“I don’t know,” he said.
I nodded to the Zac Efron photo Alex had set in the trash pile. “You sure you don’t want to keep that photo in your living room?” I said.
“I have plenty. The guy who came to repair my AC the other day seemed a little disturbed by it. He couldn’t get out of there quick enough.”
I set the photo of me and Samson in the frame. “Thank you. I think I’ll put it in my nightstand drawer,” I said. “Just in case.”
When I’d put away the last of my sentimental items, and Alex returned from one more dumpster run, he stood in the middle of my living room with his hands on his hips. “So did it change your life?” he asked.
“I’m an entirely new person,” I said. “I think I can read minds now.”
“Really?” He turned to face me, his eyes meeting mine. “Then what am I thinking right now?”
I tapped a finger against my chin, narrowing my eyes as I stared into his. “That you can’t wait to get out of here and go to bed.”
“Nope. I don’t think I’m within range of your powers.” A smile played on his lips as he came closer and stood directly in front of me. “Try again.”
I racked my mind, again for something that wasn’t about kissing or being alone together, but fortunately I was saved by Mia, who flung open the condo door. She looked at us, then called over her shoulder, “It’s safe! They aren’t making out!”
Alex laughed and took a step back. I busied myself straightening the already straight couch pillows.
“Dads aren’t allowed to make out,” Greyson said, following Mia inside. She eyed Alex and threw up her hands. “It’s just the rules. I don’t make ’em.”
“It’s ignorant to think adults don’t engage in that sort of activity,” Kitty said.
“Doesn’t mean I want to know about it,” Greyson replied.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt,” Kitty said. She gave Greyson a curt nod.
Greyson stared at her. “I don’t get it.”
Mia grabbed Greyson by the elbow and tugged her in the direction of the kitchen. “Don’t bother. There’s nothing to get.”
After pouring themselves bowls of cereal, the girls sat side by side on the couch, discussing a video they’d watched about Disney Channel child stars who’d become drug addicts.
“I thought you three were watching a movie,” Alex said.
“I said we were going to watchsomething,” Greyson said. “It’s not my fault you assumed it was a movie. And anyway, it was basically a documentary and overall very educational. Right?” she added, glancing from Mia to Kitty.
“Right,” the girls responded.
Alex and I looked at each other and shook our heads.
“Lasagna?” I asked him.
“Lasagna,” he replied with a nod.
“Thank God we missed the decluttering,” Mia said when I returned from the kitchen and sat beside Alex on the couch. “Wait. Where’s all our stuff?”
“Trash pile,” Alex said.
“It didn’t spark joy,” I added with a shrug.
Mia glared, and Kitty groaned, and Alex caught my eye right after I’d shoveled a forkful of lasagna into my mouth.
“You’ve got...” He leaned over and swiped his thumb along the corner of my mouth. “Sauce,” he said, pulling away from me.
There was a moment of silence, and then a collectiveooooohsounded from the other couch. Alex shook his head, I blushed, and we both ignored the girls. I stared down at the plate in my lap. That had meant nothing, of course. Just like all his flirting meant nothing. I was almost sure he would’ve done the same thing to Nina. We were good friends who spent a lot of time enclosed in small spaces together, nothing more.
