“Soon. Five or ten minutes. She’s a nursing student, so she’s going to bring her work over. Kids don’t need too much.”
Aston blew by me and sat down on the sofa. “We’ll wait. Come on, Piper, tell me about school today. You too, Tyler.”
“We can stay by ourselves for five minutes,” Piper said, her gaze darting between me and her newly discovered natural father.My fierce little protector.
“We do it all the time,” Tyler said, not knowing he wasn’t helping.
“Well, not anymore,” Aston said sternly.
Lifting my palms, I tried to reason with him. “Aston—”
“No, this is unacceptable.”
“I’m thirteen. Old enough to babysit,” Piper said, undeterred by Aston’s firm tone.
“We’ll wait,” Aston said, digging in. “Tyler, do you have a game system? I want to get a new one for Little A to keep at my place. Do you have a favorite?”
Out of nowhere, Piper said, “Aston, you’re my dad, right?”
“Yes, but can I ask Tyler a question?” Aston took off the sport coat he had on and laid it over the back of the chair behind him. Most people looked uncomfortable in a crisp white shirt, but not Aston. He looked comfortable as fuck.
“That’s not what I meant.” Piper dug in equally as hard, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest. “Well, I know you just met me, but I’m old enough to babysit. I passed my certification at school. Mom has Rosalie come over for her own peace of mind, but you don’t have to worry too. I’m good.”
Sometimes in the past when I looked at Piper, I’d find myself thinking,Where the hell did she come from?Now I knew.
Nodding thoughtfully, Aston said, “Okay, if you say so.” Then he stood and put his jacket back on.
Pretty certain he would have debated the issue with anyone but his own daughter, I picked up my purse as Aston turned back to my son.
“Tyler? Do you want to think about it some more?”
Tyler shook his head. “No. Xbox. Definitely Xbox.”
“Thanks, buddy. Let’s go, Bex. Piper, you’ll call if there are any problems?”
“We have a landline,” I said, answering for her.
“She needs a phone.”
Giving him a warning look, I said, “Later, Aston.” I kissed both kids on their foreheads and walked toward the front door. “Okay, ’bye.”
This isn’t awkward or anything.
“You look gorgeous,” Aston whispered for my ears only as I started to lock the door.
“I’m here, Bexley,” Rosalie called from behind us.
We both turned and found my neighbor making her way up the walkway.
“Oh, hi,” she said as she took in Aston.
“Aston Prescott,” he said, and then he went and did it. As soon as he extended his hand to Rosalie, she was Jell-O for him. The guy got everyone with his charm.
Including me, even watching himgive itto my neighbor. I was such a goner.
“Okay, we shouldn’t be late,” I told Rosalie. “Tyler has to shower. You just need to remind him.”
“Have fun.” She took in the two of us, her gaze darting between Aston and me as if she were trying to put the puzzle together.
