Page 70 of Hide and Sneak
He throws back his head with a laugh then turns serious again. “Don’t tell anyone about this. I don’t want anybody to know yet.”
“I won’t.” Great. Now I’m keeping a huge secret from Lila and him. “Let’s get out of here.”
He wobbles when he gets up and sways on his feet as we walk to my truck. By the time we get home, I have to hold him up and practically drag him inside.
He kicks off his shoes and lays back on his bed with his arm over his eyes. I think he’s passed out until he slurs. “I should bail. Run away.”
“You should pass out.” A loud snore immediately follows.
He’d better not take long to tell Lila because I really don’t want to keep this from her. Especially when I plan to make her my girlfriend.
CHAPTER 24
LILA
Julian was supposedto start painting today, but I texted him when I woke up to see if he could begin the day after tomorrow instead and he agreed. After the date with Sutton last night, I need a day away. Cara and Maren were both happy to take an impromptu trip with me to Ohio.
The drive is fun. We blast our favorite music and stop at a couple of unique roadside shops along the way. I knew it’d be a good time, but another reason I asked them to join me was to get their opinion on things with Sutton.
Last night, when we were cuddled up in the movie theater, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I’m starting to get feelings for him. I know we should probably end things. That’s what you do when a fuck buddy situation gets complicated, but I’m struggling with it. Hearing them say I should stop sleeping with him might help set my head straight.
That conversation can wait until tonight, though. First things first. We arrive at the playground equipment dealer in the afternoon.
“Wow, this place is massive,” Cara says, as the three of us enter the large glass doors to the showroom.
“It’s like kiddie paradise,” Maren adds.
They’re not wrong. The scent of plastic and rubber permeates the air and the place seems to explode with color. Climbing towers, tunnels, slides, bridges, platforms, swings, padded rollers…they have everything laid out.
A woman with a bounce in her step quickly approaches us, carrying a tablet. “Hi, what can I help you with today?” Her name tag reads Wanda.
“Hi, I’m Lila. I think we spoke on the phone.”
“Of course!” Her face lights up. “You’re looking to build out two rooms, one for ages two to six and one for six and up, right?” She taps on her screen. “I have some things saved to show you.”
“Great, thank you.”
“Let’s start with the options for younger children first.”
She leads us into an adjacent room. A low profile structure with crawling tunnels, soft steps, a mini slide, and a ball pit fills one area. “This one is made for early development. It has a safe fall height, antimicrobial surfaces, and everything is modular so you can arrange and rearrange the parts to fit your space.”
It’s perfect, but another nearby item catches my attention. A thick sensory wall that’s covered in interlocking gears made of foam looks like so much fun. “Would it be possible to attach this along the perimeter of it? Maybe to fence it off on two sides?” If so, I know the perfect spot.
“Absolutely, let me show you how they fasten together.”
The saleswoman is incredibly helpful. After I know what I want from the young kids section, we move on to the main thing I came after. The huge “challenge course” we discussed on the phone has climbing walls, ramps, giant obstacles, slides, and a trampoline area.
I’m suddenly overwhelmed. It’s been one thing to imagine this business all these years. It’s another to stand in the middle of it. I can’t help but picture all the happy kids, running and climbing, free to be themselves.
The saleswoman has been running through her pitch while I try to wrap my head around things, and I tune back in as she finishes. “If you plan to buy all three pieces we’ve looked at, I can get you a discount. Plus, the financing we discussed. Zero interest for eighteen months and a custom payment plan that will include delivery, setup, and maintenance. Why don’t we head to my office so we can go over the numbers?”
“Yes, I also have some questions about the warranties.”
“We’ll just wait for you out here?” Maren suggests, glancing at me, then looking around again. Cara gives me a look, and the saleswoman laughs. “Feel free to explore the equipment. I know it’s irresistible.”
They rush off like two kids while I follow her back to her office. It doesn’t take long for us to make a deal. Delivery and setup is arranged, and it all goes a lot smoother than I thought it would.
I’m over the moon, thrilled that I got a good deal when I return to look for my friends.
