“And…?” she pushes, smirking.
“What do you mean ‘and’? Isn’t it obvious? I don’t want to be the pathetic, down-on-her-luck woman who falls for the hot, unattainable guy. I’m just getting my self-esteem back. That would blow it to smithereens.”
Holly snorts, then giggles, slapping a hand over her mouth, eyes sparkling. Becca snorts too, and rolls off the couch to lie next to Holly as they howl with laughter.
I shift uncomfortably and rub the back of my neck. Blinking quickly, I go check on Mia, not surprised to find her sleeping on her carpet, surrounded by all her stuffies. Looks like they were having a tea party. Picking her up, I carefully change her into pajamas, tucking her under the frilly white comforter. I give her a kiss on the head…she won’t feel it, but I crave the normalcy of our routine.
There were too many nights I didn’t get to do this. I won’t ever take it for granted again. Turning the podcast off, I take a deep breath before heading back out to the living room. I’m suddenly exhausted.
Exiting Mia’s room, I suck in a scream. I slap my hand to my chest. “Jesus Christ.” Becca and Holly are standing at the end of the hallway, side by side, staring. It’s a grown-up scene fromThe Shiningand it’s creepy as fuck. They look at each other, then seem to realize it too and start giggling again.
“I’m thrilled you’re having such a good laugh at my expense. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I think it’s time I head to bed.” Moving to the coffee table, I scoop up the glasses and empty beer bottles.
“I’m sorry, we’re dicks. We weren’t laughing at you, just at how ridiculous you are.” Becca says earnestly.
Dumping it all in the sink with a clatter, hoping I didn’t just wake my daughter, I glare at Tweedledee and Tweedledum. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
“Evie, we’re sorry. It just seemed so funny that you didn’t even realize.” Holly says apologetically.
“Realize what?”
Holly laughs again, her eyes wide. “Colton drives you to and from work every shift. He used to go out of town for work, and now he’s sending his staff. I saw him reading a book on child psychology the other day. He leaves work early on the days he picks you up so he can shower and change before he sees you.”
I shift uncomfortably and lean back against the sink. “What are you saying?”
“He comes to see you every day, Evie. He goes out of his way, even if it means leaving a meeting early, to see you. He hasn’t been to the fights in a month, and he’s smiling all the time. He’s completely fallen for you.”
Snorting in disbelief, I shake my head. “I sincerely doubt that. If anything, he’s fallen for Mia. He loves spending time with her.”
“Right. So when he spends time with you guys, he mostly ignores you and focuses on the kid?” Becca challenges.
“Well, no, but he’s just friendly. He’s such a nice guy, that’s why he’s checking on us.”
Holly and Becca’s raised eyebrows make me question my sanity. “Am I completely out to lunch?” And then it spews out. Every single self-doubt I’ve got. “He is so out of my league. I’m a single mom. I’m worn out. I am so far from a supermodel, it’s not even funny. He could have any woman he wants. I mean, can you even imagine the two of us together?”
They trade glances, then turn back to me. “Yes,” they say in unison.
“Get your head out of your ass, Evie,” Becca says with a roll of her eyes. “Yeah, he could have any woman he wants. He hasn’t been a fucking Monk. But he’s waiting outside your door every morning. He’s making an effort to see you every day. Every. Day. Holly’s your friend, but she’s not checking on you every day. She didn’t offer to drive you to work, did she? Are you seriously not seeing this? What man would do any of those things if he wasn’t interested?”
“And don’t say he’s just being nice again,” Holly adds, “because we all know it would be easy for him to hire you a car and driver, or get someone else to take you.”
Suddenly she giggles. “I did offer to pick you guys up after work one day, and he looked like I’d kicked his puppy. I didn’t offer again after that.”
“Oh, holy fuck.” I slide down the cabinets till I’m sitting on the floor in front of the sink.
Becca crows. “Now she’s getting it! Get this woman a drink, stat!”
Holly grabs a beer out of the fridge, popping the top and putting it in my limp hand. I look between their eager faces and drain the entire bottle, burping like it’s my job when it’s gone. I’m a classy lady. What can I say?
“What the hell do I do?” Every single interaction I’ve had with Colt is running through my mind. The way he’s always looking for ways to help me. How big his smile is every time he sees us. The way he winks at me when he teases me about seeing naked men at work. The big way he laughs when I scold him for being gross.
The way he wrapped me up so quickly when I hugged him. And maybe what felt like a kiss on the top of my head actually was.
Other than running away after he bought me groceries, I’ve been the one to say goodbye or goodnight first. Every single time.
“I think…maybe you’re right,” I say, feeling a bit like I might throw up. “What the hell do I do?”
They both slide down to the floor across from me, leaning back against the island. I really should get some rugs in here if we’re going to be making sitting on this floor a habit. I have a feeling we might be.
