“Okay then, I trust you to make good choices,” he said, falling back on a default phrase.“Don’t stay out too late!”
“I won’t!”she said, running and planting a kiss on his cheek.
Fifteen minutes later, Noah pulled up in an old minivan.He had the decency to get out of the car, walk up to the door, and ring the doorbell.
Bella rushed to beat Miles there, already wearing her coat.“Bye, Dad!”was all she said.
He stood behind her, dummy that he was, and waved, “Have a good night.”
The door shut, and he was left to the silence.
Miles let out a sigh.There wasn’t time to think through what had just happened, despite the sickly feeling in his chest.He had to undo whatever Bella had done with Annie.
What was that about Annie being too young for him?Nonsense.
Then again, how old were the women Bella had been showing him?He hadn’t really paid attention.Thinking on it, the one she’d been pushing recently listed that she had “grown children.”Maybe she was a grandma.
He wasn’tthatold yet.He still had some life in him.
Miles picked up the phone and dialed Annie’s number.She answered with a bright, “Hey!I’m just getting ready now.But I can hurry it up if we’re going to miss the meteor shower.”
She was excited.He didn’t want to spoil it for her, but he had to.“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Bella has ditched us.She’s been picked up by an older boy named Noah.”
A laugh burst out of Annie.“Oh no!Are you okay, Miles?Do you need to talk about it?”
He rubbed the back of his neck.The sick feeling hadn’t gone away.“I think I do.It all happened so fast.I think I’m still in shock.”
She laughed again.“I understand if you want to cancel.You know, if you need a night to recover.”
He grinned into the phone.It was like Annie had read his mind.
Then again, what was the point of sitting at home and being sad when he could be outside being sad?
With her?
“We should go,” he said, “if you’re still interested.”
“I can’t wait!I’ve never seen a meteor shower.”
“Really?”He cast a look at the picnic basket and blankets he’d packed.From this view, it was altogether a more romantic gesture than he’d anticipated.
It was too late to back out now, though.Especially if Bella now realized Annie was a viable candidate for her fantasy step-mother.She’d either try to force them together, or she’d realize that a real, live person was involved and suddenly change her mind about the whole thing.
Either way, it was probably his last chance to spend time with Annie unencumbered.
“Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll come and pick you up,” he said.
“I should be ready in about fifteen minutes.”
It was going to be far too romantic.He shouldn’t do it.He knew that.He should cancel, then sit and stare at the clock until Bella came home.
He should, but he wouldn’t.
Miles cleared his throat.“I’ll see you then.”
Following Noah’s lead, when it was time to pick Annie up, he got out of his car and softly knocked on the door.
Annie emerged from the house wrapped in a long jacket and a cream-colored hat on her head, her hair peeking out at the bottom and sides.
