Sam’s face drops a little when Flo uses the nickname, but he still wears his cheeky, boyish grin that I’m sure I used to have when I was his age. The kid’s nine years younger than me, but has the confidence of a hundred men.
“I was going to take you out for sushi, but Evan said you don’t like fish.”
Realisation washes over Flo’s features, and she pinches her brows together before flitting her eyes to me again. “Oh, he did, did he?”
Okay, maybe lying about the fact that Flo hated fish was a low blow, but I hadn’t been thinking. I’ve seen her eatsalmon a handful of times, and even though I expect her to rat me out, she doesn’t.
“Yeah, I’m not a huge fan.”
A small smile morphs on my face, but I push it away once Bennett bats his eyelashes at me like he’s some kind of cartoon princess. My fist collides with his stomach, and he splutters, choking on his laughter.
Still, I don’t say a word. Do I want Flo to think I’m some jealous prick who now believes I have some possessive claim over her just because of what happened the other night? She’s her own woman. She can do what she wants. We both understood it was a one-time thing.
Flo blows a huff of air out of her nostrils when her eyes return to me, and shakes her head. “You know what? Mae’s working there tonight, so I don’t mind heading down.”
My jealousy is bubbling over to the point where I might drown in it, and Fo lifts Leo from her shoulders, placing her hand on the small of his back to guide him to me.
I greet him with open arms, straightening his jersey and pinching his cheeks, but I watch with envious eyes as Sam grins at the girl I find myself looking at far too often, wishing she were mine.
“You’re definitely okay with Leo for tonight?” Flo’s giving me an out, but I don’t take it, simply ducking my head in a nod. She’s not mine to claim.
I’d called it a one-time thing in my head, trying to force the narrative on myself, but I now see it for what it is: a fast-developing obsession with this woman.
“Okay. I won’t be back too late.” Flo hums. “Or, actually, maybe I will.”
My Adam’s apple bobs. Sam’s a good-looking man, and what happens if one drink turns into five, and she ends up—
“Is that a problem, West?”
“Why would that be a problem?” My chest expands as I take a deep breath.
A soft tinkling laugh releases from her mouth. “Oh, no reason.” She waves at my son and Bennett, widening her eyes just the tiniest at me before she spins on her heel and begins walking down the hall with Sam by her side. His arm drapes itself over her shoulder, but she grabs it and places it back down by his side.
Bennett slings his arm around me, laughter bubbling up his throat. “I’m guessing you don’t have any plans tonight?”
“Um, I have a whole bunch of admin I need to do. House stuff.” I arch an eyebrow at him. “Why?”
“Because we’re going to spy on them. You in? Actually, don’t answer that, you don’t have a choice.”
“I’m not spying on my nanny, Quinn.”
Okay, so I’m spying on my nanny.
“Gherk! Gherk! Gherks are yuck!” Leo chants as I take the lid off his baby burger, peeling the gherkins from it and popping them into my mouth.
“It isn’t often I agree with a child when it comes to food, but that kid is very much correct. Gherkins are yuck.” Bennett opens up his own burger that Amber, the waitress, put down in front of him and discards his own gherkins, throwing them onto my plate.
“God, it’s like having two children instead of one,” I mutter as I squirt some mayonnaise onto Leo’s plate for his fries.
“Shh!” Bennett widens his eyes at me. “You’re talking too loudly. We’re supposed to be undercover when spying on your hot, new love interest, so keep it down. We don’t want to get spotted.” He ducks down for dramatic effect while whispering, and I roll my eyes.
Amber seated us in the furthest seat away from the bar at Bennett’s request, but The Salty Dog is hardly full, so it’s not like we’re blending in, especially with Leo giggling as Bennett puts his fries under his gums and pretends to be a vampire.
Idiot.
“They’re not even here yet, and she's not my new love interest.”
“Yeah, sure. You agreed to come, so that says a lot, Evan.” He smiles at me. “You want a step-mommy, Leo?”
