I look over my shoulder at Declan as we reach the door and give him a small smile and wave.
Kate is the one to shut the door behind me, and before I can let out the breath I was holding, I hear her say, “You are so fucked.”
~ ~ ~
Declan
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s order some food,” I suggest and pull out my phone.
“I know you’re not blind. That girl… or should I say, woman, is like some kind of natural beauty unicorn. And her kid is fucking adorable.”
“Why does everyone keep talking about her kid?”
“Maybe because she’s a package deal. If you’re going to date the hot neighbor, you have to woo her kid, too. Autumn seems smitten with you.”
Yeah, and I have no idea why. For some reason, the tiny human likes me, not that I’ve given her any reason to.
“Me and kids don’t mix.” I shrug because it’s true. “And I’m not dating the hot neighbor.”
“So you admit she’s hot?” Kate asks, her eyebrows dancing up and down.
I roll my eyes because, of course, Penny is hot. No. Not hot. Drop-dead gorgeous.
“And since when do you not like kids?” Kate adds.
I rub the bridge of my nose in frustration. “It’s not that I don’t like kids per se, but I don’t do relationships with women who have kids or want kids.”
“I still don’t understand,” she says. I know she’s confused, and I don’t blame her. But we’ve never really talked about this stuff before and for good reason.
Kate is almost a decade younger than me, and when she was born, I fell in love with the pudgy little potato the moment I saw her. I tried my best to shield her from all the shit our parents were going through when we were young, but I know I failed. And for that, I won’t ever forgive myself.
“I don’t want to talk about this right now. Can we drop it?”
She lets out a sigh, knowing the conversation is over. “Fine. Let’s order some food.”
By the time the clock hits eleven, Kate is settled into the guest room, and I’ve snuck out to the kitchen. I stand in front of the cookies that have been staring me in the face since Penny and Autumn showed up earlier. I pick one up, inspecting the messy confection. The frosting is haphazardly coating the snowman, and there’s a chance it may be more sprinkle than cookie. But I take a bite anyway and moan at the flavor that explodes over my tongue. They may not look the best, but fuck, they taste good.
Kate might be right. I’m starting to think I might be fucked too.
~ ~ ~
Penny
The door to the coffee shop chimes, signaling another person has entered, and I don’t look before yelling out, “Welcome to Beach Brew!”
We’ve been so busy this morning that I haven’t had a chance to catch my breath. We’re finally slowing down now that it’s afternoon, and I’m cleaning the coffee I spilled behind the register.
Jordan came and picked up Autumn a few minutes ago to go shopping, and Kyle headed out not long before that, leaving me and my parents to manage the shop.
“Hey, Penny.”
My head snaps up and I lock eyes with Kate, who is dressed in a heather gray trendy sweatpants set and black beanie; a complete one-eighty from last night when I saw her.
Declan is trailing behind her in a black hoodie, dark jeans, and checkered Vans, looking just as comfortable.
“Hey. What are you guys doing here?” I ask, stupefied, flicking my eyes between hers and Declan’s.
“I drink like ten coffees a day and Declan’s single-cup Keurig wasn’t cutting it. I need a large and in charge cup of Joe.”
