Page 35 of Icing on Top

Charlie had turned into a machine and had iced a majority of the cupcakes by the time Zoe and I finished up my fifth.

“Look at you!” I grinned, patting her on the back. “I’m impressed.”

Zoe looked over Charlie’s work with a smile of her own. “These are a lot better than how mine looked when I first started. I think Jada would hire you in a heartbeat.”

Charlie just preened under the praise. Probably more so from Zoe’s than mine. Not that I could blame her; I’d do the exact same thing if Zoe praised me.

Nope. I mentally shook away the images that followed that sentence. Not going there.

Having Zoe in my space was having more of an effect on me than I had predicted it would. I could chalk some of it up to the fact that I hadn’t felt attracted to anyone since Sadie and wasn’t used to the sensation. Or blame it on some primal instinct to find a mate to help care for my offspring. No matter the reasoning, it didn’t mean the feelings weren’t there. Along with the desire to act on them.

Zoe stayed long enough to carefully place the cupcakes in Tupperware and pack up everything she’d brought with her.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Charlie bounced over to Zoe and wrapped her arms around her waist. It was going to be interesting getting her to bed tonight. The little tot was on cloud nine.

Zoe knelt down to give her a proper bear hug. “Of course! I had a lot of fun.”

Then she let go of Charlie so she could stand, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

“Go get Delilah ready for bed.” I nudged Charlie. “Then it’ll be time to get your cute little butt in bed, too.”

She sighed, her shoulders drooping.

“Okay.” She gave Zoe a small, limp wave. “Bye, Coach Zo.”

“Goodnight, Charlie girl. Get some good sleep this weekend, so you’re ready for the game Sunday morning.”

The reminder of her game at least cheered her up enough that she left with a smile.

I walked Zoe to the door, my heart pounding a staccato against my ribs. If I’m ever going to make a move, now is the time, right?

“Thanks again. It really meant a lot to her,” I said instead.

“Of course. I enjoyed it. Mess and all.” She winked at me as she stepped out onto the porch. “See you Sunday!”

I just stood there, rooted to the spot in the foyer, and watched her make her way to her car. Am I seriously going to let this moment slip through my fingers?

Suddenly my feet were propelling me forward off the porch and down the walkway to her.

“Zoe!” I called out.

She paused and turned, a small crease between her eyebrows.

“Do you want to go to dinner sometime?” I blurted before quickly clarifying. “Without Charlie.”

A part of me was shocked by my actions while the other was impressed. I guess Wes’s words had stuck with me. If someone makes you happy, you’re allowed to move on.

Zoe did make me happy. I always found myself smiling around her even when that wasn’t her intention. She made Charlie happy, too, and that meant the world to me.

I wasn’t moving on, though. How could I ever “move on” from Sadie? Instead, I would be making more room in my heart for Zoe. If she wanted it, that is.

She hadn’t answered yet, and I grew jittery. The cold from the concrete soaked through my socks as I shifted back and forth on my feet. But then the corner of her lips ticked up before it turned into a full-blown smile. An endearingly shy one at that.

“Okay, yeah,” she answered, voice soft. “I’d like that.”

There was no hiding my dopey grin as my heart rate kicked into double time.

“Yeah? Okay, cool. I’ll um… I’ll figure something out and then let you know Sunday?”