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“You’re helping? Way to go, bud.”
Elijah spins around to find me, dropping the large wooden spoon he was using to stir in the pan, and runs over to me.
“You really did make it!”
He leaps up into my arms, and I have to drop my briefcase to catch him. I do, laughing as he squeezes my neck, and then I set him back down with a smile.
“I said I would. It smells really good in here. Any damage from the dance-off?”
I look over to Liv, who only shakes her head and picks up the spoon.
“Nope. It’s all good.” She looks down at Elijah. “Why don’t you go wash up for dinner? It’ll be ready in just a minute, and you can tell your dad about school.”
“Okay! Come on, Dad.”
Elijah goes for the stairs, bounding with excitement, like I’ve just given him a puppy.
“I’ll be right there. I just want to ask Liv something.”
My son shouts down over his shoulder as he goes to his bathroom. “Cool!”
Walking to Liv at the stove, she quickly flicks off the heat and goes to the cupboard, reaching for plates. Just as I’m about to help her grab them, she ducks under my arm and goes over to the fridge, pulling out a pitcher of water.
She won’t hold still, and I have to physically block her path, raising my hands in front of her.
“Hey, would you hold on a second?”
“I’m trying to get dinner done, Noah. What is it?”
Liv glares at me before blinking and releasing a deep breath.
“Sorry. Did you need something?” She raises her brows, still holding the pitcher in her hands.
I take the thing and set it on the island. As I put my hands on her shoulders, she tenses, and I lower my eyes to hers.
“Are you okay? You’re acting strange.”
Liv shakes her head, but just as the words are about to leave her mouth, the doorbell rings.
“Hold that thought.”
Making for the door, I answer it and find John, her father, on the other side. The sound of clattering echoes from the kitchen as he steps inside, and we both turn to see Liv picking up a handful of forks and knives from the floor.
“Sorry. They slipped. Dad—” Liv places the cutlery in the sink and walks over “—what are you doing here?”
John claps me on the shoulder, and I smile over at him, a bit shocked by his sudden arrival.
“Well, I thought I might steal you for dinner. You weren’t feeling well this weekend, and I wanted a chance to hang out. Chat with you for a bit.”
Liv’s father walks toward her, taking her under his arm as she meets him in the foyer. We make eye contact for a brief moment, and Liv looks like she might be sick.
Is that what’s wrong? She’s not feeling well? Why don’t I buy that?
“Oh, thanks, Dad. Well, you know I’ve made a lot of food, why don’t you just join us here? I’d like to be here to put Elijah to bed.”
John squeezes her tight and smiles. “Sure, hon. You’re doing such a good thing here for this old lunkhead.”
He nods at me, and I force a laugh.
