“I miss you. It’s not even been two weeks, and I’m lost.”
She tries to look away.
“Andi, I love you.”
“Order up!” Angelo calls as he rings the bell over the stove.
“I guess we’ll never forget my telling you I love you.”
Andi doesn’t have time to say anything because Gabby comes bouncing back, hopping on one foot like usual.
Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” plays in the background, and I promise myself to also teach Gabby about good music. Of course, Andi is singing along. She would.
Dumping coins on the counter, I say, “What do you say to FunZone sometime soon?”
“Yes!” Gabby shouts.
“You like Fun Zone?” I look at Gabby.
“Yes!”
“How ’bout you?” I ask Andi.
“Their pizza is the bomb,” she says with a straight face.
“Can we go tomorrow?” Gabby’s already bobbing on her stool.
There’s a knock on the door, and Gabby asks if she can get it. I agree because I know it’s Reid.
“Ooh, look! Mom, come here!” Gabby is squealing like a monkey.
Reese’s runs in circles and ends up barreling toward Gabby, who I find carrying the largest Valentine’s Day bear I have ever seen. Behind her is a basket of candy as big as a toddler.
“Um, it’s March,” I say to Reid.
“Well, we never got to celebrate.”
I nod like I understand, but really? This guy is nuts—for me. Me!
It’s been a week since we made up. Yeah, it seems fast and like it happened too easily. But I’m a mom with a kid, and he’s a guy with a growing blog, and while it appears we rushed, we know what we want. We want to merge it all and make a life. Not tonight, but soon. I’m sure it sounds like nonsense to you, but we get it.
“Evening, folks.” Leona appears, looking like an Irish lass in green velour.
“Gabby, let’s go.”
“Reid, are we still going to FunZone this weekend?”
“You bet, but can we leave your mom at home? She’s no fun, and you know what that pizza does to her. The sauce is made with onions.” He winks at my daughter.
As Gabby doubles over laughing, I shoot eye daggers at Reid. Leona scurries out, Gabby in tow.
“Ready?” Reid asks me after they leave. He looks dashing in dark jeans and a navy shirt, tucked in, a black belt and black boots, eyeglasses on the bridge of his nose.
“I just have to grab one more quick thing.”
I run to my room and shove the gift box into my duffel, and I’m out in a hurry. We have plans to eat at a gastro pub and stay overnight in a hotel. I want to get to the latter part ...wink, wink.
As Reid helps me on with my coat, I ask, “Where’s yours?”
