The thick waves of my hair wove through my fingers as I pulled the wayward strands into a side braid. I figured jumping up and down all night like a toddler would require a braid. I almost put my hair into pigtails, but I’d be thirty in a few months, and I was already doubting my sanity for agreeing to this shit in the first place. My make-up was minimal, just some light powder and gloss to fit my casual jeans and sweater getup. I wished it was summer because I would’ve loved to wear shorts, but I wasn’t going to freeze my ass off for comfort.
When I caught my reflection in the mirror as I grabbed my phone off the bathroom sink, I noticed the color in my cheeks. The stupid grin on my face. Ever since I’d read the words “Kangaroo Castle” in the text he’d sent me, my smile had reappeared every twenty or so seconds. Kieran’s suggestion was absolutely juvenile, but I loved it. He made me feel like a kid again. I’d missed out on so much of my own adolescence, post-adolescence… I’d missed out on life. In the short amount of time I’d spent with him, he’d made it easier for me to remember it was okay to live, to smile, to be… happy. There were dark stains, and maybe I’d become a worn and faded version of myself, but he was that guy… the guy who could turn even the smallest find into a treasure, into something beautiful.
I threw my phone onto my bed as I sifted through my bag. I grabbed my debit card, and ID, and tucked them safely inside my back pocket, not wanting to lug my purse around all night. It was nearly six forty-five and I had to head out if I was going to make it there on time. My phone rang just as I was about to pick it up, and Maria’s name flashed across the screen.
“What’s up?” I asked as I slipped on my shoes.
“Hey, I’m having a minor crisis.” Maria spoke a bit breathless and worry sank into my stomach.
“Is everything okay?”
“Dean wants to meet with me, and I need you to watch Jordan.”
My worry soured into aggravation. “Fuck that, why?”
“He didn’t give me specifics, but—”
“But you just drop everything and fall at his feet. He cheated and—”
“It’s about Jordan, he said he wants to talk about giving up his rights.”
My aggravation turned to defeat and clogged my throat as I croaked, “But… why?” Maria’s ex-husband Dean wasn’t around much, but this would hurt Jordan. His father, for all he knew, would be giving him up.
He had already been given up once. I didn’t let the thought thread through me. It was the best choice I’d ever made.
“He didn’t give me details, except that he was moving and didn’t want to ship a kid back and forth across the country.” Maria’s voice wobbled. “Just tell me you can watch JoJo for a couple of hours. I don’t want to involve Mom and Dad, not right now… it’s too much…” Her voice faded and the pain in my chest multiplied.
“I was just leaving, but I can be there in twenty minutes.”
She sighed, relief muddled with exhaustion. “Thank you.”
The phone went silent, and I stared at the wall allowing the pain to cut me open. Jordan deserved a father who gave a shit, and I thought that was what I had given him. My sister though, she was enough. Our family loved that kid. I loved that kid. And it was why I was out the door without a second thought about it.
Traffic was light, as usual. Sundays in Utah meant clear roads for miles. I’d sent Kieran a quick text before I’d locked up my apartment letting him know I had to watch my nephew, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the light blinking on my phone from where it sat on the passenger side seat. I wouldn’t let the disappointment set in. My family was my first priority, and if he couldn’t understand that, then he didn’t need to be in my life. I cringed at the words in my life. Not even on date two and I’d already started hoping for things I shouldn’t. I’d been hoping, though, since he’d kissed me in that bookstore.
My car rolled to a stop just outside Maria’s place and, before I could run inside, my phone rang. Kieran’s number scrolled across the screen this time, and I smiled at his impatience.
“I was driving,” I said instead of hello and he chuckled.
“Sorry, I figured you were ditching me, but then you didn’t answer my text, and I thought maybe you were really ditching me.” His voice was low and deep and it smoothed all the tension from Maria’s earlier phone call. God, how did he do that?
“I am ditching you… and it’s for another man, too.” I bit my lip to suppress my smile.
“Ouch. He’s not better looking, though, right?”
I laughed. “Only if you’re into nine-year-olds. He’ll be ten on December first so I don’t feel like I’m robbing the cradle as much.”
“And here I thought I was the only younger man in your life.”
“Hey, I’m not that much older than you.”
“How long do you have to watch your nephew?” he asked, changing the subject and getting right to the point.
“Just a couple of hours, my sister has to talk to her ex. I wouldn’t cancel, but it’s really all kinds of fucked up.”
He didn’t say anything for a few agonizing seconds. I counted four of his breaths before he finally said, “Bring him.”
“Bring who? My nephew?” He was joking again. He had to be.
“Yeah. What nine-year-old doesn’t love bounce houses. Bring him, and then we can drop him back at your sister’s before we head back to my place for dinner.”
“You want me to bring my nephew on our date?”
His quiet laughter awoke the slumbering butterflies in my stomach, and despite his crazy ass idea, I found myself smiling again.
“Bring him. The place isn’t that packed on Sundays. He’ll have fun, keep him distracted from all the fucked up.” I could hear the proud grin in his voice. He was too pleased with himself for figuring out a way to make it all work.
“Let me ask my sister if she cares. She may want to talk to me after she gets back from seeing her ex, may need me to cheer her up.”
“Ask her and let me know.”
“Okay.”
“I hope I get to see you.”
Me, too. “I’ll text you.”
We both said our goodbyes, and I walked into Maria’s feeling a little more hopeful than I had about fifteen minutes ago.
Maria, of course, hadn’t cared that I wanted to take her “nine-year-old son out on a date” with a “strange guy” she’d “never met.” She’d actually shoved me out the door with JoJo after I’d asked her. She’d been apologetic about “ruining” my date, and hoped that Jordan wouldn’t be “too much trouble.” I swear she studied from the same book of guilt trips as my mother had. She’d been all too happy to let me take Jordan to Kangaroo Castle, but not without serving up that nice slice of guilt pie before she’d shut the door. I’d almost said fuck it, but I knew Kieran was harmless, and JoJo’s eyes had turned into saucers when I’d mentioned it. Jordan had been so eager with his, “Please, Mom” and “I never do anything fun.” I’d had to hold back my laugh when Maria had given me the evil eye.
“Is this it? Is this where we’re meeting your boyfriend?” JoJo asked as he pulled me toward the large storefront window.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said and looked up just in time to see Kieran on the other side of the window smiling like a cat that just ate a canary.
My lips lifted in response and I waved lamely. The nagging fear that he’d still have questions, the lingering anxiety about what had happened the other night faded to the background. That smile… I wrapped it up and hid it deep inside my chest alongside all the other things I never wanted to forget.
“Come on, Jordan.” I led him to the door. “You have to be good, okay. Listen, and don’t run off, and when it’s time to leave no arguments.”
“Rules,” he grumbled.
I raised my eyebrows. “Agree or I won’t open this door.”
He nodded, but I didn’t have to open the door because Kieran had already done it for me. His brows dipped and creased as he stared at Jordan.
“You must be Jordan?” Kieran asked and held out his hand. Jordan took it with a shy grin. “Has anyone ever told you that you look just like your Aunt Melissa but with blue eyes?”
My heart skipped and split, spilling into my gut. He was so perceptive, and usually that was a great thing for a guy to be, but right now, I was praying for him to just let us through the door.
JoJo scowled. “Yeah, all the time, but no one seems to know where I got my blue eyes. Abuela said they are repressive.”
Kieran opened the door wider with a bark of a laugh. “You mean recessive?”
“Oh, yeah…” He held the syllable. “That’s right.” Jordan brought his palm to his face and shook his head with a deep giggle. “Thanks.” He gave Kieran another smile, but this time it was bigger. And without even trying, Kieran was in the cool kid club.
“You ready for some fun?” Kieran’s light eyes met mine, and I was a girl on a date again.
My legs felt gooey and my cheeks hot. The man broke through every defense with one look. I was either weak, or he was just that damn good. I gave him a quick nod and his smile was breathtaking. He acted as if I’d given him the world just by showing up.
Jordan let go of my hand, running to the benches inside. He sat down and started removing his shoes like he owned the place. “Remember, you have to wait, no running off,” I scolded and Kieran slipped his hand in mine.
He pressed his lips to my cheek. His kiss evaporated any lingering nerves. The familiar warmth of his hand felt nice, and I tried not to let that scare me.
“He’s a good-looking guy. I would’ve ditched our date for him, too,” Kieran’s whispered words made me laugh softly.
“Let’s see how much you like him in a couple of hours. The kid has way too much energy. He always seems to make me feel old.”
“You are old.” Kieran’s laugh was more like a snicker when I bumped my shoulder into his.
“You’re an ass.”
“Aunt Mel, you said a bad word.”
“It’s only bad if it’s not true.” I winked and JoJo gave me his signature smile. It was the one he gave me when he knew I was doing something I shouldn’t. He liked that I was a rule breaker just like him. I’d always wanted to ask him, “Where do you think you got that from, little man.” But obviously, I never would.
“She’s right, Jordan. I am an ass.”
Jordan’s cheeks went red as he held his hands to his mouth trying to hold in his laughter.
“Great, now he’ll tell my sister all we did all night was swear,” I said only so Kieran would hear me.
“So far he’d be telling the truth.”
I bumped him again, but with my hip this time when I said, “Babysitters of the year.”
“I’d like to thank the Academy.”
My laugh made Kieran’s smile grow impossibly wide. His blue eyes twinkled with mischief and, for a moment, I allowed myself to think about how different my life could’ve been if I’d had a child with a guy like him instead of with a guy like Chance. I didn’t let the future that would never be dampen my spirits. I lifted onto my tiptoes, leaned in, and kissed him on the mouth, ignoring JoJo’s gagging noises.
My lips only tasted his for a quick second, but when I pulled away and looked up into his gentle eyes, he asked somewhat dazed, “What was that for?”
“For asking me to bring Jordan. I don’t think another guy would’ve done that.” I let go of his hand. “Thank you.”
He watched me for a moment. Something I couldn’t place flashed across his eyes, and when he said, “I wanted to see you,” it felt like much more.
Kieran dropped his gaze briefly and then walked toward Jordan. “I hear the bounce house in the back has a wall we can climb, and a slide that’s supposed to be ten feet tall. You game?”
“Yes!” Jordan practically screamed and jumped up from the bench, but not before flinging his shoes into a cubby hole and following Kieran like a puppy dog.
I looked down and noticed, for the first time, Kieran had his shoes off too. I gave myself a minute to drink him in as he handed the guy at the entry gate three tickets, and I removed my own shoes, placing them alongside Jordan’s. Kieran was wearing dark-fitted jeans that hugged his thighs. His gray-colored thermal stretched across his shoulders, his broad back, and as he turned to look at me, I blushed.
His smile was lopsided as he teased, “You coming or you just going to stare at me all night?”
I flipped him off and his head fell back as he laughed. Ink peeked out from under the low collar of his shirt, and I suddenly felt curious. He’d told me at the Halloween party that he only had one tattoo. The way his shirt clung to every muscle of his chest, his abs, it made me wish I could see what was hiding underneath.
“I was looking at this guy.” I gave the ticket taker a flirty smile and he went white.
Kieran leaned down, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered, “Don’t scare the poor kid.”
I rolled my eyes, in spite of the goose bumps that had formed along my neck and arms. My irritation was all for show, and when JoJo put his hand in Kieran’s, my heart exploded in every direction. My chest had never felt so full.
“Aunt Mel, don’t tell Mom, but I’m going to slide down the biggest slide they got.”
Kieran’s chuckle was the shock my heart needed to resume its regular beat.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, JoJo. Your secret is safe with me.”