Page 226 of A Song for You

Jay stands and looms over me with his hands on his hips.

“I think I can make it through the day, but do you think Jay could pick me up and stay with me tonight so I don’t have to go to Sophie’s? I don’t want to get anyone else sick.”

I have to fight to keep a grin from splitting my face in two. “You want Jay to pick you up?”

I lose my battle when surprise flashes across Jay’s face, and I full-on beam at him.

“If-if he’s free,” she hedges.

The man before me would cancel a meeting with the president for his daughter. I have no doubt. “I’m sure he’ll work it out,” I assure her. “You sure you can make it through the day?” I tease.

“Yeah, I’m feeling a little better, but I don’t want to risk it with all the kids.”

I hum. “Probably a good idea.”

“So he’ll pick me up?”

I smile. “Yeah, I’ll let the school know. Give me a call if things change and you want to come home sooner.”

When I hang up, Jay is laser focused on me and practically holding his breath, waiting for information.

“She wants you to pick her up and spend the evening with her.”

That shy grin hits me right in the heart. “Yeah?”

I laugh. “Yeah, she doesn’t like you at all,” I tease.

He settles in the chair beside me again and goes back to the waffle. Then he turns to me with a smile. “Bacon and eggs walk into a bar…”

I palm my face. “Oh my God.”

“The bartender says, ‘Get out of here! We don’t serve breakfast!’”

Fifty-Two

Jay

Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban

Armed with soup from my favorite bistro, ginger ale, crackers, and about sixteen different medicines, I picked Chloe up from school. When she got into the car, she peeked inside the bags at her feet and gave me a small smile, then turned to watch out the window. She was silent the entire way home, so I followed her lead, unsure of whether she really didn’t feel well or whether she was feeling as nervous as I was.

In the lobby of Cat’s building, I shake hands with Fred, the security guard on duty. “How’s Beth feeling?”

He gives me a big smile. “Due any day now, and cranky.”

I clap him on the back. “You’re a lucky man.”

“Don’t I know it.” We say our goodbyes, then I continue toward the elevator. Chloe’s eyes are on me the entire time.

“How are you feeling?” I ask once we’re inside.

“Who’s Beth?” she asks, tilting her head and squinting at me.

“Fred’s wife. But you didn’t answer my question. How are you feeling?”

She quietly regards me for a long time, and damn if her intense scrutiny doesn’t feel exactly like her mother’s. She’s so fucking smart. I have to work hard not to squirm under her inspection.

When the elevator stops on Cat’s floor, she still hasn’t answered, so I give in and step out into the hallway. When we make it inside, I set the bags on the table. “Soup okay?” I ask.