I bend down.Is this it?Is she going to kiss me?I don’t care if she makes the first move.Obviously whenever I try, it’s interrupted, so if she can make it happen, more power to her.She reaches up and wipes my mouth with a napkin.That’s so not how I wanted her touching my lips.
“You had a whipped cream mustache,” she whispers.
“Oh.Thanks.”
Straightening, I stride into the coffee shop and get in line to order.After ordering my hot cocoa and a cinnamon roll, I step aside.I’m idly reading the board because I don’t know where else to look when I sense someone standing next to me.I glance down to see a blond-haired boy around ten staring up at me.
“Ex…excuse me.Are you Oliver King?”
I nod.“I am.”
He turns to a lady at a table near her.She’s in her mid-thirties, if I had to guess.“Mom!It is!”
She smiles encouragingly, nodding, watching us.
The boy turns back and stares up at me.
Okay.“Hi…” I say.
Nothing.
“Say hello, Tyler.”His mom waves him closer to me.
“Hi,” Tyler repeats.
Ugh.I hate these kinds of interactions.I don’t want to be an egotistical jerk and offer an autograph or to take a selfie like I think I’m someone important.Tyler continues to stare up at me.His mom sighs and comes over.
“Mr.King, sorry to interrupt your day.Would it be okay for Tyler to get a picture with you?”
“Of course!I’d be happy to.”I bend down so we can fit in the frame together.The mom takes a couple of pictures and thanks me.
“Do you play hockey, Tyler?”I ask as his mom goes back to her table.
He nods.“I do!I’m on the Devil Birds junior team.”
“That’s great.What position do you play?”
“Forward, like you.”
“Do you like it?”
He nods eagerly.“Yes!I want to play for the Devil Birds when I grow up.I’m a grizzly bear shifter.My uncle keeps trying to get me to play rugby, but I like hockey more.”
I chuckle.“Good choice.”
My order is set on the counter for me to grab.I retrieve it, thanking the barista.“It was great meeting you, Tyler.Good luck with hockey.”
Tyler’s mom thanks me as I walk by, and I smile and nod in return.As much as I don’t enjoy talking to people, I love it when I can interact with kids.
I take my seat and scoot it next to Phoebe’s chair.It will be easier to share the cinnamon roll this way.Yeah, that’s it.
“Do you have experience with kids?”I blurt out as I hand her the second fork I grabbed.
The look she gives me makes me laugh.
“Okay, that was random,” I admit.“I realize we could be asked to watch Finn and Shelby’s kid.Made me curious.”
Her eyes widen.“No!Oh shit.I’ve never changed a diaper or made a bottle or anything.What are we going to do?”She reaches out and grabs my arm in desperation.I lay my hand over hers reassuringly.
