Chloe: Love you too, Daddy.
I spend the morning at the shop, and around noon, my phone rings.
Emily.
"Hey! Are you there?"
"I'm here at a local diner called The Rusty Crab. Rampage is in the bathroom. And oh my God, Chloe."
"What? What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. But Rampage... he's..."
"He's what?"
"Huge. Intimidating. Riding a motorcycle." She pauses. "And really, really hot."
I laugh. "I thought you weren't looking for a Daddy."
"I'm not! But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate good genetics when I see them. I’m having lunch with him before I grab the equipment and drive home. This is weird. I'm in a mountain town with a biker I just met and I'm actually having lunch with him."
"Tyler trusts him. That's enough for me."
"Okay. I'll text you after lunch. Love you."
"Love you too. Be smart."
The rest of the afternoon is quiet. Tyler sends updates with pictures of him and the kids at the park, and texts me about Emma's detailed explanation of her favorite book series.
Emily texts me after lunch.
Emily: Just finished lunch. Heading to grab the equipment and then home. Rampage was... intense. Good intense. He asked if I'd come back to Grand Ridge sometime.
Chloe: And?
Emily: And I said maybe. Don't look at me like that.
Chloe: I'm not looking at you at all. But I'm THINKING at you very loudly.
Emily: Stop it. It was just lunch.
Chloe: Sure, it was.
Emily: I hate you. But also I'll call you tomorrow. After you survive Tyler's kids leaving.
Chloe: Deal. Drive safe.
Saturday evening, I meet the girls at my coffee shop for an impromptu gathering. Lily, Madison, Holly, and Amber are already there when I arrive.
"How's Tyler's weekend going?" Lily asks.
"Good. He sounds happy. The kids are asking about me."
"That's a good sign," Madison says. "What did he tell them?"
"That I'm someone special to him. Someone who makes him happy."
"Perfect. Simple and true." Holly sips her latte. "And how are you doing?"
