Page 48 of Absinthe Minded

I hit replay and listened to the same raspy voice call me every name for a female of questionable morals I’d ever heard, and some I hadn’t.

“Mags?”

“Second prank call tonight.” I deleted the message.

He frowned and stretched out beside me. “I can have the calls traced.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing.” I had a feeling it was something, but after the day I’d had, I didn’t want to get into it. Nuzzling into the pillow, I flashed him a smile to butter him up. “Are you up for watching the kids Wednesday morning?”

“Sure, but where are you going?”

“I have to do some research for a new piece I’m working on. Then I have a shift at the bar.”

“What happened with the cultural reviews?” Gabe rolled to face me.

“They pulled my article. I’m on a new assignment. I have to finish it soon.”

“I can watch them.” He brushed my hair back from my face.

“Thank you. I’ll write down everyone’s schedule. I should be home by three.”

“Have you spoken to your lawyer about the hearing?”

I closed my eyes and debated on how to answer. Lying or avoiding seemed like the best options, but he’d find out the truth sooner or later. “Attorneys cost money.”

“Now that I’m living here, my folks should back off.”

My stomach did another somersault. I’d owe him big time if he managed to get Evelyn off my case. “That’d be great, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”

He drew his brows together and tensed his jaw, an expression I knew meant he had something unpleasant to discuss.

“What’s wrong?” Nerves thinned my voice.

“Nothing.” He glanced back to the television. “How’s it going at the bar?”

“It’s fun.” I sincerely doubted he’d intended to talk about my second job.

“How do you feel about hiring a nanny? I could change our schedules so we would see more of each other.”

Ah-ha. I knew it.I eased back from him. “I don’t want a nanny.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to avoid me by working different shifts.” He grinned, likely to hide the insecurity in his words.

Once again, his expression made me pause. Gabe was a lot of things, but unsure of himself? Never. “I like having you here, now that you’re not drinking from the milk carton.”

He tugged my body against his. “Think about it, Mags. When it slows down at the bar, you could use the time to finish the novel. Hell, you could even go back to school.”

“I can’t afford a nanny, and you’re going back to your life in another week or so.” Although, I could use the time to finish my novel. Lord knew, I needed the check from the publisher. Still, I didn’t feel right about pawning the kids off on someone else. Rebecca had left them in my hands, not a nanny’s.

“About that…” Gabe pulled back enough to meet my gaze. “I don’t want to move out. Let’s makeusofficial.”

A million questions popped into my head. What did he mean official? Dating? Would I wear his class ring and letterman jacket? Was that an off-handed proposal? What would the kids think? Could I do this again with him?

Gabe’s cell rang. He leaned over the bed, pulled it from his jeans, and hit the ignore button.

Memories of the weeks and months after our break-up crashed over me. I couldn’t help but wonder who called him at all hours of the day and night, and why he never answered. I sat up and scooted away. “You have a bad habit of not answering your cell.”

“Blocked number.” He clasped his hands behind his head, the picture of relaxed. “Maybe your prankster moved on to me.”

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