“Right?”
“But there’s exactly zero chance of me doing anything but acknowledge he’s nice looking. I’m a single mom. He’s Mia’s coach. We work together. The end.”
“Or … the beginning!”
“Ave.”
“Right. Right. I just love the idea of you finally finding a man who would treat you right. He likes kids. He’s a coach, after all.”
“Being a coach doesn’t equal liking kids. Not necessarily.”
“I think it’s a strong indicator.”
I picture the way Greyson smiled after Mia hit that ball almost over the wall.
“Yeah. I think he likes kids.”
“So?”
“So, nothing. My life doesn’t have room for any complications. And even if it did, the idea of me and Greyson is ridiculous.”
“What a shame.” The pout in her voice makes me giggle. Avery presses on. “He’s got that wholeI’ll throw you over my shoulder and save you from a firething going for him.”
“How is that even a thing? I’ll throw you over my shoulder and save you from a fire too.”
“Not the same,” she practically laments.
“Whatever.”
She’s quiet, so I change the subject. “What do you think of Mom going on a date?”
“I’m pretty much all for it. Dad messed up her life. She deserves to be happy.”
“Agreed,” I say, hesitantly. “But don’t you think it’s a little too soon?”
“It’s just a date,” Avery says easily. “She’s not eloping.”
“I guess you’re right.”
And now visions of Mom eloping fill my head—with an Elvis impersonator singingLove Me Tenderas she parades down the aisle at the Dollywood chapel.
Heaven help me, she’d better not.
Chapter 12
Greyson
“My recliner is my best friend. We go way back.”
~ Unknown
Hallie walks into the station at shift change, all smiles, as usual. She’s the last one here, also as usual. But who can blame her? She’s the only one on our crew who has to get a child ready as a part of her pre-work routine.
“Hey, guys!” Hallie announces. “I brought chocolate chip banana bread. Help yourselves.”
She sets the platter down in the middle of the table and the men dive in like pigeons in a restaurant alley.
I sit back, arms folded across my chest, watching her satisfied smile as firefighter after firefighter moans with approval at her baking.
