Page 17 of Other Side Of Never
He shrugged and nodded toward me and the restaurant.“Coming in here, seeing you and Susie, it gives him a sense of community.”He rubbed his big hands over his face roughly.“I have to do a better job integrating him.”
“Maybe you have to integrate yourself a little bit,” I challenged.
His mouth quirked up as he protested, “Hey, I met you at The Beaver Dam.”He shook his head and huffed out a laugh.“And that was not easy.”
“She holds no ill will toward you,” I assured him softly.
“I know,” he responded.“But I hold enough for everybody.And seeing her makes it impossible to escape it.”
I leaned forward.“In fact, she told me she wants you to be happy and she hopes you stay.She wants Aaron to have a chance to know you.”
He looked away.“I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen.”Exhaling hard, he turned back to me.“But I’m not going anywhere.”
I sat back on my side of the booth and teased, “You know, you really should let me be your friend.”
His gaze sharpened on mine for a moment before his gaze skittered to the side.Looking back at me, he admitted, “Bridge, you’re a beautiful woman, quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.But I’m not in the market for any kind of relationship.Not even a casual arrangement.”
I smiled.“That’s good because I never date single dads.”
His eyebrows flew up in surprise.“Never?There’s a story there.”
I laughed and shook my head.“Yes, but it’s one I would only share with a friend,” I stressed.
He grinned and reached toward the basket with the last of the fries.
I slapped his hand.“Those are mine, big boy.Have some more mashed potatoes.”
He laughed, hard.“Did you just slap me?”
“Dad!”Isaiah bounded into the restaurant, Aaron and Nadine on his heels.
Nadine smiled widely when she saw me.Since the baby shower when we all slathered her in love, she’d blossomed.
“Looking good, mommy,” I exclaimed with a grin.
She rubbed her baby belly.“I ate too much cake and ice cream, but I have no regrets.”
“Hey, Aaron,” I glanced up at Aaron, the rest of my teasing words drying up in my throat.
He stood looking down at the remains of our shared dinner on the table, his eyes narrowing as he shoved his hands into his front pockets.
I stiffened as Isaiah haphazardly climbed up onto the seat beside me.“Careful, Ace,” I warned, grabbing him by the back of his t-shirt.
Ignoring me, he exclaimed, “I went to a birthday party.We had a big cake and lots of ice cream.Everybody gave Dylan presents, lots of presents.”
He turned to Kian who wore a pained look on his face.“Dad, can I have a birthday party next year?”
I put my arm around him.“When’s your birthday, Ace?”
He scrunched his eyebrows together.“When is my birthday, Dad?”
“June 17th,” Kian murmured.
“Oh,” I exclaimed.“You just had it a few weeks ago!”
“Yup!”He scrambled to his knees and leaned forward with his elbows on the table.“But I didn’t have a party this year.Instead, we played hooky, right Dad?”
Kian nodded tightly, a forced smile on his face.
