“Which means we need to plan our first date.” Hendricks shifts onto his knee, and my heart drops to the floor. There’s no way, notthissoon. “I’d like to ask you to meet me on Saturday morning at nine o’clock at The Beanery. Our first date. And I’m bringing my son.”
I snort so hard at what a dick I am that air gets lodged in my throat. I attempt to laugh through it, but it turns into more of a wheezy cough.
Hendricks watches on, brow raised, but not once do I see any flicker that would suggest he was having second thoughts, only amusement.
“It’s the Valentine Fair on Saturday,” I say eventually, once I can speak again.
“I know. It’s high time we were there together.”
CHAPTER 30
Hendricks
“Daddy?”
“Yes, bud?”
“I think I’m going to have a cinnamon bun today.”
I peer down at Max, whose fingers are splayed on the glass wall that separates tiny hands from the freshly baked goods. When he steps back from the screen, he leaves a smeary little circle where he pressed his nose against it.
“That’s a great idea. How about we get two cinnamon buns? And two hot chocolates.”
His eyes find mine, always so curious. “I can have both?”
I nod. “I think today’s a special occasion, don’t you?”
He turns slowly around the coffee shop, taking in all the red and pink and the hearts falling from the ceiling. Each table is covered in a red or pink tablecloth, with pink croissants, sugar hearts sprinkled over the flapjacks, brownies, and custard tarts.
It’s a lot, and Max’s expression says as much.
“Because it’s Valentine’s?”
“Exactly.” I don’t add that there’s an element ofbribery in my offer. “Would you like to find a table before it gets too busy?”
He rushes off almost before I finish my sentence, narrowly avoiding a collision with Matt, one of the baristas. I watch him settle into a seat toward the back of the bakery. It’s a table we sit at a lot because Max likes to stare out the window at everyone walking past.
After putting our order in, I join him and find he’s building a house from the sugar cubes. I stack two together and add them to the top.
“Chimney.” I wink.
Sitting across from him, I’m weirdly nervous about our conversation. It’s a subject I’ve never touched on with Max. Thanks to Miles, he believes girlfriends are gross. He’s not wild about the fact that his cousin is a girl either. So it’s anyone’s guess how this conversation will go.
For five years, it’s just been the two of us.
I’ve reveled in every single moment, every tradition we’ve created. Even the not-so-great ones have been a rite of passage instead of something to endure, like the time he had chickenpox and I stayed up for three days straight to stop him from scratching in his sleep, having to leave him with Sienna before I was awarded full custody, or any tantrum because he’s inherited Miles’s dramatic side.
He’s my sweet, funny boy, and I am so lucky to have him.
For five years, he’s had all my attention. Everything I’ve done I’ve done for him, and I’ll continue to do so for as long as I can.
Butthings are going to change.
“Are you excited about the fair?”
He places his latest sugar cubes down and taps a chubby finger to his chin, as he gives it some real consideration.
“Hmm. I’m not excited about the singing. But Iamexcited about seeing Honey at the kissing booth. As long as no one takes her.” His mouth turns down, just like Miles taught him.
