“I trusted you with Gabby,” she says.
She shivers, and I’m not sure if I should, but I pull her close.
Her front to mine, our noses almost touching, I say, “I know. It meant everything to me.”
“I wanted to tell you,” she mumbles. “It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you. I just didn’t know how, and you kept emailing me. It was like a private window into your soul to read your feelings for this single mom and her daughter. I recognize it was cheating, and not on the up and up. But, well, I did it.”
“That’s creepy.” I squeeze her close, and she laughs.
My heart pounds as I try to figure out where we are. Have we made up? Was it this easy?
“I’m sorry I hurt you, and I appreciate you saving face with Gabby. Thanks for your apology, but it’s not necessary.” She breaks free and tugs at her gloves, getting ready to run again. “I’ll see you around.”
“Wait! What do you mean? I want another chance to prove myself to you. We could be a power-blogging couple,” I joke.
She shakes her head. “Cute, but let’s just say we had good times and move on. Okay, Reid, I mean it. I have to put Gabby first.” With a quick kiss to my cheek, she jets off.
It’s okay. I have more plans.
The week goes by quickly between teaching, game planning with Leona, and sending UAB aka Andrea a daily email about the awesome single mom I know. She never replies, but I know she sees them.
I tell her how I admire the single mom’s willingness to do what it takes. I compare this mom to a mountain lion—fierce, protective, and territorial. I explain that I love lions. It’s cheesy, but true. I’ve always been fascinated with lions, and I make a mental note to take Gabby to the zoo.
Late Friday afternoon, I program a post for the blog, “Kabobs and Kindness.” I grilled chicken kabobs and set up a GoFundMe for the Hungry Children’s Fund. With it set to go live at six o’clock, I get ready for my own evening. Jeans, a flannel, glasses, extra scruff, beard oil, and a bunch of change in my pocket.
“Look who the cat dragged in.” When Angelo greets me, one—two—three heads turn my way. Gabby, Leona, and Andi sit at the counter, drinking sodas. I watch Andi give Leona a dirty look, and right away, I know she’s caught on.
Fooled ya.
“Lee,” she grumbles. “First, a pet cat, and now you can’t stay out of my love life.”
“Reid!” Gabby calls to me. She stage-whispers, “I told Angelo to make your sub too. With the onions.” She scrunches up her face and sticks her tongue out on the last part.
“Want to put on a song?” I yank a coin out of my pocket for the old-fashioned jukebox, and she grabs it.
“I’m starting to think I’ve been set up. First, Leona tells me she needs a ride to get shoes. Then Gabby’s starving and only wants subs, even though I offered to take a pizza home. Now it all makes sense.”
“Maybe.” I wink.
Andi looks gorgeous in a long-sleeved black T-shirt and jeans, her hair tied back in a messy bun, wearing very little makeup.
“Told you, you should get dressed nice to go shopping,” Leona says, then stands up to join Gabby at the jukebox.
“I was just thinking how stunning Andi looks,” I tell Leona as she walks away.
Sidling up next to Andi, I hip check her. “Hey, I’m Reid. We keep meeting like this, I may have to ask you out.”
She pulls her hair from its bun and lets it cascade in front of her half smile. “Is that so?”
“It is. And I cook. Well, grill mostly.”
“Hmm, let me think.”
I push her hair behind her ear so I can take in all of her beauty.
“That’s probably pretty good, considering the last meal I cooked, everyone left barfing.”
This time, it’s me laughing out loud. When Andi ducks her head again, I bring her chin back up so we’re eye to eye.
