Page 6 of Other Side Of Never
He chuckled and shook his head.“Yeah.I’d say you hit it fairly square on the head.”
“So,” I grinned and held out my hand.For some reason, I could not let this sweet man drift away into loneliness.It was a place I knew too well, and those laugh lines assured me it wouldn’t suit him.“Give me your phone and I’ll dial myself in.”
He held it out, and my fingers brushed over the palm of his large, calloused hand.
Ignoring the flutter in my belly and the burning holes my aunt’s gaze drilled into my back, I sent myself a short text before handing it back, careful not to touch him again.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “Have you met Gabe?I think he’s got a kid who might be close to Isaiah’s age.”I furrowed my brow trying to remember.“I’m pretty sure he has a little girl though.”
My gaze dropped to Isaiah whose eyes pinballed back and forth between me and his father.He looked up at me, his eyes shining with hope.
He nodded fervently.“I like girls,” he exclaimed.
A wide smile split Kian’s handsome face, his warm chuckle endearing him to me further.“I bet you do.”
Laughing, I teased, “Based on his genetics, you’ll have to keep a sharp eye on him.”
Kian’s eyebrows flew up as his mouth dropped.He blinked down at me.“Um…”
“Sorry!”I winced.“Too soon?”
He huffed out a softly incredulous laugh and shook his head.“No.Not too soon.”His hazel eyes twinkled.“And quite possibly necessary.”
Taking Isaiah’s hand, he dropped the tray with our leftovers on the counter.At the door, he turned.“You’ll probably see us later at Susie Q’s.”He smiled.“Don’t judge me too harshly.”
I smiled back, then whispered a promise as he turned his back, “I won’t.”
3
Don’t You Dare
Twoweekslater,Ithrew my apron over my shoulder as I barreled through the swinging kitchen door.“Sorry, Susie!I got caught up,” I exclaimed.
I loved it when Anita gave me free rein in the kitchen, something she’d been doing more and more often of late.But it was too easy to lose track of time.
“You won’t believe how good these taste!”I squeaked.
As she opened her mouth to speak, I popped a gold-dusted chocolate truffle inside.
She closed her eyes and hummed around the bittersweet ganache.
I fairly inflated with light.Lifting the container in my hands, I explained, “There’s more where that came from.I’m putting these on the sideboard for everybody.”
“Oh, yeah,” she moaned, dabbing at the corner of her mouth with her forefinger.“Those are to die for.”She pressed her lips tight and narrowed her gaze.“You’re wasted in this place, kiddo.”
“Blah, blah, blah,” I waved her off.“I’m getting exactly what I need right here.”
Peace.
Safety.
Purpose.
Belonging.
And though I was run off my feet, it provided rest for my overworked mind.
Funny thing about the stress of the past, it continued to exact its toll long after I escaped its source.It was slow-going, but I was getting better.I saw no need to hurry the process.
