Page 11 of Holding You

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“See, now, some days I just can’t tell if you're being mean or flirting.”

“Oh, it's the former, trust me.”

He shrugs.

“If you say so. It sounds flirty, and I think I like it.”

Before I can reply, Susie comes bouncing in after him, a tray of leftover cupcakes in her hand.

I eye them, then look away, hating how it excites me that she brought them.

Max takes them from her and sets them on the counter.

“Oh, wow. You have the whole setup. Plates out, food ready to serve, and everything.”

“The sooner you sit, the sooner you leave,” I point out in a hushed tone, since the kids are nearby and he clearly can’t figure that part out on his own.

“What’s for dinner?” Max asks.

“Mississippi mud roast.”

“Did you make mashed potatoes?” he asks and turns to Susie, “You’ll want the mashed potatoes instead of the diced ones.”

“Okay.” She grins and sits next to her dad.

“Yes, I made them,” I say as I place them on the table with the other dishes so that we don’t have to treat this like a buffet.

“Yes!” Max cheers once I set the fresh-from-the-oven garlic bread in front of him. “I was hoping this would show up soon.” He turns his attention to Declan. “My mom is the best baker in town.”

“I thought your mom’s friend Brooke was the best?”

I shoot a glare at the man, who chose to sit at the head of the table, and looks ready to dig in.

Although now that I think of it, this is Declan. I shouldn’t have put in any extra energy to serve him food.

Alas, the kids are present, and I’m still a mother who, 90 percent of the time, needs to show how mature she is.

“Go wash your hands,” Declan says in his dad voice, nodding to the sink for Susie.

“You, too, Max.”

The kids leave, and he smiles. I roll my eyes extra hard.

“One day,” he repeats, and I pretend that I can't hear him.

“All set?” I ask after the kids come back.

I serve Max and Susie, then I serve myself before I sit back down.

“Mom, you forgot Declan.”

I definitely did not.

“Whoops,” I say, and Declan holds his plate out with a smile.

I look him in the eye.

You’re annoying.

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