He nodded. “That’s the plan. It’s going to take weeks to get everything repaired and replaced.” Looking over at Annabeth, he said, “So it looks like we’re going to be back in the cabin for a while.”
“Yay! That’s awesome!” she said around a mouthful of food.
“Seriously? But I thought you wanted to live closer to town,” he reminded her. “You said you wanted to live by your friends.”
“I know, but it’s fun living here too. Plus, when we’re here, there’s always someone to talk to. Even when you’re busy.”
Ouch, Lexi thought. That one brief comment spoke volumes, and when she looked at Connor, she could tell he was embarrassed. So, she quickly changed the subject.
“Which of these sauces is your favorite, Jonah?” she asked, and fortunately, that turned the conversation back to the food. Then Jonah and Annabeth argued about which sauce was actually the best, and Lexi took the opportunity to get Connor’s attention.
“You know she didn’t mean that in a hurtful way,” she said quietly. “Life is hard when you’re a single parent and they’re too young to understand how much work it is for us.”
He nodded. “I know. But it still…”
“It’s like a punch in the gut. I know.” This time she resisted the temptation to touch him. “Come on. Let’s enjoy our lunch because I’m sure you need to get back up to the lodge for the rest of your interviews.”
So that’s what they did. He ended up staying for another forty-five minutes, and when he left, she told him she’d bring the kids up for dinner.
“Oh, um…Axel and Maisie are double dating with Walker and Harlow tonight, and Slater’s going out with a friend, so…”
It took a moment for her to realize what he was saying. “Oh. Oh, yeah. Okay. So it would just be the four of us. No problem. Jonah and I can totally fend for ourselves tonight. I’m sure you need to go to the house and pack up the rest of your stuff, so don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”
He looked disappointed. “That wasn’t exactly what I was going to say,” he murmured. “I just wanted you to know that it was only going to be the four of us. I don’t mind cooking—I was already planning the meal when everyone essentially bailed—and if you’re okay with it being just…you know…us again, then maybe we can have an early dinner and then Annabeth and I can go to the house and pack.”
She studied him. “When’s your last interview?”
“At three.”
“Then why don’t we all go to the house and help you pack and then come back and eat? This way it will give you an incentive to get in and get out,” she reasoned. “Or I can keep the kids and you can tackle it with no interruptions.”
The boyish grin he gave her made her heart skip a beat. It was like looking at the boy she had loved all those years ago. If she weren’t careful, it would be easy for lines to blur.
“If I did that, I’d feel like I was taking advantage of you,” he said quietly. “And I’d be totally in your debt.”
She felt herself blush. “Well…that might not be a bad thing because there may be a time when I need you to do the babysitting. I know I need to meet with the preschool next week, but in the meantime…”
“Hey, we can help each other out,” he finished for her. “It’s kind of nice not being the odd man out around here anymore. I love these guys like they’re my family, but…they don’t have kids, and even though they’re all beyond great with Annabeth, sometimes they don’t get that I have other responsibilities.”
“I get that. I was the first of my friends to have a baby, and for a while, they would get annoyed when I couldn’t just drop everything and go out.”
“Exactly.”
They stood in companionable silence for several long moments before Connor spoke again.
“So, um…if you’re sure you’re okay with it, I’d love to go to the house alone. It will just go faster. I’m not going to get everything tonight, but I’d like to get all our clothes and personal stuff. I promise to be back here by six, and we can eat by six-thirty.”
“What are you making?”
“I was planning on meatloaf, but…”
“How about pizza instead?” she suggested. “You know, pick it up on your way back and then we can just sort of chill out and not mess up the kitchen.”
His smile grew. “I know it would be completely inappropriate, but I swear I could kiss you right now. No one ever worries about that stuff for me.”
Her cheeks heated at the thought of that kiss, but she pushed it aside.
“Well, as someone who’s solely responsible for cleaning up, I know the importance of takeout. So text me when you’re on your way back and we can either eat here again or at your cabin.”
