past her at Tina. “Hi there. Is anyone manning my grill by any chance?”
“Yes, Mr. Robinson from down the street took over. Tina was worried about you. Said you guys were in the midst of setting up a date when the phone disconnected.”
Oh fuck.
“Al—”
“Then we heard squealing and hurried down here.” Ally bent gingerly to push one of the inflatable beach balls across the sand. “I can’t believe you did this.”
I had a feeling I’d be hearing that a lot today.
I righted Laurie in my arms and gave her a quick hug before setting her on her feet. “Your friends are here. Why don’t you go back upstairs with Mrs. Johnson while I talk to Ally?”
“Okay.” She scampered off, scattering sand.
I’d just made it to my feet when she spun back around and charged up to me again, gripping me around the legs. “Thank you, Daddy.”
It came out sounding a little likeTank Eww, Dabby,but close enough.
Though Tina held out a hand for Laurie, she was staring fixedly at me. “I hope we can continue that conversation later, Seth.”
“Actually, it’s probably good if we don’t.” I smiled at her to soften the blow. “I’m committed to someone right now. But thank you for your interest.”
It was a toss-up which one of the women gave me a more scathing glance.
“C’mon, Laurie,” Tina said. “Let’s go upstairs so you can say hi to everyone in your pretty dress!”
Laurie trotted along after her, chattering happily.
The door shut behind them, and Ally kicked one of the beach balls hard enough that it nearly took out the TV on the other side of the room.
“Committed right now? Like this instant? You should’ve given her an end date. Don’t want her to get discouraged and give up too soon.” Ally aimed for the other beach ball and did the same thing, this time nearly missing the one lamp we’d left behind because it was also on the opposite side of the space. Lawrence had some serious leg power.
Which wasn’t hot at all.
Not even a little bit.
I scratched the back of my neck. It wouldn’t do to seem pleased by this recent turn of events. Being stupidly overjoyed that she was jealous was simply not appropriate. I should be ashamed.
I might be tomorrow.
Or next year.
“I’m getting the feeling you’re angry.”
“Oh, are you? Are you now? What was your first clue?” She crouched to pick up the plastic bucket and slotted scoop, and I quickly rushed over to take them out of her hands before they left a dent in my wall. “Don’t crowd me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I tossed the toys aside and hooked my fingers in the bodice of her dress, hauling her against me. “You know, I thought this purple was my favorite color on you, but I was wrong.” I bit down on her lower lip, tugging it between my teeth. “It’s green.”
She shoved at my chest and moved her face away from mine. “You think this is funny?”
“More like ridiculous.”
“I don’t know what idea you had about this whole impregnate-my-bestie scenario, but while this is going on, you’re not going to be hitting on other chicks.”
