“I can imagine. There must have been goodtimes.”
Teo had thought long and hard about those times, wondering if he’d been blinded by Amy’s beauty or tricked into falling in love. In the end, he decided he couldn’t and wouldn’t change anything. If he had to go through all of that pain to get his son, so be it. “There were some. Those are the memories I’ll give toAkoni.”
Cedar smiledsadly.
“What aboutyou?”
“Me?”
“Yeah—have you beenmarried?”
She barked a laugh. “Not hardly. I’m too… busy rightnow.”
“Too busy formarriage?”
“Too busy for romance.Thattakes time, and I’m a little short on thatcommodity.”
“I see. So, you’re not opposed toromance?”
Her throat moved slowly as she swallowed. He took a moment to admire the graceful curve of her neck and the way her skin glowed in the light. He wasn’t sure where he was going with these questions or if he’d be able to act on the answers. But asking them was akin to walking along the edge of a steep cliff. His heart beat erratically and his mouth wentdry.
“I’m not opposed,” she rasped, her eyes raking over his face and landing on his lips before it took flightagain.
Akoni trotted over and slammed into Teo’s leg. Grateful for the chance to change the subject—he wasn’t quite sure how to fall off that cliff and survive—Teo picked Akoni up and tossed him into the air. “Are you ready for a treat?” He tossed him again, making him belly laugh. “Best sound in the world.” He tucked Akoni into his arm. “What about you, Cedar—are you read fors’more?” He emphasized the last word, teasing her about her slip this afternoon. She’d been caught up in the moment just like he was, and she’d wantedmore. A fact that fed his ego like nothingbefore.
Cedar pulled the lounge chair closer to the fire and sat down. “Oh, I’m ready,” she said, and he thought he heard flirting in her voice. Gripping the roasting stick between her knees, she pressed a marshmallow onto the tongs and tipped the stick over the fire. She managed to open the graham crackers and a candy bar while roasting amarshmallow.
“That’s impressive.” Teo nodded to her multitasking as he dropped a chair next tohers.
“Camp counselor, remember?” She set the crackers on her knees and began rotating hermarshmallow.
Already, Teo felt the heaviness of their earlier conversation about Amy evaporating in Cedar’s happy glow. She didn’t shy away from him after his confession. He could easily be painted as a monster for saying it was a relief not to have Amy around—the words still didn’t sitright.
On the flip side, he was thankful Cedar hadn’t criticized Amy. He wasn’t sure he could defend her yet, and he was grateful not to be put in a position where he felt like he neededto.
With the crackling of the wood and the warm air and moisture on his skin, Teo was transported back to the family beach parties of his childhood and teen years. If he closed his eyes, he could hear thesurf.
There was one question that had followed him around most of the afternoon and another one burning his lips. He doubted she had a boyfriend. She didn’t text often, nor had she mentioned dating or needing time off for dates—but he was dying to ask her if she had a man of interest in herlife.
Instead, he went with the other, nonthreatening question. “So …” He let Akoni hold their roasting stick. Akoni waved it around haphazardly, not getting the marshmallow anywhere near the flames. Teo put one hand up to shield his face from an attack. “What are these business ideas you’ve cookedup?”
Cedar looked at him out of the corner of her eye. The orange glow of the fire played across her cheekbones, giving her an exotic appearance. “You’ll think they’resilly.”
“Are they?” hechallenged.
“Idon’t thinkso.”
“Then tell me. Justone.”
Shehesitated.
“Come on.” He circled his free arm. “This is a safe place forsharing.”
“Okay—well.” She smiled and wiggled in her seat. “There’s been a wave of homeschooling sweeping thenation.”
He’d have to take her word for that. Amy had put Akoni on the waitlist for private schools the day two pink lines showedup.
“Well, I wanted to create an art-and-craft curriculum for preschool through second grade for homeschooled kids. Each month would have a theme—something likenatureorbugs—and then parents wouldn’t have to come up with something. I’d want to include all the supplies and directions to make it as easy aspossible.”
