“Okay.” The tiniest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and instantly, I knew I’d been played, but I didn’t really care. “Let’s go.”
These kids already had me wrapped around their little fingers. Thankfully, they didn’t know that yet either, but Lu was definitely figuring it out.
“You need to swap your shoes around before we leave,” I said. “You’ll fall if you have them on the wrong feet.”
Frustration ripped across her features, but she dropped down onto the floor in a huff and changed them around while I finished my protein bar. I left another quick note for Adeline, unclipping Bear’s leash and grabbing my keys when I was done.
“Alright.” I wagged a finger at Bear and set the leash down pointedly on the counter so he’d know he wasn’t coming. “Stay here and take care of the other two. We’ll be back soon.”
He whined again but lay down flat on his belly and let out a huff of his own.God, I’m no one’s favorite this morning, it seems.
Hoping my luck would turn, I was pulling into the parking lot of the closest Walmart before I’d even fully processed what I was doing. The next thing I knew, the same K-Pop Demon Hunters song was blaring for the third time and I was just easing into a parking space near the door.
Lu was quiet when we climbed out of the car, waiting dutifully beside it before offering me her hand when I turned to walk in. My eyebrows lifted a little, but I took it.
“Mommy says parking lots are dangerous,” she said as if that explained it, and honestly, it did.
“Mommy is absolutely right.” Surely, she couldn’t be that pissed at me for the bike if I backed her up in her absence.At least, that’s what I hope.“People are often distracted in parking lots. They’re still getting themselves settled in the car and buckling up or whatever. The last thing some people are thinking about when they’re backing out is a tiny human potentially being behind the car.”
It’s me. I’m some people. Or at least, I was until I said those very words.
“I know,” Lu said, but it wasn’t as snide this time.
She kept hanging onto my hand until we were in the store, but as soon as the doors slid quietly shut behind us, she let go and took off. I was so surprised that it took me a beat to catch up to what was happening, but then I was racing after her, careful not to let her out of my sight.
Shopping with this kid is going to give me a heart attack.
Mercifully, my legs were much longer, and even though she really was fast for her size, I managed to catch up before anything bad happened. I met her gaze when we stopped in front of the bicycles. “Stay with me, Lu. Every second. Your mom would never forgive me if I lost you.”
I wouldn’t forgive myself either, but I steered clear of telling her that. Lest she ask why.
She sighed but nodded. “I’m just excited.”
When she batted her tiny, blonde eyelashes at me, I almost softened. But then I remembered how good she was at all this and shook my head instead. “I mean it. Every second.”
“Okay.”
“Alright.” I turned my attention to the bikes on offer but stayed close enough to her side that I could feel her beside me. She wasn’t running, being kidnapped, or even stubbing a toe on my damn watch. “Which one is it going to be?”
I wasn’t sure really how it had happened, but twenty minutes later, Lu wasn’t only a bike richer. While I was pushing a brand-new, bright pink bicycle out of the store, she was also sporting a new pair of sunglasses shaped like cats and, for some reason, a pair of glittery purple rainboots she’d begged me for and I’d found it impossible to say no.
At this hour, most of the other shoppers were elderly folks, and most of them stopped us to gush on our way out. The firstwas a kind-looking woman, who shot me a fond, proud smile as I wheeled the bike past her.
“It’s so good to see an involved dad,” she said happily. “That’s how it should be. My Norm never missed a dance recital when our kids were growing up.”
“That’s great,” I said, not correcting her about theDadthing. Close enough. “Take care.”
Lu smiled at her. “He’s going to teach me how to ride this bike today.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” The lady grinned at me again. “Good luck. To both of you.”
The hint of pride in Lu’s voice got to me, but then an older man was next, beaming at Lu when he saw the bike. “It’s a big day for any kid, getting a new bike. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” she said curtly, clearly taking him aback by the bite in her tone, and I rushed forward, giving him a shrug I hoped he would take as a “kids say the darnedest things” look. One thing I noticed as we kept getting these comments was that she was almost always sweet to the women, but the men were a different story.
Crap. I really have my work cut out for me, don’t I?
In the end, we drove home with the same K-Pop Demon Hunters song blaring all the way and Lu eating a pink donut with sprinkles on it in the backseat. She’d insisted on getting one for Jennifer as well, which was pretty cute.
