“So what are you gonna do? About the daycare?”
“I don’t know. Your friend Theresa can only babysit two days a week while I’m at work and my mom can only help me at night until the end of this week, so I’m kind of screwed until I can find another daycare that I can afford.”
My stomach lurched at his mention of Teresa and the thought of her spending two days a week with CJ, but also—and I hated to admit it—Cole.
“Is he cute?”Her voice echoed in my head, and I pushed it away. I had to pull myself together.
“Hey, are you avoiding me?”
“What? No.” I had definitely been avoiding him.
“I haven’t seen you in almost two weeks—I still have your AirPods, by the way—and when we finally see each other, the first thing you say is, ‘Why aren’t you at work?’”
“Cole, it’s complicated.”
“So, make it uncomplicated.”
"Fine. I just got out of a marriage that I thought was going to last forever. It turned out we both weren't the people we thought we were. Then I move here for a fresh start. I find a great place to live. I find a job and make friends. Then I meet you and CJ, and things get…confusing."
“Is it because of the night in the kitchen?”
My face flushed hot, remembering the feeling of the cool marble countertop under my lower back as Cole tasted and teased me until I had the biggest orgasm of my life…right before I gave him a bloody nose.
“That didn’t help, but it wasn’t just that. I like hanging out with you…and CJ. I think I might like it too much.”
“Well, now that does sound awful. Icompletelyunderstand.” He looked down at me, one corner of his lips curling into a smile.
I parted my lips to respond, and CJ shoved his ice pop into my mouth. I gagged for a second before I pulled his arm away.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I’ll take him.”
I coughed and swallowed. "I'm fine." I chuckled. "I just got a little caught off guard, and I can't have sugar."
"Really? Well, these are sugar-free. Someone sent Kimberly's boss a case of these. They're sugar-free, soy-free, pesticide-free, gluten-free, flavor-free, fun-free, devoid of hopes and dreams…"
"Actually…" I giggled at his description and licked my lips: Strawberry flavored. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Cole. "They're pretty good."
"I don't know what your plans for the day are, but could CJ and I invite you over for a sugar-free ice pop? We also have cherry, grape, orange…unless you're worried about having too much fun, which I agree is a valid concern," he added with sarcasm.
I snorted a laugh, and CJ giggled along.
“Well, I would like to get my AirPods back…”
"No pressure, neighbor. I could always put them in your mailbox." He smirked, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What do you think, CJ? Should I come over for an ice pop?" I asked. He answered by once again trying to feed me.
“I’m pretty sure that’s a yes.” Cole laughed. “He doesn’t share his ice pops with me.”
“Okay.” I laughed. “One ice pop. Are there any strawberry ones left?”
“So many!” he called out as I followed him up the stairs carrying CJ.
I hungout with Cole and CJ for the rest of the morning and the afternoon. We ordered lunch in and put Cole’s burrito-ordering skills to the test. Our trio became a duo when the littlest member went down for a nap around one.
Cole and I settled on the couch in the living room, not close, but close enough to watch CJ sleep on the baby monitor.
"So, you don't eat carbs or sugar?"
