“Technically, you’re my only first date.”
“Really? How did that happen?”
“I grew up next door to my husband. We were playmates, best friends, and eventually married. I can’t remember a time when we were two separate people. We were always Avery and Luke, Luke and Avery.”
“You’re Avery now.”
“I am.” She smiled. “It’s strange. And yet, it feels like this is how it was meant to be. We had twenty-five years together. How many couples can say that?”
He smiled in response.
She wondered what was behind that smile. “I’m not judging you and your ex-wife.”
“I didn’t think you were.”
“Oh.” So she hadn’t stuck her foot in her mouth the first time, but it was firmly wedged in there now.
“Mom! Come see this.” Landon called from up ahead.
She’d lost sight of him as the conversation had gotten better. That had never happened to her before. She’d never enjoyed something so much that she’d gotten lost in it. “Coming.” She hurried ahead. One of these days she’d figure out how to talk to Ben without making an idiot of herself.
Chapter Fourteen
Ben
Showered and properly turned out in their pajamas, Ben and Savannah flopped onto the king-sized hotel bed. He was sore in places he hadn’t known could be sore. Savannah had slept on the bus on the way back and was bright-eyed.
“Wanna watch a movie?” he asked as he brushed her silky hair off her face.
She sighed. “Nah.”
“Order room service?”
“No thanks.”
“Play a video game?”
Savannah propped herself up on her elbows. “Can we go see what Avery and Landon are doing?”
Ben blew out his cheeks. That would be tricky. They’d hiked the whole way back together, trading stories and getting to know one another. He’d enjoyed it very much. Would do it again tomorrow. But Avery had made a hasty exit off the bus, and he didn’t want to force himself on her. “They’re probably tired. Landon limped his way into the hotel. I don’t think we should bother them.”
Her face fell and she dropped down again.
There was a knock at the door that had them exchanging looks. “Did you order food?” he asked. Avery was an expert at room service delivery.
She shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together in seriousness.
He crossed the room and swung open the door to find Avery with two owl-eyed girls—one on each side of her. They were all in pajamas and had their hair up in messy knots. Avery looked especially cute with her freshly washed face. “Hi,” she breathed.
He liked the idea that he’d taken her breath away. Leaning against the door in his best casual attitude despite the thump-thump of his heart, he said, “Hey. What’s this?”
She gave him the same play-it-cool look he’d given her the other night. “We’re here for the spa night.” She held up a grocery bag.
He pulled his eyebrows down, ready to ask her what she was talking about.
She didn’t give him a chance. Instead, she pushed past him. “Thanks for inviting us up, Savannah.” The two girls followed her, their eyes avoiding him but taking in everything else.
Savannah sat up in her knees. “Sure.” She smiled shyly at the girls. His daughter was much better at playing along with things than he was.
