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But then I see Reid with Junie and I realize some of what makes me want him so badly is just…him. I wanthim, not someone tohandle things. And then starts the vicious circle all over again, and I shove my face into my pillow and scream because it’s so infuriating.
God help me.
“Hey listen, my aunt and uncle are doing a barbeque at the beach park tomorrow to celebrate their anniversary, and Marie wanted me to invite you.” Reid swims closer to the dock, Junie’sarms wrapped around his neck as he drags her behind him. “Junie could play with Leo and Nina.”
I lick my lips, thinking it over. Is this something people who are dating would do? Or something friends do?
What if it’s both?
“Will it be weird for Lois since I’m her tenant?” I ask.
Reid scoffs. “Not at all.I’mher tenant, too.”
“But you’re family.”
He shrugs as he helps Junie climb up the ladder. “So? Everyone in town is family. That’s just what small towns are.”
I purse my lips and give him a look. “You know what I mean. I don’t want it to be weird.” I pause. “Or for anyone to get the wrong idea.”
I say the last part slowly, dipping my toe into the topic we don’t address.
“I know, and it won’t be weird.” He shoves back from the dock, drifting a few feet away. “At least say you’ll think about it.”
“I’ll think about it,” I agree, just as Junie flies past me.
God, the girl has a never-ending energy source stowed in that tiny body.
“But if it gets weird I’m diffusing things by telling everyone you smuggled in an illegal air conditioner.”
Reid gasps, his hands out as he waits for Junie to swim to him. “You wouldn’t.”
I cackle, unable to help myself. “I so would.”
“Traitor,” he grumbles, though there’s no heat behind it. “Come on, Junie. Let’s splash your mom.”
My eyes widen, and before I can do anything about it, Reid is shoving a wall of water in my direction, the splash hitting me and drenching my clothes.
“We got her!” Junie calls out, raising her little fist in the air.
“Yeah, we did,” Reid says, and then the two of them give each other a high five, laughing maniacally.
And just like every small moment that has come before, I fall a little bit more in love with him.
Shit.
When I pull my SUV into the parking lot at the beach park on Sunday afternoon, I expect there to be a pretty large group. Ifeveryone in townis family, theneveryone in townshould be invited, right?
Clearly I’m mistaken, because even though there are plenty of people scattered along the shore, the only people hanging out around the pop-up tent are Lois and Paul’sactualfamily. Marie, Craig, Nina, and Leo. Reid, of course, and Reid’s mom, who I’m surprised to see since he speaks about her so rarely. The last time he mentioned her in passing, he said she was out in Hawaii with her ‘new boyfriend’, and by the way he said it, I assume he’s not a fan of whoever the guy is. Though I don’t see anyone else, so I’m also assuming the new boyfriend didn’t come today.
Which makes me feel evenmoreconscious of the fact that I’m here and definitely not part of the family. Before I can change my mind and hightail it home with a ‘Sorry, not feeling great’ text to Reid, he spots me and waves then begins to head in my direction, Sydney galloping ahead of him, her mouth wide and tongue flopping.
“I’m so glad you came,” he says, holding my door as I step out onto the hot asphalt.
“Are you sure it’s okay that we’re here?”
“Of course.”
He says it so matter-of-factly, like I should know how obviously normal it is for me and my daughter to come to a family beach day with the Cohens.
