Page 63 of Effortless

Five minutes after I get into my room, my phone buzzes with a text.

Hadley:Good night, Cash.

Me:Sweet dreams, Hadley.

I sleep better than I have in a while. And it has nothing to do with how exhausted I am from the long day.

It has everything to do with that sweet woman.

ChapterFourteen

Hadley

We’ve been back in Red Oak for a week. School started for Hadley two days ago and even though she said she wasn’t nervous, the morning of the first day she was a bundle of nerves. I couldn’t fault her for that, though. A brand-new school would be scary for anyone.

Luckily, it’s gone incredibly well for her. She likes almost all of her teachers, has met some new people, and plans to go to her very first high school football game this Friday night.

The first two nights back from Nashville, we stayed with Aunt Dorothy and since then, we’ve felt comfortable enough for her to be alone at night as long as I’m there first thing in the morning.

Today, though, I’m going back to the diner.

I miss it.

I’m grateful Cash’s mom and her friends have been there and Franky, too, who will be getting a raise. But it’s time for me to get back into it. Dorothy demanded it, too. She’s recovering well and feels much better.

Like Cash said, she’s stubborn and that makes her determined to get back on her feet. She’s following doctor’s orders right down to the letter, which is a relief. I was afraid she’d try to buck the system a bit.

The doorbell rings and Brooklyn shouts, “I’ll get it! It’s probably my ride!”

“I’m not taking you? And why so early?”

She grins as she runs past me, ready for school.

I scrunch my eyes, confused, and follow her to the door.

Where a boy is standing with a nervous smile.

A boy who is not so much a boy but someone who is becoming a man.

My eyes dart between this boy who is obviously turning into a man and my daughter and see something I wasn’t prepared for.

Attraction.

“Hi,” she says in a quiet voice.

“Hey, you look cute.”

She looks down at her feet. “Thanks.”

He looks to me. “I’m Weston.”

I stick out my hand and he shakes it. “Hadley, Brooklyn’s mom.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Same.”

“Ready to go?”

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