“This is important to me,” Ollie said. He crossed his little arms over his chest. “Do you even care what I want?”
That’s when her heart stalled.
“I know stunt school is important to you…” She did. It was the only thing he’d expressed a load of interest in, ever. Which was why she would do everything in her power to make it happen. But she didn’t want to get his hopes up before she knew if he’d even been accepted.
“I want to learn to be safe when I try jumps and stuff,” Ollie said, going right for her motherly jugular. “That’s what the website said they do. They teach students to stunt safely. Don’t you want me to be safe?”
How was she supposed to argue with that?
“Ollie?” she said, ready to make the constant persistence stop.
“What?” He practically huffed out the word.
“I already turned in your application this morning.”
That got her the biggest toothy grin she could’ve ever dreamed of and awhoopfrom Kellan. Even Brady was all smiles.
“You’re the best mom,ever,” Ollie said, totally changing his tune from before.
She did an internal eye roll since she was driving and it was probably dangerous to actually roll them.
“There’s no guarantee.” She turned down the street that led to Gavin’s McMansion. “We have to wait for admissions to tell us yes or no.”
The entire neighborhood was lined with oversized monstrosities. Gavin’s home wasn’t in-your-face huge, but it wasn’t small either. Not like her comfy little duplex that allowed her to save up for a home purchase.
But what could she expect from one of the heirs to the Puffle Yum Toaster Tart fortune? Nothing he did seemed to be small.
On that note, she was going to stop thinking because she didn’t need to think about Gavin’s size.
“Wait until I stop to get out, yes?” She pulled into the driveway, giving instructions because the boys tended to be three steps ahead of her even if it meant they might get their tootsies run over.
They all made noises of discontent, but they did pause until she came to a complete stop next to a Cadillac parked in the drive.
She could tell it cost the kids to sit tight any longer, what with all the bouncing going on during those last moments. But they waited until she put the car in park.
Kellan and Brady piled out of the car, running toward the front door.
“Can we stay?” Ollie asked, using his puppy dog eyes.
The ones that usually got him his way.
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ve got work to do tonight.” A few sponsors to check in with and a new speaking gig that looked promising. “And I need to deliver Agnes’s dinner.”
Agnes owned the duplex where Molly and Oliver lived. She’d become a mainstay in Molly’s life since Ollie was born, especially since Molly’s parents liked to travel a whole lot. They were always on the road in their RV, leaving Agnes to be a voice of ever-changing reason in Molly’s life. Agnes was getting older and sometimes she forgot to eat dinner. So Molly had grabbed an extra burger for her favorite landlady.
Evelyn—Gavin’s mother—met the boys at the front door.
Molly really liked Evelyn. “Maybe we can stay for just a minute.”
Ollie let out a whoop to rival Kellan’s from earlier and chased after his friends.
Molly followed behind. “Hey, Evelyn.”
Evelyn’s eyes lit when they saw her. “Miss Molly.”
“The boys had a good time,” she said, absolutely not looking around Evelyn to see if Gavin was home. “They had a little too much ice cream for dessert, but you know how it is.”
“I do.” Evelyn moved to let Molly through. “Come in. Come in.”
