I nod my head. “It’s not as blatant as that, though. He makes it seem like every project that could actually get me noticed would interfere with my time with Rora. He’ll use that line too. ‘Oh, I didn’t know you wanted it. I assumed you’d want to spend the time with your daughter.’” I shake my head, thinking of my boss, who said that exact phrase to me.
“What about the guy? Doesn’t he see it?” Hattie takes a healthy sip of wine before she turns on the TV, queuing up our show.
“Oh, he sees it. He just goes along because why wouldn’t he? He’s getting all the praise from his boss and the clients, and he gets to needle me on the way.”
Hattie clicks a button on the remote before turning her attention to me. “Is he still asking you out?”
“Yes.” I lick my lip where my wine dribbled. “He just did last week.”
“He’s hot, right?”
I lift a brow at her. “The guy who keeps stealing all of my work? Yes. But that’s not the point.”
“Why not use him for a little fun?” Hattie wiggles her brows. “I mean, yeah, he’s a dick, but does he have a good working one you could also benefit from?”
“Hattie!” I laugh and hit her with a throw pillow. “I am so not going there.”
It was true that ever since Aurora’s dad took off, I haven’t exactly been a woman on the prowl. But having a baby on your own and raising a kid—while living with your sister and relying solely on your parents for help with the kid—doesn’t leave a lot of free time.
“Why not?” Hattie asks, waving her hand around. “I’m not saying marry the guy, Birdie.” I smile at the nickname she’s always called me. “I’m just saying, use the guy until you want to move on. It would be good for you to get out more.”
“I’m a mom now, Hattie. My priorities have shifted.”
Which is true. Ever since that baby down the hallway was placed on my chest, all I ever wanted was to be the best mom in the world to that little girl. To give her the love andsupport and attention that my own parents blessed me with.
To make up for the fact that she would grow up without a father.
“I’m not saying you need to change those priorities now, Birdie. I’m saying that you deserve to let off a little steam, and maybe the hunky office guy can be that outlet for you.”
I consider what she’s saying. I could never imagine dating Trip. And yes, that was his real name. But maybe I could use him for some… exercise.
“I’ll consider it,” I reply, then sit back in my spot on that couch, letting the cushions suck me in. “Now, let’s watch some cowboys.”
“Yee-haw!”
We laugh at ourselves and settle in for hours of mindless TV, all the while in the back of my mind I’m wondering if she was right.
Maybe I do need to let my hair down a little more often.
Chapter Five
“Game night is just a chance to have a quintuple date. Well, plus Derek.” - Enzo
DEREK
Groaning, I look away from the way my friends are talking with their significant others tonight.
It’s game night. A weekly—or more lately, monthly—tradition that we hold where we all got together as a big group and played board games. It is my favorite night.
We’d all make time for each other, Enzo and Nora would make ungodly amounts of delicious food, and they would pay attention to me. It was overall a great night.
Right now, Enzo and Nora are in the kitchen, laughing over something that is cute, probably. Chris and April, my other friends who made their presence known tonight, are looking at a house Chris is showing a client, as he is a realtor.
Warren is staring at Jane, and just generally being an adoring fiancé.
Archer and his wife, Viviana—who is also Enzo’s little sister—were cutely devouring the food on the table.
Garrett is glaring at Jane’s friend and coworker Molly, thinking it’s hate that fuels the fire between them.
