“Hey!” Mara’s warm voice came through the phone, a little raspy like she was trying to be quiet. “I figured I’d just call. It’ll be easier.”
“Yeah. Yeah. What’s up?”
“I just had to call Gabi and make sure she thought we could handle all four kids together. I figured she’d say yes, but I didn’t want to force it on her. And since my back hurts again?—”
That made a lump rise in my throat. “Your back hurts again? Mara, are you okay? You don’t have to go to the game if you’re in pain.”
“Yeah, it still hurts. But I’ve always got my cane. And Gabi can carry Hazel if need be.”
“But I don’t want you hurting for a hockey game,” I objected.
Her little raspy laugh caught me by surprise. “Isn’t pain what hockey is all about? It’s just my way of playing your game.”
“Oh. Alright then.” My mind raced, trying to think of how I could make things both more accessible for Mara and simpler to manage the four kids. “I can pick you guys up and do all the car seat stuff. And get you a box so it’s easier to entertain the kids.”
Mara blew a raspberry. “Jack, that’s like, thousands of dollars, isn’t it?”
“I have no idea. But I’ll figure it out. You’ll have somewhere comfortable to sit.”
“Okay. Great.” She yawned.
“Tired?” I asked.
“Kinda.”
I scratched my head and fidgeted with a pen on the counter. “I’ll let you go, I guess.”
“Oh, um, alright. Yeah. Sorry to call you so late.”
“No, no, I was up. Obviously. And actually, while I’ve got you, give me your cookie recipe.”
Mara gasped on the other end. “Jack, that’s a top secret family recipe.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not opening a bakery with it. Don’t gatekeep.”
“I take it you liked my cookies,” she hummed. What the fuck, was that innuendo? I mean, why was there the almost kiss and the brat thing and now she’s making lightly dirty jokes?
How was I supposed to play it with my kid’s friend’s mom? I never dated moms from their sports teams. Why would Harper’s best friend’s mom not be off-limits?
Why would anyone beyond a one-night stand not be off limits? I couldn’t trust myself anymore. The last time I fell in love, I lost myself. I couldn’t afford to do that again.
“You know what? Never mind. I should get going. I’ll send you a pickup time for Saturday.”
“Fine. See you then,” Mara said, seemingly unbothered.
“Yep.” I hung up. Why did I just cut her off?
I stared at a single section of countertop for who knows how long until my phone chimed again.
MARA O’CONNELL
(link to cookie recipe)
Night Jack
Night
I shook my head with a chuckle. It was the chocolate chip company’s recipe, not a family secret. I never thought the frazzled mom from the principal’s office would like fucking with me.
