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There was no reason for me to say it like that other than to imitate her, and she rolls her eyes, her lips turning up in a smile.
“You’re notthatold.”
God, I feel even more ancient when she says it like that.
“Trust me. My body disagrees,” I tell her, taking the opportunity to roll out my shoulders, which are still feeling particularly tight from my long day at work.
I forgot to stretch and do my exercises this morning, having woken up a bit late and rushing out the door with only a few minutes to spare. As I stretch one arm and then the next, I don’t miss the way Busy’s eyes scan my arms and chest. I certainly feel younger when she looks at me like that.
Licking my lips, I shake my head, knowing that being here is trouble. That I should grab my dog and head back home, leaving Busy and her daughter to their evening.
“Wait…did you say you’ll be 33onChristmas?”
I chuckle, nodding. “Yeah.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Then she freezes. “I mean…not that I’msorry, but I’ve always wondered what that’s like.”
I shrug. “It’s about what you’d expect. People lump your birthday in with Christmas, so it never really gets celebrated.”
“That is…so sad.”
“It sucked as a kid, but now, I can’t complain. I take two weeks off of work every year to make up for it, so…”
“Well, at least you’re staying positive,” she says. Then she hitches a thumb at Junie. “This one’s also a holiday baby.”
My eyebrows rise. “Really?”
She nods. “She was born on the Fourth of July.” She looks at Junie. “Huh, Junie Bee? And mom struggled to get you to latch all night because fireworks kept going off and you’d just cry and cry.”
I wince. “That sounds tough. Lucky girl, though. She’ll get fireworks every year on her birthday.”
Busy nods. “This year will be the first time she’ll get to truly experience fireworks. Last year I put headphones on her to protect her from the sound. She hated them, but at least she didn’t lose her hearing.” She giggles again. “Though I’m not looking forward to the day she’s old enough to realize the fireworks are not actuallyforher.”
“All done!”
I turn, grinning when my eyes land on Junie, both her hands in the air, completely covered in orange “cheese.” She’s beaming, clearly proud of herself.
“Let me wipe you off and then you can give the puppy a kiss goodbye, okay? Sydney and Mr. Reid probably have better things to do with their evening.”
I’dliketo tell her I’m doing exactly what I want to, but I keep that thought to myself.
Busy grabs some wipes and cleans up Junie’s hands and face, the sweet kid squirming and giggling, before letting her down out of the chair. She immediately grabs onto Sydney, who has been waiting dutifully at her feet hoping for a scrap or two of food, which I don’t doubt she got judging by all the lick marks on the floor.
“Thanks again for dinner.”
I take my empty bowl to the sink and give it a rinse. I’ll need more food once I head back to my place, but she doesn’t need to know that. She made an extra box of pasta to share with me,and I don’t doubt that was a sacrifice for a single mom, even if a relatively small one.
“And for loving on Sydney,” I continue. “She and Junie are clearly turning into best buds.”
Busy crosses her arms, a smile on her face. “Oh trust me, I havelovedwatching Junie chase Sydney around. My kid is going to sleepsogood tonight.”
I grin, too. “Well, any time my dog can be of service, let me know.”
A funny expression crosses Busy’s face, but it’s gone in a flash, her eyes following Junie around the room until they veer into a bedroom and disappear.
“So you and Teddy were friends in high school?” I ask, returning to our earlier conversation.
I lean back against the counter and cross my arms, stalling, not exactly ready to go.
