On Monday, despite myself, I’m giddy knowing I’ll see Reed again. The fact that I bought a new outfit yesterday and dragged myself out of bed early this morning to do my hair and makeup is because I want to feel good about myself, not because I care whether Reed Warner notices me or not at school drop-off.

Jade and I are trying to avoid the cracks on the sidewalk as we make our way to St. Pats, playing that old school ‘step on a crack break your mother’s back game.’ When we’re only a block away, a car slows down next to us.

“Jade!” Henry screams out the window and Reed raises his hand in hello and then returns to the task of tying his tie, the clip between his teeth once again.

And there goes my stomach on the new rollercoaster ride it seems to be finding so much enjoyment on. Yes, he’s in the back of an Uber, but it’s an intimate portrait of the man as he readies himself for the day. Every man is different. Pete used to have to stand in front of the mirror to do his tie up in the morning and it was always a studious process. I miss that part of being a couple—knowing the intimate details no one else does.

“Hi Henry!” Jade’s voice draws me from my thoughts. She runs down the street trying to keep up with the car. “I’m gonna beat you!”

“Hit the gas!” Henry yells at the driver.

“Jade,” I warn, stepping up my pace, but she ignores me. It’s not that she’s so far ahead I can’t see her, but there are so many cars coming and going at this time of day that I worry someone won’t see her when they’re leaving the parking lot to our right.

A short sprint later and I’ve caught up with her. I’m sure all my efforts at appearing put together were wasted after the impromptu morning jog Henry and Jade forced on me. Not Reed though, the man strolls from the car like he’s a half hour early to an appointment and doesn’t have a care in the world, looking completely put together in his grey three-piece suit. He slides his wallet into the front pocket of his suit and rounds the back of the car.

“Did you hear what happened?” Georgia asks Darcie to my left.

Not really feeling like getting into the St. Pats’ gossip mill this early on a Monday morning, I set my gaze on Jade who’s now talking to a group of kids at the bottom of the stairs.

“Morning Sunshine,” Reed says when he reaches me, his voice smooth and sultry.

“Hi.” I smile nicely and then tap Jade on the shoulder.

She turns, holds up her finger and then continues telling her friends how she and Henry went to McDonald’s on the weekend. Henry offers a smile but adds nothing to the conversation. She says something about the toys and all the kids laugh. Then I see why Jade is such a perfect friend for Henry. The other kids initiate conversation with Henry about what happened and Jade steps back, letting Henry take all the credit for whatever they all find so amusing.

I choke back tears realizing that the divorce, the move, the less than involved father hasn’t screwed her up too badly because she knows how to be kind and compassionate to someone who needs it.

She turns to face me and must see some of the emotion on my face because she gives me a funny look for a second. “Bye, Mom.” Jade wraps her small arms around my neck and squeezes.

“Have a great day, okay?”

“I will.” She leaves me without another look. “Let’s go, Henry.”

Henry says goodbye to Reed with a fist bump and then the two of us stand in the middle of the concrete walk-up watching the two of them enter the school with a crowd of other kids.

“Want a ride?” Reed’s voice has me turning slowly in his direction.

“No, thank you.” I sip my coffee and step toward the sidewalk.

“So, I guess dinner is out of the question?” he asks, and I stop.

He doesn’t fidget, his cheeks don’t flush. In fact, his hands are in his pockets and he’s rocking back on his heels. You’d never guess that he just put himself out there and asked me on a date. I’m sure he must know the answer before I even say anything, yet, he’s not too intimidated to ask me anyway.

“I’m not into dating right now but thank you for the offer.”

He clasps his heart dramatically, his head falling back while he groans.

“Don’t even act like I just ruined your life.” I shake my head with a smile.

He stands upright. “You can deny me, but don’t do it so politely. Tell me the real reason you won’t go to dinner with me.”

I glance to the side finding Darcie and Georgia watching on with narrowed eyes. What do they care? They each have diamond rings on their fingers worth more than my annual salary.

“You’re a smart guy, Reed. I’m sure you can figure out why this won’t work.” I motion with my finger between us.

“I’m not friends with Pete anymore. Maybe an acquaintance, but—”

“It’s not just Pete. I mean that’s a huge part, yes. You have two strikes against you though. You’re a lawyer like my ex and you were the best man at my wedding.”

A deep intake of breath followed by a murmur has me glancing across the small courtyard.

The MM’s—Mean Moms—are gathered together, Georgia’s mouth ajar.

“Now we’re the scuttlebutt.”

He follows my gaze and then steps forward.

“I’m nothing like Pete.” His voice is lowered so we can’t be overheard. When I don’t answer, he lets out a sigh and says, “Come on, let me give you a ride. I’m due in court this morning and it’s right near your building.”

“How do you know where I work?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“I’m the ADA for the county, I know almost everything.”

I stare at him and he finally smirks.

“I may have Google’d.”

My heart does a leap in my chest that it shouldn’t. What I should be thinking is that his behavior is borderline stalkerish, but instead I’m finding it worthy of a TV rom com.

“I’m just getting on my feet again after our move. Trust me when I say that I have so much shit you don’t need to deal with.”

He nods to the waiting Uber. “It’s just a ride to work, Victoria.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t.” I place my hand on his arm and he looks down at it. Is he feeling the surge of energy between us, too? I quickly retract my hand and turn away to head to the train station.

I don’t have the guts to turn around. Instead, I keep my eyes forward and thankfully my cell phone rings in my purse. Happy for the distraction from the magnetic pull drawing me back to him, I answer on the first ring.

“Hi, Hannah.”

“Victoria, how far away are you from the office?”

I can tell from her voice that she’s flustered.

I glance in front of me at the houses on either side of the road as I walk. “I’m just about to hit the train station,” I fib.

“This new dog I got has gone into heat and I have to drop her off at the veterinarian. I told myself not to book an appointment for a Monday morning. NO!” she screeches. “My new Persian rug. God, how much blood can come out of one dog?”

“I’ll get there, Hannah, you take care of Lucy.”

“Thanks. Can you pick up a pastry plate or something? My meeting is at ten and I was going to stop, but now…”

“Yep. I’ll handle everything.” I sling the strap of my purse further up on my shoulder and quicken my pace.

“Come on,” she pleas, to the dog I assume. “The dog won’t walk on a leash. How do you get a dog to walk on a damn leash?”

I stifle a laugh. “I have no idea. I’m a cat person.”

“I should be a cat person. Thanks, Victoria, you’re a lifesaver.”

Click, the line dies and I’m about to climb the stairs to the L train when I realize there are people standing everywhere. It’s even more crowded than usual and taxis are arriving in droves and driving away just as fast.

“What’s going on?” I ask a woman who is about to climb into a taxi.

“Not sure, but it’s delayed by like an hour I heard.”

I cringe. “Seriously? Can I share the taxi with you?”

She smiles. “Where are you going?”

“City. Downtown.”

That smile turns down immediately. “Sorry, I’m not going that way. I’m going Southside and if I go through downtown, I’ll be late.” The woman honestly looks like she feels bad and I’m not about to make someone else late.

“Go,” I wave her off. “I’ll grab another one.”

She slides into the back seat. “Good luck.”

The taxi pulls away and you’d think the world is about to end the way people are cutting in front of one another for the taxis.

I walk a block down figuring if I can get away from here, I’ll be able to catch one before it reaches the station. I’m only walking for a few moments when I notice a car double-park a few cars up from me. A window rolls down and before I hear his voice, I already know who it is.

“Care for that ride now?” Reed’s smug face appears like he knew the entire time catching the train today was going to be impossible.

“Am I going to have to take out a restraining order?”

He opens the door, steps out and motions for me to join him in the car. A few taxis behind him honk, but it doesn’t faze him as he waits patiently.

“I guess I know what you need before you do.” He winks. On any other guy, it would come off cheesy as hell, but somehow on Reed, it’s charming.

I step forward and stop just outside the door. If I stepped any closer our chests would touch. “One ride and I need to stop for Danishes on the way.”

He chuckles. “So, I get breakfast, too. Sounds like a date.”

I slide into the car and scoot over to the far side, giving the driver a small smile of thanks. Reed slides in next to me and takes up the majority of the space, his knees hitting the back of the passenger seat.

“It’s not a date,” I say once I’m settled.

“Yet.”

“Never.”

“If you say so.”

He shrugs, and though he may sound like he’s in agreement, the cocky smirk splashed across his face says differently.