Page 56 of Temporarily in Love

“I…” I wasn’t sure what he was trying to say to me.

He squeezed my arm. “I know you and my daughter still love each other. It would be a shame to let her slip through your fingers again.”

I stood there with my mouth flopping open like a fish, unsure what all that meant. I didn’t want her to leave. Of course I didn’t, but I didn’t think there was ever a possibility that she would stay. Why was her family pushing? Did they know something I didn’t?

I brushed it off when Lila came into the living room. She put her hands on her hips and gave me an exasperated look. “Did you get lost? Come get dinner with the rest of us.”

I grabbed my beer. “I’m coming.”

“Maybe later.” She winked at me and spun on her heel into the other room.

I shook my head at her and hoped she was right.

I walked into the kitchen and took my seat next to Lila at the table. Her parents sat at each end, with Brian and Kelsey across from us. Callie was in her high chair while Cora was sitting on her mom’s lap.

“Declan, I’m so glad you made it,” her mom said.

“Thanks for having me,” I told her.

“You’re always welcome,” she told me. “Eat everyone!”

We all started piling up our plates with vegetables, mashed potatoes, and slices of the roast Kelly had made. I slid my hand on Lila’s thigh underneath the table while I ate with my other hand. She smiled, hiding it behind her beer bottle.

I listened to Brian and Sean argue about the Bulldogs; it was like being at my brother’s house. Nolan and I had similar arguments over the sport we loved. Lila shook her head at their antics, but she looked right at home at her parents' house with me beside her.

“Oh, did we decide on doing a grand re-opening?” Brian asked Lila.

Lila shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Do it next weekend! We could have a big party,” Kelsey said.

Lila pushed her peas around on her plate. “We should probably do it with the beer release.”

“But you’ll be back in California by then, right?” Kelsey asked.

Lila shrugged and put her fork in her mouth so she didn’t have to answer.

“I think we should do it now,” Brian agreed. “I could get Finn to see if his band can play.”

“You don’t have to wait for the beer to be done,” I suggested. “You could do the big grand re-opening to let people know about the name change, and then we’ll do a joint beer release party. I’ll talk to Gemma.”

Lila’s eyes lit up when she looked up at me. “You will?”

I nodded. “Don’t worry, it’ll be great.”

“Do it before you go home,” Sean chimed in.

Lila nodded. “Okay…”

“You’re gonna stay through Halloween, right?” Kelsey asked.

“Auntie Lila said she’d take me trick or treating!” Cora chimed in.

“She did?” Brian asked his daughter.

Lila smiled back at her niece. “I promised, and I don’t go back on my word.”

“Then next week, because the following week’s the Halloween party at the brewery,” Kelsey said.