“So, should I go ahead and get your number?”
I blink and look over at Margo, whose eyes go wide for a moment as the whole world slows down and that feeling in my stomach comes roaring back with full force.
“Or…” His blue eyes search mine, and I belatedly realize I’ve been standing here with my mouth open again. He’s going to think it’s some kind of medical condition if I don’t get it together.
“My number,” I nod. “Sure, I mean?—”
“To coordinate with the movers and everything. We don’t have to exchange numbers if you don’t want to, but I thought it might make logistics a little easier.”
Of course.
The logistics.
It would’ve been ridiculous to think he meant anything else.
“Right, yes. I’ll give you my number and we can coordinate… everything.” I grab my phone from my purse, then nearly fumble it so badly that he has to reach out and steady it in my hand.
“Easy there.” He closes his hand over mine and holds it there until my grip is steady again. “Got it?”
I nod, wishing again that I could just pull myself together. “Got it. Thanks. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight. I think it’s just…” I clear my throat. “Everything, you know?”
“I get it. You’ve had a roller coaster of a night.”
He takes his surprisingly warm, surprisingly gentle hand away and it takes me another full two seconds to remember what I was doing with my phone in the first place.
“Exactly. A roller coaster.” I swipe to get to my contacts, still acutely aware of Noah and Margo and even April watching us. “So should I give you my number, or…”
“How about if you text me? Then I’ll have your number too.”
Thank goodness he’s on top of this, because I’d still be scrolling through my seemingly endless contact list, desperately trying to remember how to add a new one.
He’s not flirting, not even giving flirty vibes, but there’s something about the way those blue eyes seem to see through all the craziness and all the noise. Something simple andrealthat keeps throwing me off.
I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the quid pro quo to kick in.
But there’s nothing yet. Not even a hint.
“So I guess we’re all set?” And there’s that serious look of his that’s also somehow disarming at the same time. “Anything else you can think of that we need to take care of tonight?”
“Um, no, I think we’re good,” I say. “Thanks again. I’ll be in touch once I have more details about the movers.”
“Perfect. See you soon.”
We say our goodbyes to Grant, Noah, and Margo, then I drag April out of the lounge before she can talk me into staying “just five minutes longer.”
She shuffles along beside me out to the parking lot, still trying to hide the fact that she’s yawning every few minutes. “Mom, can you believe we’re going to be living with Grant Parker?”
“We’re going to be staying with him for a little while. Not quite the same thing.”
“But still, isn’t that crazy?”
“Yeah,” I nod. “It really is. Everything about it is just a little crazy.”
Chapter 4
Grant
Most of a week has gone by, and I’ve hardly thought about Heather or April, or the fact that they’re moving in with me in just a few days. That’s the lie I’ve been telling myself while I count down the hours and minutes, anyway.
