I followed them out, the cold night air hitting my still-damp shirt and making me shiver, even after I’d zipped up my coat.
THIRTEEN
Piper
The momentwe reached the sidewalk, Ollie ran ahead down the block. I called out for him to wait, then turned to Grayden. “I’m really sorry. I thought this would be nice, grabbing dinner together, but…” I trailed off, shaking my head.
“It’s alright. Ollie’s entitled to not like me. He’s hardly the only one.”
“But he’s not entitled to be rude. I taught him better than that.”
Grayden shrugged, brushing his hands over the damp spots on his coat. “Still had a good time with you tonight. For what it’s worth.”
I bit my lip. “Same.” For a while there, I’d been enjoying dinner with Grayden. Until Ollie had decided to blow up our evening.
My stomach twisted with embarrassment over what my kid had said and the way he’d acted. Even though he’d asked some legitimate questions.
Ugh, why was this so hard?
“I’ve got the rent check for you in my inside pocket,” he said. “Might be slightly damp from the spilled beer though.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get it later.” The paperwork could wait. I didn’t care about the damn paperwork.
“Can I walk you both home, at least?” he asked.
“You haven’t had enough of us?”
“Nope. Not yet.” Grayden didn’t smile, but I’d detected a hint of his deadpan humor.
I didn’t want him to go yet either.
Ollie stayed ahead of us for the minutes it took to walk back to my place. When we reached the house, Ollie jogged up the steps and stood right beside the door, frowning at me with his feet tapping the porch.
“Mom, come on!”
I glanced sheepishly at Grayden. “I need to get Ollie settled, but if you don’t mind waiting, I can come back out and talk more. Unless you want to take off.”
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “I’ll stay.”
“You’re not too cold? I’d invite you in, but?—”
“Go on, Piper. Take care of Ollie, and I’ll hang out here. I don’t mind.”
Pulling my keys from my purse, I walked up the porch steps and went past Ollie.
“Mom, can I?—”
“Don’t even think about it, mister. You were rude to Grayden after he was perfectly kind to you all evening. You’re going to bed.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Same thing you say every night.”
“Cause it’s true. Maybe you just need more sleep than me.”
A smile threatened to appear on my lips, but I kept it at bay.
I unlocked the door, pushing Ollie inside as I switched on lights. “Brush your teeth, then pajamas and bed. Right now. If you’re not tired, you can read. But I am one inch away from grounding you for the next week. Don’t give me a push. Got it?”
