“What’s up? Where did you go?” I pause, looking at her.
“Huh? Oh, nothing. I’m fine, I promise.” She feigns a smile.
“Alie, you can tell me,” I say. “I don’t want any more secrets between us. No matter what happens with us, we have a daughter to raise.”
“Nothing is wrong. I was just thinking about the time we missed as a family. I’m feeling a lot of guilt about it, honestly. And I can’t seem to get Aaron to answer my texts or my calls, so not having an explanation as to why he lied to not only me, but you is driving me mad.”
“Well, you and me both. But he won’t be able to avoid you forever. And as much as I want the same answers, I think we need to focus on … this.” I point at her, then myself. “And, shit, I’m a new dad. It’s a lot to be hit with out of the blue. We have time to deal with Aaron.”
She nods and wrings her hands. “No, you’re right. And I still need to talk to my parents.”
“Let’s try to get that part handled before the season starts, yeah?” I laugh.
“I will. I was thinking I would talk to them this weekend. They’re likely to run into you at some point if you come over, so it’s better if I do it sooner rather than later. Plus, I’m kind of surprised that Sera hasn’t mentioned you to my dad at least.” She grimaces.
“Right. Yeah, I don’t want him to find out that way. What do you think your mom will say?”
“Mom is the easy one. Seraphina is the light of her life. If Sera’s happy, she’s happy,” she says, smiling.
“That’s good to hear. And I think your sister is warming up to me, so I assume you’ve told her everything?”
“I have. I hope you don’t mind.” She takes a drink of her wine.
“Not at all. I’m glad you have someone to talk to.”
“Have you told anyone?” She tilts her head.
“I’ve told Archie, which, honestly, means Emma and the entire Griffith family knows. And my friends from Walker. They’re all excited to meet you both.”
“So, Aston knows?”
“He does, but we had dinner together, and he knows not to say anything until we do.”
“Okay, that’s good.” She takes another drink.
I’d better get her fed before the wine goes to her head.
“You hungry?” I tilt my head toward the dining room table off to the side.
“Yeah, sure.” She stands and follows me to the table.
I set our plates down, then pull out her chair and push it in once she’s seated.
Dinner is easy, comfortable. Wine loosens the edges as our conversation flows. We talk a little about work, traveling, what I’m looking forward to doing while living in New York, and her obsession with color-coded spreadsheets.
She seems more relaxed tonight. She’s laughing more too.
After we clean up the kitchen, we end up sitting on the couch, closer than necessary, our knees touching.
“You really can cook,” she says.
“I told you I could. I can make a mean dinosaur nugget too.” I wink.
“Well, I’m impressed. And Sera will be too.”
“Did you just pay me a compliment?”
She tilts her head, making her hair fall around her face as she laughs.
