“And smart and pretty and awesome.”
A wide grin split Bennie’s face.
“See you in a few hours,” I told her as she headed into school.
“Good morning, Stella.”
I turned to Lorraine’s voice. She hadn’t spoken to me much since that first week, but she threw looks in my direction enough as she whispered to the other moms, especially when Lee came with me to pick Bennie up at dismissal.
“Hi, Lorraine,” I said, reminding myself now to be kind to unkind people.
“I guess Lee is away. I’d mentioned that playdate again the last time he was here. Maybe you could ask him when you speak to him.”
I had to give her credit for persistence.
“Bennie seems to have taken to you.”
“I’ve taken to her too. She’s a wonderful kid.”
My phone buzzed against my hip as I adjusted my purse.
“Excuse me,” I told Lorraine while I dug into my bag, turning around and hopefully signaling that I wasn’t interested in fake conversation or discussing a pseudo playdate.
Lee
I made the mistake of changing my shirt in front of the guys today in their locker room. Turns out there are wide scratch marks down my back and a bite mark on my shoulder that I didn’t notice.
I burst out laughing.
Stella
But I’m guessing they did?
Lee
Nate noticed first, so of course the whole team knows. Everyone I’ve worked on today so far has asked me for a high five.
Stella
Sorry?
Lee
No need for sorry. My girl is an animal, and I love it.
His girl. My sixteen-year-old heart would have sung at those words from him. My thirty-three-year-old one was pretty excited for them too.
“You look busy, so I’ll let you go. Just ask Lee while you can,” Lorraine said, her mouth turned down.
“Sorry,” I said, holding up my phone. “I was just talking to Lee. He’s pretty busy with us when he’s home. So we can exchange numbers later if you’d like, and I’ll ask Bennie if she’d be interested.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.”
“Really? You seem to be pushing kind of hard for it. Unlessyou’relooking for a playdate with just Lee,” I said, moving closer. “He only plays with me. But I’m happy tocoordinate with the girls. If you’ll excuse me, I have to run home before I’m on lunch duty. Have a great day.”
Lorraine’s face was frozen as a wide grin spread across my mouth. The surge of dopamine fueled me all the way back to the house.
I made a second cup of coffee so I’d be sharp for whatever the kids threw at me today, and I was just about to sit down when my phone rang.
