Aelin nodded. “I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“You don’t have to?—”
She shooed him out of the kitchen and opened the fridge door. He walked back down the hall to the entryway. He liked the open floor plan of the house. Light poured in through the windows in the sitting room, filling the space up to the second floor.
He took his toolbox to the car, then got in the driver’s seat and pulled out his phone. He hadn’t missed much, just a couple of messages on the team chat.
André:
Dusty Rose tonight!
Country:
Jenna and I are out. She’s not feeling great.
Brett:
So Jenna’s pregnant?
Country:
Still practicing
Sean:
Kelty says I have to go
Ryan laughed, then typed out a text.
I have Amaya this weekend. Next Saturday?
He didn’t want to go out, but when Laura and Russ had Amaya, he didn’t have a choice. The one time he admitted he’d stayed home and cleaned, Laura had clipped him in the ear. Going out with his team was the least terrible option.
Ryan looked up as Amaya ran out onto the porch, waving his grilled cheese sandwich like a surrender flag.
He set his phone on the console and got out. “Have fun?”
Amaya nodded. Aelin stepped out the front door and cupped her hand around her mouth. “Thank you!”
He waved, got in the car, and took the grilled cheese from Amaya. It was steaming hot, wrapped in a paper towel.
“Dad, can we go to that new trampoline place tomorrow?” She contorted in the seat to press in her seatbelt.
“The one over by Grandma’s church?”
Amaya nodded.
“Yeah. I didn’t realize you were into that.” He pulled up to the stop sign, then turned left and drove past the school.
“I want to go at eleven o’clock.”
He glanced over at her, but she was staring straight out the front windshield. “Any reason for that?”
“Eleven is the perfect time. I can sleep in and then have plenty of time to get ready.”
He nodded. “Alright then. Eleven it is.”
Chapter
