On my way.
I put on grubby work clothes, knowing they will get trashed, and head to his place.
“Glad you’re back from La-La Land. Now, get up here and help me,” Myles says from atop his roof.
I climb up the ladder, swing my legs over the top and onto the roof then hand him a roofing tile. “Yep. Wish I were still there, but she didn’t want to ask for more days off work.”
He stops what he’s doing and looks at me. “Tell me again why you took her to Disneyland?”
“Why does everyone think that is so weird? It’s the happies place on earth. Why would I not take her to Disneyland?”
“Because it’s full of snotty-nosed kids—that’s why.” He goes back to hammering away on a tile.
“Yeah, but they aren’t our kids, so we get to just walk right past them without a care in the world.”
“Yeah. No, thank you. Not for me, and I’m surprised it’s for you. I thought you didn’t like kids either?”
I hold up my hand and clarify, “It’s not that I don’t like kids. I just don’t want kids of my own. Big difference.”
“Whatever you say. I’m sure she was envisioning you two down the road, bringing your own kids there.”
I blow him off. “No way. It wasn’t like that at all. We had a blast, and nothing was discussed about future trips.”
He eyes me from under his eyebrows while he’s crouched down. “Keep telling yourself that. I bet she was already picking out names in her head.” He points at me. “You’d better watch it. She’ll have you hook, line, and sinker here real quick.”
I grin with a sigh, not ashamed to admit, “I think she already caught me.”
He stands and tosses a tool to the ground. “Have you told her that you don’t want kids?”
“Not really something you discuss this soon.”
“Then, let me get this straight. One, she’s a nanny. Two, you took her to an amusement park that is solely made for kids because you knew she would like it. And, with those two things in mind, you don’t think it’s important to tell her you don’t want kids?”
I mock his counting while scrunching my face and being overdramatic.
He snaps his fingers at me. “See, you know I’m right, and that’s why you’re acting like what I’m saying is ridiculous.”
“Whatever. Just tell me what you need done, and let’s get to work.”
He walks away with a huff, getting more materials for us to continue the job.
18
Silas
I walkinto work on Thursday morning, still not feeling right about the conversation with Myles the other day. Thankfully, Kara had to work late that night, then wanted to work on her music for a show she has on Friday, so I haven’t seen her since I dropped her off after our trip. It’s killing me, not being with her, but I also don’t know if I could have played off how bothered I was.
In my line of work, I’ve seen all kinds of destruction, even in the short amount of time I’ve been here, and it was pretty easy for me to decide I didn’t want kids, but it never crossed my mind what that really meant.
I never imagined finding someone I’d even think about settling down with, but Kara is making her way into my heart so fast that I’m not sure I can stop it. Actually, I’m not sure if I could even if I tried.
Kids were the absolute last thing on my mind when we spent time together, but Myles is right. She probably is thinking about wanting kids one day.
So, how do you tell someone you just started dating that you don’t want kids?
I pour myself a cup of coffee and stand in the kitchen, staring down at my phone, aimlessly scrolling through social media.
“Morning,” Asher says.
