“Is something up with Mark?”
“Nope. He’s nothing serious.”
“Still, you’re usually on cloud nine after a night with him.”
“Nothing happened. I didn’t feel well.”
She eyes me suspiciously. “Nothing?”
I shake my head.
How could I sleep with him when all I thought about all night was freaking Owen!
“Interesting. You seemed fine at the bar?”
“I drank too much beer. It’s no big deal. He showed up unannounced. If he expected something and didn’t get it, that’s on him.”
“True. He shouldn’t have expected anything. I’m surprised, is all. Like I said, you seem distracted.”
I want to spill my guts and tell her everything. How Owen has my head in a whirlwind and my heart on the verge of feeling far too much.
“I think I’m still catching up on sleep and really busy with Charlie out. Nothing to worry about. How about you? Still madly in love with my brother?”
“I know you hate to hear it, but yes. Still head over heels for the guy.”
I’m a hypocrite for not telling her about Owen. A little over a year ago I wasn’t even speaking to Mia. I felt betrayed because she kept something so big from me, just like I’m doing now. It took time, but we’re back on track. Things are how they’ve been our entire lives.
Sawyer’s baby daddy aside, it took me a minute to adjust to the idea of Mia and Angus together. My initial reaction wasn’t great. I can only imagine what Cal’s reaction would be if he knew about his best friend and his baby sister. He may never speak to Owen again.
“And how are things with Knox?”
She watches her baby boy. I’m sure her eyes are glassy behind her sunglasses, but she’s holding it together. “They’re good. Knox is great. He and Angus are doing well, considering. I’m the problem. Every time I see Knox, I cry. Every damn time. The guilt is overwhelming, and I feel sick when I’m around him.”
I’m not sure what to say. We’re all still adjusting. I’ve forgiven her, but there’s still a part of me that’s okay with her being consumed with guilt. Keeping Sawyer from his father isn’t something I can easily forget, even if I have forgiven her. But Ihate to think of her feeling sick about it. I rub my free hand over her back to comfort her, since I’m short on words.
“Try to look at Sawyer's sleepovers with Knox as a chance for you and Angus to have time to yourselves. You can have date nights and do all the things with my brother that I hope you never tell me about. Blech.”
She giggles and pushes her shoulder against mine. “What? You don’t want to hear what a pretty pe?—”
I throw my hand over her mouth to stop the nastiness about to spew from her lips. “Absolutely not! Don’t you dare!”
Sawyer notices our silliness and wants in. Sticky fingers are coming in our direction, and when they’re mere inches away I scoop him up. He squeals between fits of laughter on the way to the splash pad. The water isn’t spraying right now. So, I hold him knowing it will be any second. He knows too, and squirms with anticipation.
As soon as the water shoots up, his little legs kick.
“Hands, mister.”
He sticks his hands over the burst of water in front of us. I help him get all the ice cream off his fingers and then wet his face. Once he’s ice cream free, I release him, and he turns, running after me with his fingers once again, only this time he’s trying to get me wet. I kick off my shoes and run around the splash pad with him for a few minutes. We don’t stop until we’re both out of breath from the laughter.
On our way back to his mom, I hold him out in front of me so his soaking wet little body doesn’t get me any wetter than I already am. When I notice Mia filming us, I whisper in his ear. “Growl for your mama.”
Sawyer holds his hand out like he has claws and roars for the camera until I place his feet on the grass. Mia puts her phone down and pulls out dry clothes for him to change into. She’s always prepared.
“I love this kid,” I say, admiring him as he changes.
“The feeling is mutual,” she confirms.
My phone buzzes, and my heart leaps when I see Owen’s name on my phone.
