9
For several days, Ezreal had been thinking of things he could do with Sara and the children away from her house. He wasn’t up to asking her out on an official date. Just the thought of it tied his tongue.
Taking a cue from Rafe, Ezreal had decided to invite the three Fortunes on a wagon ride and picnic. He’d first considered horseback riding but decided Janna and Brand were too young to do it solo, though Ezreal had done some reading about dyspraxia. Some therapies included horseback riding. But that would be a topic for the future. For now, he’d chosen something he thought they’d enjoy and had made some initial arrangements. Now, if Sara would agree to come with him.
Friday night, after playing REKD with the guys, Ezreal sat on his bed trying to work up his courage to invite Sara. The worst she could say was no. She wasn’t going to mock him. He was sure he knew her well enough now to trust that. His palms were sweating as they typed out the text.
How would you and the kids like to come on a picnic with me?
Ezreal’s heart thumped madly while he waited for her reply. It’d be embarrassing to have to cancel the arrangements. His phone pinged. Taking a breath, he checked it.
When?
“Woot!” He cried, his heart pounding for a different reason.
Tomorrow. I can arrange a wagon ride.
I’m watching Lessa and Nik tomorrow.
Bring them along.
Are you sure? That’s FOUR little kids.
Four little kids I’m crazy about.
All right. Should I bring a picnic lunch?
He’d thought to have it catered, but that might be too much anyway.
Perfect. What can I bring? Dessert? The sandwiches? Something else?
His phone rang. It was Sara.
“If we’re planning a menu,” she said, “it makes more sense to talk than to text.”
“Right.” Ezreal would rather hear the sound of her voice anyway.
They spent the next few minutes discussing the food as he took notes so he wouldn’t forget. He’d warned the office’s chef that he might have a special order and had already requested brownies and a fruit platter. The conversation drifted to what the children had been up to that day and how Sara had spent her time working on Janna and Brand’s costumes for the Midsummer Eve’s event. The little boy’s obsession with superheroes and its influence on his outfit moved the discussion to their favorite movies and then books.
By the time Ezreal hung up, they’d been talking for two hours. He laid back in his bed and stared around his room. What would it be like to lie here with Sara and talk about their day, knowing the children were safely asleep in the rooms upstairs?
The music started coming at him with the notes for a new song. He pulled his laptop over and went to work. It took two hours before the melody settled down enough for him to fall asleep. It was a good thing they weren’t meeting until eleven.
* * *
Sara didn’t knowwho was more excited about the picnic with Ezreal, her or the children.
“Are you sure it’s all right to leave them with you if you’re going to be on a picnic with Ezreal?” Francie asked when they dropped off the children.
“Of course it’s all right. They’ll entertain each other.” Sara ruffled Brand’s hair. “Besides, the girls love being the watchdogs, so it’ll be like having eight eyes on the boys.”
“Too right,” Francie said with a laugh. She squatted down before her children. “Now you behave or—”
“You’ll cream my corn.” Lessa rolled her eyes.
Sara burst out laughing as much at the way the little girl sounded just like her mother as from Francie’s look of chagrin.
“You little minx.” Alex picked up his daughter and tickled her until she squealed. He put her back down. “You two mind your manners.”
