I decide not to push it. It’s none of my business. “So, you’ll come, then?”
“Absolutely.”
“You’re sure you don’t have anything better to do?”
“Than to hang out with you guys?” He snorts. “Of course not.”
That settles it, then. A blanket of warmth wraps itself around me. Hearing him confirm it makes me giddier than I anticipated. The more I get to know this new side of Will, the more I see him as a pillar in my life, like he was before. Only this time, I’m not icing him out.
I just have to get this ridiculous attraction under control. He’s not the first hot guy I’ve met. Although he is the first one to show care and understanding towards my kids, and who seems to genuinely want to spend time with us …
I hope I’m not making a mistake.
When we arrive at the playground in the park, Will is waiting for us, leaning against a large maple, his chestnut hair slightly mussed in what seems like a deliberate way. He’s dressed in dark jeans, a black T-shirt, and a plaid corduroy jacket that complements his deliciously tan skin. Why he’s still this tan when we’re well into October, I have no idea.
I definitely don’t think it’s fair.
With his head leaning back against the maple’s trunk, his strong neck is exposed, revealing taut muscles I’d love to sink my?—
I cringe inwardly.Woah, girl. Settle down.
Will notices us coming his way and waves, his angular face breaking into a huge smile. The sun makes his nearly black eyes shine, and in this light, I can see the depths of their colour—how they’re not truly black, but simply a deep, complex brown that you could get trapped into.
“Will!” Gwen screams before running straight into his arms. Will openly embraces her with an endearing smile. I had no idea Gwen cared so much about Will. Now, knowing she didn’t get to see him for an entire year wraps a sliver of guilt around my heart.
It’s my fault.
Well, at least things are different now.
Heather runs up with her sister, but she’s shyer and doesn’t go straight for the hug like her. Regardless, Will pulls away from Gwen and shoots Heather a dazzling smile. “Well, you girls look a lot more lively,” he says right before shifting his gaze to me.
“Yeah, we’re not sick at all!” Gwen chimes. I raise a suspicious eyebrow at that statement, and Will chuckles at my reaction.
The next half hour is a blur as we play a variety of games the girls take us through; the floor is lava, pirates, tag, and whatever else their imagination can come up with. I have to take a pause when Julian starts fussing from the stroller, but Will stays a little while with the girls while I put on my cover and feed him.
When Julian is satiated, I sit with him on the cedar chips strewn across the playground. With some support from my legs in a crossed position, Julian can sit up now, so that’s how I place him. His large eyes look around with curiosity and awe until his gaze catches a bright red maple leaf falling from the tree above our heads. Entranced, he follows the leaf with his eyes until it flutters to the ground to my left.
“Here you go, sweetie,” I say, picking up the leaf and offering it to him. Julian’s chubby little hands clutch the leaf, his eyes not leaving it for a single moment.
“I can’t believe he’s sitting up already,” Will says. I look up and notice him walking over to me. Behind him, the girls are now playing solo on the playground. Well, solo’s not quite the right word. Gwen has enlisted two other girls who look to be about her age into their game. Heather happily follows along.
Will sits in front of me with Julian’s back to him. I smile peacefully. “I know,” I say with a sigh. “Pretty soon he’ll be walking, and then running like these two over there.” I point to the girls. “And then before I know it, he’ll be in daycare. It’ll be weird. At the same time, it’ll feel good to get back into my work routine.” I look up at him through my eyelashes. “Although I don’t know if I’ll even need to send him to daycare if this plan of yours works.”
“Let’s not talk shop,” he interrupts. He still has his playful smile. “I think you deserve a break. You’ve had a big enough week as it is.”
Not talking shop? Well, that eliminates one of the biggest talking points we have in common. Even though we have ten years of history, I never made an effort to truly get to know him before.
Now it’s coming back to bite me in the ass.
Before I can come up with something to say, he does it for me. “Have you thought about whether Julian will be your last? Or do you still see yourself growing this family?”
I audibly laugh, raising my chin up to the sky. The sun filters through the maple canopy above me and warms my cheeks, a welcome respite from the chilly breeze. “First of all,” I start, “I’d need a man in the equation to make that happen.”
“Okay …” Will raises an eyebrow in questioning. “And why is that a problem?”
I cross my arms. This should be obvious to him, especially as a man himself. “Well, I’m pretty sure men aren’t fighting amongst themselves for the opportunity to date single moms with three kids. Not when there are plenty of younger, hotter girls in the city.” An image of the young girl from the café springs to mind.
Will’s face goes dark. “That’s not true.”
