“Call me Luke. Your mom and I are old friends, did you know that? We went to high school together.”
“Yeah, she mentioned it,” Claire says.
Liam wrinkles his nose. “You were friends with a girl?”
I nod seriously. “I still am.”
“Like Daddy’s friends with Olivia?”
There’s a beat of silence, and Melissa’s eyes meet mine.In a way, it’s exactly like that, but I’m not keen to admit I have anything in common with Troy.
“A little like that,” Melissa says vaguely. “Something to drink, Luke? I have beer, Pepsi, milk, or orange juice.”
I ask for a Pepsi, but Liam isn’t distracted.
“Are you staying for a sleepover?” Liam asks.
“Not tonight, buddy.” I’d love to stay over, but that’s not part of my plan.
Liam nods. “Do you know how to play cats and dogs?”
“No,” I admit, glancing to Melissa for help.
“Luke won’t want to play cats and dogs, Liam,” Claire says, looking embarrassed.
“Oh, I might,” I reply. “If I knew how to play.”
“Liam’s a cat and you’re a dog, and you chase him around the house,” Melissa explains. The gleam in her eye tells me she doesn’t think I’ll do it.
“Meow!” Liam yells, running off down the hall. “Meow!”
“Woof,” I shout, taking off after him. After we make a circuit of the main level, Liam hides under the kitchen table.
I pretend not to know where he’s gone. “Has anyone seen the cat? Melissa?”
“No idea,” she says, shaking her head.
The doorbell rings. “That’ll be the pizza,” Melissa says, walking towards the door. “I guess the cat won’t get any.”
I pretend to be shocked when Liam pops up from under the table, and he giggles.
“I’m gonna be a banana for Halloween,” Liam tells me proudly, as we dig into the pizza.
“Great idea,” I tell him.
“We saw the costume at Costco,” Melissa tells me. “Liam had to have it.”
“You’ll have to show me later,” I say. “What are you going as, Claire?”
“Taylor Swift.”
“Taylor Swift’s great,” I agree.
“Are you a Swiftie?” Claire asks eagerly.
“Sure.”
Melissa quirks an eyebrow. “What’s your favorite Taylor song, Luke?”
