Page 56 of Single Dad Dilemma
“Dude, it was one block. Don’t you remember that really nice vet in Phoenix? He said that walks would do wonders for you.”
He licked the tip of his nose, giving me a stubborn look. Then he shivered, and I let out a deep sigh.
“Fine.” I leaned over to pick him up, and once he was tucked under my arm, he let out a disgruntled groan. I gave him a look. “I put dog mittens on your paws even though there’s no snow on the road. Your coat cost more than mine. I’m not sure your complaints have a leg to stand on here, buddy.”
The look he gave me was as close to a doggy eye roll that I’d ever seen, and my lips tugged in an unwitting smile.
“Come on. Let’s get the mail, and I’ll bring you back in, where you can turn back into a couch slug for the rest of the day. And yes, I’ll put on the diaper before you start bitching to me about having to pee in the snow.”
The walk in question wouldn’t have taken very long, but, like it always did, Larry’s little gremlin face had neighbors crossing the street to say hello. The dog stared at each and every one of them like they’d done him personal injury.
Did that deter them?
Not in the slightest.
“Oh, isn’t he cute? What’s his name?”
My head snapped up because I’d been thinking about too-friendly neighbors and their obsession with the dog, but unfortunately, this voice had come from outside the confines of my head. A taller-than-average woman with short curls in a light-silver color was standing at the end of Barrett’s driveway.
I blinked, then glanced down at the dog.
Not fucking again,I could hear him say. I shifted his slight weight in my arms. “Larry,” I told her. “Unfortunately, his personality doesn’t match his looks. One can only be so blessed, you know? If he had both, it would be unfair to dogs all around the world.”
She laughed, folding her arms tight around her middle and walking toward me. Internally, I let out a heaving, massive groan, and it probably sounded a lot like Larry’s.
Two peas in a pod, we were.
But instead of asking about the dog, she was studying me. “If that’s Larry, then you must be Lily.”
“Oh God,” I groaned. “I’m scared to ask how you know that.”
She laughed under her breath, and for a split second, I thought I saw something familiar in her face. “My grandchildren have done nothing but talk about you for the last two weeks.”
I let out a big puff of air. “Ah. Maggie has been texting me updates of the things you’ve been doing over break. You’re Barrett’s mom.”
“You can call me Robin. And yes, most days, I’ll claim him,” she said, eyes sparkling with humor. Not like her son in that way, then. “From what I hear, I owe you a thank-you on multiple levels.”
“For what?”
My short response didn’t deter her in the slightest—but then again, if she’d birthed Barrett King, she was used to less-than-stellar people skills.
“Well, my husband would thank you for the best cookies he’s ever eaten.” I exhaled a short laugh, briefly looking down to the asphalt because my cheeks were probably pink as shit. She wasn’t done, though. “For helping with my grandkids and taking such good care of them.” She tilted her head back toward the house. “Maggie, in particular. She has a tendency to get into trouble when the wrong person is in charge.”
“You know, Barrett said that, but I thought he was exaggerating because he was so pissed at me.”
Her smile was huge. “No, he was telling the truth. Did he tell you about the time she forged paperwork so she and Bryce could fly to Colorado to visit their uncle?”
My head reared back. “She did not.”
“Oh yes,” Robin sighed. “Barrett came home from work and found a note. They’d already landed and found their way to his brother’s house. She’s skilled in many, many ways.”
“Little troublemaker. No wonder I like her.”
She was delighted by this answer, but the way she studied my face was disconcerting at best.
I moved Larry from one arm to the other, and he let out a low growl, which I ignored. Robin looked concerned, taking a step back. “Oh, he won’t bite,” I told her. “Literally can’t bite. He only has half his teeth left, and I’m not sure he could muster the energy to move that quickly.”
She smiled again, and I realized what looked familiar. It was the same smile as the kids’. Maybe their dad had it, too, I’d just never actually seen it.
