A small smile crosses my face before I answer, “You’re right. I’m terrified of Tyler running for the hills again, but not for the reason you think.” I pause as I continue to stare out of the window, “Colt already seems to be forming an attachment to Tyler. It would break his little heart if I started something with Tyler and then he disappeared from both our lives.”
I feel a warm hand envelope mine and give it a squeeze. “Don’t worry so much, Lucy. I have a good feeling about this,” Rylee whispers in my direction as I squeeze her hand in return.
“Enough with the heavy! We haven’t had any real girl time in forever, time to get our shopping on.” Haddie chimes in from behind us causing us both to laugh.
Haddie is right. I’ve left Colt before and nothing happened. What’s the worst that could go wrong.
“I spent entirely too much money today,” I say as I swing the trunk open and deposit my bags. Haddie and Rylee follow behind me, shoving their armfuls of bags into the trunk before I slam it shut. “Time to head home to my little man.” I reach for the door before Rylee wraps her arm through mine and pulls me toward the nearby shopping center.
“Oh no you don’t. We will have some drinks and lunch at a restaurant that doesn’t have a kid’s menu before we head home.” Haddie threads her arm through my opposite arm as we head inside the restaurant.
“There is nothing wrong with eating at a place with a kid’s menu,” I grumble before pulling my arms loose from both of their grasps. “Can I at least text Tyler to make sure everything is alright?”
Haddie motions for me to continue before Rylee reminds me unless Colt is bleeding and near death, she isn’t taking me home before we eat something. I quickly step back outside and pull out my phone, shooting off a text to Tyler.
Me: How are things going? Is my house still in one piece?
It takes a few moments before he answers
Tyler: You didn’t tell me he had this much energy. I figured he would take a nap or something, but he just wants to keep going nonstop.
I smile as I type out my response.
Me: Yeah, we could power an entire city on his energy. He isn’t being too much trouble, is he? Is he behaving himself?
Tyler: He is a perfect angel. We played outside for a little while before he wanted to show me his car collection. Now I’m trying to explain the inner workings of an Indy race car to him. I think we have a future race car driver in our midst.
I shake my head before shooting off another text to him saying thank you and reminding him to let me know if anything happens.
Tyler: We are fine, Lu. Colt and I are best buds now. Just be aware I may not give him back when you come home. This is probably the most fun I’ve had in years.
I read his text and shove my phone back into my bag before heading into the restaurant. As I step into the restaurant, I notice Rylee and Haddie tucked into a corner looking over the menus. I head in their direction and take a seat between the two of them.
As soon as I sit down the waitress appears out of thin air and asks for our orders. Before I can open my mouth to let her know I will need a minute, Haddie orders. “We need the largest pitcher of margaritas you have. Two glasses, one rimmed with salt and one without. All three of us will have the daily special, no onions.” The waitress nods her head before heading toward the bar at the front of the restaurant.
“I didn’t even look at the menu,” I grumble before closing my menu and placing it on the table beside me.
“Don’t even bother complaining, you know Haddie doesn’t care. Besides, this is her favorite restaurant. Whatever she ordered for us will be amazing.” Rylee rubs her hands together before taking a sip from her water. “Now we have more time to discuss your date with Tyler tonight.”
“Date? What date and why am I just hearing about it now?” Haddie squints her eyes at me in an attempt to intimidate me. It isn’t working.
I roll my eyes. “Thank Ry. Besides, it’s not a date. We will have dinner, that’s it. Apparently, he plans on telling me why he disappeared and where he has been for the last four years.”
Haddie squeals in glee beside me as the waitress returns with our pitcher of margaritas and fills each glass before placing the pitcher down on the table. I raise an eyebrow in Rylee’s direction. “You aren’t drinking?”
“Oh, this is for you two. I have to work tonight so I told Rylee I would drive us back to your place.” Haddie hands the saltless glass to Rylee before sliding mine in my direction. I grip the glass and bring it to my lips, the tang of the margarita mixed with the salt hitting my tongue and I hum in pleasure.
“Now that hits the spot,” I say as both ladies’ eyes turn toward my direction. “What? I know a good margarita when I have one.”
They both laugh before diving into the questioning for my non-date tonight. Finally, the food arrives and the conversation ends as we fill our bellies with the most delicious chicken fajita salad and avocado lime dressing I have ever tasted.
Once lunch is finished along with half a pitcher of margaritas, my lips loosen. “I hope he tells me he has a wife and kid hidden somewhere, then I may get over him.”
I’m not drunk, but a fuzzy feeling has settled over my body helping me relax
