“We’re gonna build a car?” Jack’s eyes grew saucer-wide.
“Cool!” Dylan reached for the pieces in front of Bianca before she swatted his hand away.
“Okay, spill!” Bianca scooted her chair closer to me. “You know Nick Garcia?”
“He’s a friend of Evan’s. I met him at Paige and Evan’s wedding. Counting our conversation just now, I’ve spent maybe an hour and ten minutes in the guy’s presence. I wouldn’t say Iknewhim.”
“He knewyou; that’s for sure. You didn’t overhear Susan and her little gaggle talking about him the other day? The sexy fire lieutenant?”
I rolled my eyes and huffed. “That’s who they were talking about? Jesus, an attractive man gets within fifty yards of this school, and the mothers turn into scavengers.”
“So, you admit he’s attractive?” Bianca arched an eyebrow.
“I’m not blind. He’s very good-looking, and from what I can tell, a decent guy. If the boys have fun, that’s all I care about.”
Bianca huffed at me. “Right. Still on that dating ban I see.”
I shut my eyes and exhaled. “You sound like Paige. I have a dating app on my phone. I just checked, and a couple of guys winked at me or whatever it is they do to contact you. And you should talk.”
Bianca leaned her arms on the table as she squinted at me. “I’d like to embrace hating men for a few months, so I don’t take it out on the next poor bastard . . . Are you ever going to meet anyone who contacts you?”
I picked up the logs and pegs laid out in front of Jack and me and wondered how the hell they would make a car. “No,” I replied without looking at her. Realizing my slip, I swallowed before meeting her narrowed eyes. “I mean, we’ll see.”
Bianca pursed her red lips at me and shook her black wavy hair. “Just as I thought.”
My priority was my son. I would date when, and if, I was ready. No one knew that but me, so as far as I was concerned, it was none of anyone’s business. That included family and friends.
Nick clapped to get everyone’s attention once he got to the front. His lips stretched into a wide smile, and were those dimples? I didn’t notice them at the bar that night all those years ago. Oh, for Christ’s sake. He was a fireman, with a body like that, and had dimples? For a moment, I didn’t blame the school mothers for drooling all over themselves. Never mind panties dropping; in his presence, they probably disintegrated.
“Hi, everyone. My name is Nick, and I’ll be the Tiger Scout den leader this year. I have a lot of cool plans for us, but we’ll start with this little project. I know there are a lot of weird pieces in front of you, but when I explain how to put it all together, you’ll be shocked at how easy it is.” Nick’s eyes found mine, and I laughed. He addressed the room, but his gaze kept coming back to mine. Was he flirting with me? How the hell did I flirt back?Shit, I couldn’t do that. He was Evan’s friend and Jack’s den leader. Our little moment was in the past, and that’s where it needed to stay.
“He’s staring at you. Stop holding back on me, Ellie,” Bianca whispered in my ear.
I rolled my eyes as I turned back to her. “Like I told you, I had a drink with him five years ago. He asked me out to dinner, and I said no. I’d just lost Jack.”
“Well, the universe is giving you a do-over.” Bianca tipped her chin in Nick’s direction.
I huffed at Bianca and tried in vain to follow along with Nick’s instructions. A do-over? Just because I noticed him a little—okay, a lot—didn’t mean a thing. Fate took away the first best thing that ever happened to me. I had serious doubts it would ever make it right.
“This car is awesome! Let’s race!” Jack dropped to the floor along with Dylan, but I pulled him up by the arm.
“Time to get home, guys. You can race tomorrow.” The boys groaned in response as we left the gym. Jack seemed to love Scouts and I was thrilled, and proud of myself that I could keep up with Nick. I was so happy my son found a group activity that maybe I didn’t have to drag him to, I had to fight the urge to skip to my car.
“Hey, guys! How’d you like our first meeting?” Nick sauntered over to us, now in a black T-shirt that showcased his entire torso. I didn’t notice the cotton on his short sleeves stretching to accommodate his inked biceps one bit.
“It was great!” Dylan exclaimed, still trying to get on the sidewalk to play.
“I thought so, too.” Bianca nodded at Nick. “Well, time to get this little guy home. Goodnight, Ellie. Speak to you tomorrow.” With a side smirk and wink I prayed Nick didn’t see, she took Dylan by the hand and strode away.
“Small world, isn’t it?” I let out a nervous laugh. “When did you move back again?” I struggled to think of small talk as Nick’s steps kept in stride with mine on the way to my car.
“I came back to New York about a year ago. I was working out of Queens and going back and forth to my family here, but I finally got transferred to a firehouse in the Bronx.” Nick scratched the back of his head as a moment of uncomfortable silence passed between us. “So, Evan’s going to be a dad again?”
“Yep, a nervous one.” I chuckled. “Paige is actually sick of being doted over.”
Nick chuckled as I opened my car door and strapped Jack into his seat. My eyes darted across his chest and quickly rerouted to his eyes. What the hell was wrong with me?
“Didn’t want to wear your Scout shirt home?” I nodded to his new black T-shirt and couldn’t help the twist of a smirk on my lips.
