Page 53 of Last Love

I look up from smiling at Sammy. The moment my gaze connects with hers, my brain sputters. It’s been two weeks since she reentered my life, and it still happens. It happened that night at the diner, and it’s happening now. My mind can’t seem to compute anything other than her, and that’s all I care about. I’ve never been this infatuated with a woman. There’s just something that draws me to her. I thought seeing her life as a mom would take some of the shine off my attraction. Kids are a lot of work, I know that. Usually, I like all the attention. Sue me, but I am a man and self-centered—being the youngest of my family.

Instead, I like being around her kids. Sammy has a knock-knock joke for me every time I see him. Callie is finally not frowning at me, which feels like I won a medal.

“So, Sammy, are you ready for San Antonio?” Avery asks.

“Yes! Fritz said we get to be men and scratch things.”

I bite back a laugh.

“Remind me to have a chat with your uncle,” Liv says.

“Y’all are going out of town?” I ask

“Just the kids with Avery for the weekend. I still have a few things to get set in the house.”

I look around and see a perfect house. Sure, there’s a little clutter, but that’s expected in a place with two kids and an aunt who seems to live on kids’ cereals.

“It was my idea.” This comes from Avery. “We’re going to eat all of Savannah’s food. All. The. Food.”

“You know she’s going to make you help her, right?” Callie asks.

“I help her.”

“She said you couldn’t cut things after the last trip to the hospital,” Liv says, amusement in her voice.

“Lies!” Avery exclaims, then she smiles. “We like her more than our brother, who is such a Fritz.”

“Fritz is the best!” Sammy says, frowning at his aunt.

“Yeah, guys have to stick together, right, Sammy?” I hold my hand out for a fist bump. He responds in kind, and when our fists connect, something squeezes around my heart. It almost hurts in a good sort of way. When I look up, Liv is watching us with an unreadable look.

Needing to center myself, I pick up my chicken thigh and bite into it. The crunch, the juiciness of the chicken, and a little salty finish hits my taste buds, and I moan. I take another two bites before I finally say something.

“This is the best fried chicken I’ve ever had in my life.”

“See, I told you.” Sammy leans closer. “She only makes it once a month because fried foods are supposed to be bad for us.”

I chuckle. “That they are, kiddo.”

I look up at Liv and give her a wink, making her blush prettily. I want to lean over and give her a kiss, but I don’t. Instead, I dig into the dinner she made for us.

ChapterEighteen

LIV

Acouple hours later, the dinner dishes are cleaned up—thanks to Mason and Avery—and the kids are settled down. Avery made herself scarce after that, saying she has work to do. We’re sitting on the back porch, talking about nothing all that important and watching Houdini chase fireflies.

It’s probably one of the nicest nights I’ve had in a long time.

“So, Avery and the kids will be out of town this weekend.” He doesn’t ask. He states it as fact.

“Yeah. I think they want more practice with kids. Savannah’s expecting.”

“Ah. So, would you be opposed to me coming over with some snacks on Friday or Saturday after work?”

I pull my attention away from Houdini and look at Mason. “And by snacks, you mean?”

He smiles a flash of white in the darkness. “Any and all options are on the table.”

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