Page 90 of Happily Ever After

By the time she turned onto Ollie’s street, she was ready for a hot meal, a cold drink, and some mindless television.

So why was she slowing down in front of Ollie’s place?

He wasn’t there. She knew that. He’d texted her about a late shift at the hospital this morning, something about a double coverage issue. Nolan would be home alone. Well, Milo would be there, but how much supervision could a golden retriever provide?

Maude drove past the house. Then she stopped.

She backed the cart up a few feet, parked at the curb, and sighed. She rested her hands on the steering wheel and stared at Ollie’s place, surprised by her own impulse.

This was not a plan. She hadn’t rehearsed it. She didn’t even have a clue what she was going to say.

But she’d been thinking about Nolan on and off since he’d arrived. She hadn’t really connected with him and she wanted to. Kind of needed to. If she and Ollie were going to continue being a thing, which they were, she had to find some common ground with the kid. At least enough so that she didn’t always feel so awkward around him.

Teenagers, Essie had said, wanted consistency. And space.

Maybe consistency could look like dinner. No other agenda. No heavy-handed conversation with her trying to make him like her.

Just pizza.

Maude climbed out of the cart and walked up the path before she could talk herself out of it. She rang the bell once, then waited.

It took a moment, then the door opened a few inches. Milo’s nose breached the gap, Nolan standing behind him. Nolan peered out, eyes wary. “Yeah?”

“Hey,” Maude said, keeping her voice light. “It’s me. Maude.”

He opened the door a little wider. “Yeah.”

“I know your dad’s at work,” she said. “I was heading home and thought I’d see if you wanted to come over for dinner. I’m ordering pizza.”

He blinked. “Pizza?”

“Yes,” she said. “No vegetables required, either. Unless you want mushrooms or onions or something. I’m cool with whatever.”

That earned her a flicker of something. Surprise, maybe. Or amusement. He hesitated. “I mean…sure. I guess.”

She nodded, relieved that had gone well. “Great. You can bring anything you want. Or nothing. Totally up to you.”

He grabbed his hoodie from the back of a chair and slipped on his sneakers. “Okay. Can I bring Milo?”

“Yeah, definitely.”

The drive back was quiet but not uncomfortable. Nolan stared out at the passing houses, one hand shoved into his pocket, the other gripping Milo’s leash where he sat between them. Maude didn’t try to make conversation. This was good enough.

When they got to her house, Nolan stepped inside cautiously, glancing around as if orienting himself. Milo went straight to the living room and started rubbing his face on the carpet.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Maude said, glancing over her shoulder. “Which I see Milo has already done. I’ll order the pizza.”

She set her purse and clipboard down then grabbed her phone, pulling up the delivery app. “Any preferences?”

“Pepperoni,” he said immediately. “And maybe sausage.”

“Done,” she said. “Stuffed crust or regular?”

He shrugged. “Regular is fine.”

She placed the order quickly, adding breadsticks and brownies because why not, then set her phone aside. She took the signature sheets off the clipboard and stuck them in a big manila envelope. She opened the front door, tucked them under the mat, and went back inside.

Nolan had claimed a spot on the couch, hands clasped loosely, gaze flicking around the room.