We left the building, falling in to step together as we headed to the lake path that wound around the edge of the business park.
“Beautiful day,” Mia observed.
“Yeah. It makes me want to skip work and just lie in the sun somewhere.”
“Same.”
When we hit the gravel path that edged the lake, Mia bumped my shoulder with hers. “So, how’s the babysitting going?”
“Great! The first week has been a blast.” I smiled. “The girls are amazing. Alice is obsessed with trying new foods now. She made me promise to make sushi with her next week.”
“Sushi? She’s five.”
“I know. Apparently, she saw it on some cooking show and decided she needed to try it immediately. Audrey’s more cautious, but she’s been asking me about painting. I think I might bring over some supplies and let them try it.”
“Look at you, being all domestic and crafty.”
“It’s not domestic, it’s just babysitting.” I kept my tone light, casual. “And the pay is amazing. Like, really amazing. It’s helping so much with art classes.”
“That’s so good!”
“Yeah, I didn’t want to take that much, but he insisted. Said I was saving his life, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer.” The memory of that conversation made butterflies dance in my belly. The way he’d looked at me, so grateful and earnest.
“I’m so glad.” She was quiet for a moment, then, “And Cam? How’s he doing?”
There it was. I’d been waiting for this question.
“He’s fine. Stressed about work and his mom’s recovery, I think. But handling it.”
“And you two? Any interesting developments?”
“No. Like I said, it’s just babysitting, Mia.”
“Is it though?”
I shot her a look. “Yes. What else would it be?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.” She linked her arm with mine, shooting me a sideways glance. “You really like him, don’t you?”
Fuck. I opened my mouth to deny it, to brush it off with some joke or deflection. But this was Mia. My cousin, my former roommate, my best friend. She’d see right through any denial.
“Yeah,” I admitted quietly. “I do.”
“I knew it.” Her smile was soft, understanding. “How could you not? He’s gorgeous and clearly a great dad and it sounds to me like he?—”
“He doesn’t.”
“Emily—”
“Whatever you were going to say about him liking me back, he doesn’t. He’s polite. Professional. He comes home, thanks me, pays me, and that’s it.” I started walking again, needing to move. “Which is fine. It’s good, actually. Makes things less complicated.”
Mia caught up, falling back into step beside me. “But you wish it was different.”
“Doesn’t matter what I wish.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on here, honestly.”
Of course you don’t.
