“Another hour won’t hurt.” I winked.
He looked deep into my eyes. “You make me feel useless, you know?” He said this in a semi-playful tone. He was teasing ... and itwas the dryest tease I’d ever heard, I kid you not. Did this man even know how to make a joke?
“I’m just here to help. Nowgo.” I grabbed his plate. “I’ve got this.”
He pressed his lips, slowly rising to a stand. Swinging his gaze to Aleesa, he sighed and blinked a few times. Then he walked over and kissed the top of her head.
“By the way, I don’t think you should call yourself useless,” I said before he left the kitchen. He paused and gazed over his shoulder at me. “Having a helping hand doesn’t make you useless. It makes you smart. We’re only human, Javier. No one is expecting you to be perfect.” I pointed at Aleesa just as she leaned down and stuck her tongue out to lick syrup off her plate like she was a puppy. “Especiallynot her. As long as she knows you’re there for her, she’ll be happy no matter what. I know I was when my dad was around.”
He stood there for a beat, seeming to process my words.
Then he nodded, held my gaze for a split second, and left the kitchen.
A hot wave ran over me.
There was something in his eyes right before he walked away. Something about the way he looked at me made me feel warm and a little fuzzy inside.
After cleaning the table and giving Aleesa a puzzle to do at her kid-size Hello Kitty table, I realized what it was that I saw.
Appreciation.
That wasgenuineappreciation.
Now we were getting somewhere.
Eight
Octavia
“Why did you agree to this again?” my sister asked, laughing.
“Because he needs help, Vina.” I wedged my phone between my shoulder and ear so I could finish scrambling eggs. “And because maybe he’ll stop being so much of a dick toward me if he sees I can hold my weight around here. I thought he was going to fire me. At least now I know my paychecks are safe until her birthday.”
“Please. He’s not going to fire you,” Davina muttered.
“How would you know,know-it-all?” I placed the bowl of eggs down and grabbed the phone again to hear what she so confidently had to say.
“I just know. With the way he talks about you to Deke ... let’s just say Javier doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who brags, yet he’s always talking about how patient you are with Aleesa—and don’t even get me started on your cooking. Deke says Javier won’t shut up about the meals you make. It’s gotten to a point where he doesn’t even think Javier realizes he’s talking about you or the things you do.”
My heart fluttered, hearing that.
No, wait.Stop fluttering, heart. We don’t flutter for men anymore.
“And even though all of your views don’t align with his regarding Aleesa,” she went on, “he’s told Deke you’re doing a really good job with her.”
“Really?” I huffed a laugh. “I wish he’d tell me that himself.”
“You know how Javier is. He probably has to unthaw. I’m sure he’ll get there with you one day.”
“No, see, that’s the thing. Idon’tknow how he is. I mean, other than the fact that he’s a basketball player, has a daughter, and was previously married, I barely know the man. I don’t expect to know his deepest darkest secret, but he doesn’t talk about himself much. He hardly even talks about his mom or sister, yet I hear him on the phone with them all the time. He’s like a vault.” I bit into a strip of turkey bacon. “Can’t get a morsel out of that man.”
“Yeah, well, just try and cut him a little slack,” Davina said. “He’s been parenting alone, and his schedule is insanely busy, I’m sure. He probably needs a break from the hustle and bustle. Deke is glad the summer is approaching.”
“Why? ’Cause he’ll get to dip histhingin yourthangnonstop?”
“Tavia, please.” She tried to use her serious big sister voice, but I could tell she was stifling a laugh. “I want to see you soon. My schedule is pretty clear for the first time in a while next week. I can come see you at Javier’s.”
“Ugh. I would love that,” I sighed.
