Oliver’s Dad:Noted.
Oliver’s Dad:Saturday? The park with all the climbing stuff by the football field?
Me:Yes and yes… two?
Oliver’s Dad:Sounds good.
Oliver’s Dad:Oliver is going to be excited.
I set my phone down beside me, taking a sip of my wine. I can’t stop smiling.
I have no idea who this guy is. He’s probably married, for all I know, but talking to him just made my day a little bit better.
Friends.
Yeah, we can be friends.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Kane
“Areyou excited to go hang out with your friend tomorrow?” I ask Oliver, realizing I don’t even know his friend’s name.
He swallows his bite of taco, giving me a nod. There’s a slight smile peeking through as he chews.
I know next to nothing about his friend, but if Oliver’s reaction is anything to go by, he must be good people. Hell, if someone can bring a smile out of my kid, then they’re okay in my book.
Wyatt bumps his shoulder against mine. “Areyouready for your playdate with his mom?”
Linc snorts with laughter from the opposite side of the table.
I just roll my eyes. I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.
“Ahh… come on,” he continues. “I have caught you smiling at your phone a lot this last week, and I know that has nothing to do with the bar or the club.”
Wyatt and Linc have been nudging me to find someone here, to start a relationship. Even though they seem content with their single lives, they think I’d be happier with a partner.
I keep telling them there’s no way I would do that right now because we’ve finally found a good balance for Oliver, but they have persisted.
A few weeks ago, when Linc and I were both in the garage working on our bikes, he broke the silence by saying quietly, “I know you love Oliver more than anything, but remember that you matter, too. Just because you do something for yourself doesn’t mean you aren’t doing the right thing for him.”
Linc rarely says that many words at the same time, even around me and Wyatt. I get what he means, but I just don’t think it’s the right time. Maybe in a couple of years.
I have enjoyed talking to the mystery mom this week, but I’m under no illusion that there’s something going on between us. She’s just easy to talk to.
My mind drifts to the last person I fell into this easy back-and-forth with.Abby.
It briefly crossed my mind that the mom on the other end of the line could be her, but I dismissed it quickly. From what I remember, her son was a year younger than Oliver, so they wouldn’t be in the same grade.
There’s also the fact that I don’t think she lives in Aspen Springs anymore. Clearly, it’s just my mind’s way of hanging on to the last remaining thread of that one night.
That’s why I haven’t asked her name yet, but I probably should before we meet up tomorrow afternoon.
Wyatt’s laugh brings me back to reality and the dinner we’re eating together.
The conversation has obviously continued around me while I was lost in my thoughts. Oliver is laughing quietly about something Wyatt said that I didn’t catch. Linc is shaking his head, like he can’t believe he’s related to his brother.
We finish dinner and get everything cleaned up. Oliver and I play a few rounds of UNO before it’s his bedtime.
