Aelin took the pitcher of lemonade from the fridge. "I do make a mean grilled cheese.”
“They’re the best. She uses cheddar, not that gross cheese,” Bailey said, launching the girls into chatter about their favourite lunch foods.
Aelin poured him a glass and handed it to him.
“Thanks.”
Aelin smiled as she retreated to the business side of the kitchen. “Thankyou.” The counter extended past the cabinets to make a desk, and she had a computer sitting there with an organizer and office supplies.
Ryan immediately noticed the note he’d left her. It was stuck to the counter next to the notepads.She hadn’t thrown it away.
Ryan’s thumb slipped on the glass as he took a drink.
“Is it good?” Amaya watched him for a reaction.
He nodded as the sweet and sour liquid flooded over his tongue. “Excellent.” It was too sweet for his taste. He preferred his lemonade to be puckering, but he wasn’t going to tell Amaya that.
“Mom, can you get us the activator?” Bailey asked.
Aelin looked over her shoulder, her hands pausing on the keyboard. “I thought it was on the table.”
“It is, but my hands are sticky.”
Ryan strode to the table. “I can get it.”
Bailey pointed at a clear squeeze bottle, and he passed it to her.
“Sorry, I’m almost done.” Aelin’s fingers tapped over the keys.
Bailey poured liquid over her and Amaya’s individual balls of slime. “She’s applying for jobs.”
“Oh, yeah?” Ryan took another drink of lemonade. “What kind of jobs?”
Aelin straightened and turned toward the table. “I'm looking at night jobs. With summer coming, I figured I could find something that allowed me to stay home."
“See?” Amaya slapped her hand down on the ball of goo. “You could do that, Dad. Then I wouldn’t have to be with a stupid nanny.”
“Amaya.” Ryan gave her a warning look that said,Just because you’re trying to impress your friend doesn’t mean you can be a sass.
She shot one back that said,I’m only telling the truth, and his lip twitched.
“You have a nanny lined up for summer?” Aelin asked.
Ryan nodded. “Not a nanny. Childcare. We’ve been using her for the past couple of years.”
Aelin catalogued this. “Do they have openings?”
“Not sure.” He motioned for her to pass him a notepad and pen, then wrote the name down for her.
Bailey set down her slime and went to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. Aelin watched her as she slid the notepad to the edge of the counter.
“I’m looking for jobs, Bailes.”
Bailey nodded. “I know.”
Aelin pursed her lips, then set the pen back in the jar on her desk. “Okay, how about some grilled cheese?”
Ryan suddenly felt like he was intruding. He set his glass in the sink, then glanced at the clock on the stove. 11:05. “I’ll go get things back in the car.”
