Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
He chuckles. “The teen years are tough. They go to bed after you and they’re always around. I didn’t even know you were dating.”
“It’s pretty new, but I like her.”
“The whole making out in the backseat of your truck gave that away. Where’d you meet her?”
“At a coffee shop. I figured it was better than the apps Miller keeps trying to get me to use.” I tap my thigh. “Speaking of my son, what’s this about you catching him getting it on with girls in the backseat of my truck?”
Clyde and I know each other enough to make small talk, but getting into my dating situation with him is another level of personal.
“It was a few weeks ago. I caught him with one girl who comes to a lot of the games and practices. They were in the back of the lot.”
“Here? At the arena?”
“Yeah.” He chuckles.
“It was just that one time?”
“That I caught him? Yeah.” He nods once.
I run my hand through my hair. “You’d think with all the energy they’re expending on the ice, they wouldn’t have any left for things like making out after practice.”
“Eh, they’re full of hormones.”
“Seems like they’re not the only ones these days,” I mutter.
CHAPTER NINE
THE MOOPS RUINED IT
Skye
Over the next several weeks, Sidney and I go on a handful of dates. Unfortunately, private time is scarce, and our kids thwart every plan to go back to either of our places.
Violet needs to be picked up early from Michael’s—that situation seems to have resolved itself now that Michael has a girlfriend—or Miller needs a ride home from his friend’s place. If it isn’t my daughter, it’s his son. On the upside, we’ve gotten to know each other and outside of the physical attraction, I really like him.
Tonight Violet is going to the movies and sleeping over at her friend’s house. Sidney is picking me up in ten minutes. He made dinner reservations and afterward we’re making use of my empty house.
Violet is still home when Sidney arrives, but she’s in the bathroom. The water isn’t running, so I knock on the door. “Honey, I’m on my way out! Have a great night with Sasha and text me if you need anything, okay?”
“Hold on!” A few seconds later she opens the door. She’s wearing a bathrobe and her hair is wrapped in a towel. Her glasses fog up as soon as she puts them on. “Oooh, you look pretty. Have fun on your date.”
“I will. And you have fun with your friends.” I kiss her on the cheek. “I’m only a phone call away.”
“Do you have your lactose pills?” she asks.
“Oh crap. Good call. Want to grab me a couple?”
“For sure.” A few seconds later she drops two pills into my palm and hands me a glass of water. Her glasses are foggy again.
I down them, thank her and leave her to get ready and meet Sidney at the front door. He’s wearing a navy suit with a blue tie that matches my dress.
He taps his bottom lip. “You look fantastic.”
“So do you. My daughter’s still home, otherwise I would invite you in now.”
“She’s here?”
“Yeah, her friend is picking her up in an hour. She just got out of the shower.”
“Ah, okay. Shall we go, then?”
I grab my purse. “Absolutely.” I pull the door closed behind me and make sure it’s locked before I lace my arm with his and walk down the driveway to his truck.
Thanks to Violet’s smart thinking I don’t have to completely avoid dairy. Not that I plan to consume it in copious quantities, just that sometimes they put whipping cream in the soups or to accent desserts and occasionally I enjoy those things.
Dinner is fabulous as usual. Sidney seems to know all the best restaurants in town. I order the butternut squash and pear soup as a starter and the scallops as my entrée, and we finish with the chocolate lava cake for dessert. The conversation is easy as it always seems to be, although our interests vary significantly. And maybe that’s why we get along so well. It’s easy to keep the conversation flowing when we can share our unique experiences.
Anticipation makes the tension between us flare and Sidney’s innocent brushes under the table are making me antsy to get home. I send Violet a text message asking how her night is going and get a quick reply:
Violet: At the movies now, don’t want to get in trouble for texting, talk ltr.
I send her a thumbs up and give Sidney a saucy grin. “My house is empty.”
He tosses his napkin on the table and signals the server.
Once the bill is paid, we rush to his truck. My stomach tightens in anticipation and I will myself to calm down. But that tightness in my stomach grows as we drive the short distance from the restaurant back to my house.