“Mom made me watch a rerun.”
“I didn’t even know they had those,” I said dryly as I grabbed the butter and sliced cubes of it into the bowl. Deciding I needed to change the subject, I mused, “I thought it was all cups.”
“You mean weigh stuff out? Aunt Aoife says that baking by volume isn’t easy when you’re a noob.”
“I guess we’re noobs then.”
“Definitely.” She turned toward me. “So, wouldyoube freaked out if Ididhave a crush on Shay?”
My little girl did not just ask me that.
Clearly, we were still on that topic.
With a sigh, I thought about how hard Shay hung on every word Kat dropped and couldn’t deny they’d make a great couple. He was the calm to her storm, but whenever he could get bogged down with his grand plans, she’d be there to put a smile on his face.
Butstill.
She was my little girl!
“I wouldn’t be freaked out,” I offered cautiously, “but I wouldn’t want you to act on it yet.”
“Is this like in the movies? Where I’m not allowed to date anyone until I’m thirty?”
Yes.
Snickering, I grabbed a wooden spoon from the drawer. “No. Though you’re not technically allowed to do that anyway, and honestly, you should be grateful. Your mom said thirty-five. I got her down to thirty.”
Kat rolled her eyes so hard, I was surprised she didn’t fall on her ass. “So, when can I talk to Shay about this?”
“When you’re eighteen.”
“That’s years away!”
“That’s how time works.”
“But he could be dating someone by then. Victoria, maybe. They’re always together,” she whined.
“Victoria is a close friend of his.” I tapped her nose. “You know that. Plus, she’s married.”
“Shay’s prettier.He’llbe married by the time I’m that old. This conversation is ruining my life!”
Ah, to be this young.
“Well, you just made me feel ancient. Thank you for that. And here I am, helping you bake!”
Her cheeks gusted out. “Why eighteen?”
“Well, older would be better because of your prefrontal cortex, but also because you’re still a kid to him, honey. He loves you. I know that. But you just need to grow up a little bit. Anyway, are you ready for boys? Do you want to kiss them?”
“I want to kiss Shay.”
My lips twitched at her mulish expression. “No, you don’t.”
“I want to hold his hand.”
Thank God it was only his hand!
“Well, boys his age, they do a lot more than that. Not that you should let them. You shouldn’t. You should do stuff like that when you’re ready and never allow anyone to pressure you into anything you don’t want to do.”
