I pull out my phone and bring up my text string with Dee, smiling as I type out a message for her and counting down the hours until I can see her again.
Rhodes: I can’t work out whether my son liked the lava cake boon or his new truck more, but I do know that his dad likes you a hell of a lot and is looking forward to crawling into my bed to find you in it in the morning. Get some sleep, sweet cheeks, because I’m in the mood to show you my appreciation.
Not even thirty seconds later, I receive her reply.
Dee: See what I mean, honey? You’re perfect.
Rhodes: If you think I’m perfect, then that must mean you’re perfect for me.
Dee: Stop being swoony when I’m not there to jump you.
That makes me smile.
“Now that’s a good look on you, son. Wanna tell me what has you smiling like a loon?” Connor asks from beside me.
I slide my phone into my back pocket and glance between my father-in-law and my dad, who’s also now watching me closely with a curious expression on his face.
“The woman who put this smile on my face is called Dee.”
Connor’s slow-growing grin hits me right in the middle of my chest. He cups my shoulder and gives me a squeeze. “Well, I hope to meet her at your birthday party in a few weeks then.” In other words, bring her along.
“What birthday party is that?” I ask, playing dumb, because I’d already overhead Jake on the phone with Dad double-checking my shift schedule.
To his credit, Connor doesn’t even try and cover his slip of the tongue. “You know your mother wasn’t going to let you turn forty without a celebration. But I’m serious, Rhodes, bring Dee. I haven’t seen you smile like that in years, which means she’s special, and if she’s special to you, we want to welcome her into the family.”
I find nothing but absolute sincerity in his gaze. Lily’s parents are the gift that keep giving, even six years later. “Okay. I’ll bring her.”
“Good. But let’s not tell the moms,” Dad adds with a wicked grin. “Maybe the surprise can be on them this year, instead. If anything, it’ll give Connor and I some entertainment besides Scotty trying to be funny.”
Laughing, we walk over to join the guys and Jake who are all still surrounding his new truck
Chapter 16
Dee
It’s been situation-normal for the last few weeks. I film, edit, and upload two videos a week. I work at the restaurant during school hours, deferring to my restaurant manager and head chef the rest of the time, and for just one night a week, I run the kitchen like I used to. I find this keeps my finger on the pulse with my staff and also helps with morale and camaraderie, as well as giving them the opportunity to show their boss—me—how good they really are.
The afternoons and nights are spent with Harvey and Flynn when he’s home. There has also been a lot of adult alone time with Rhodes, but as far as actual sleepovers go, we give ourselves one weekend night a week. Harvey knows where I am and that I’ll be back after his time with his dad. Otherwise it’s been stolen moments during the day or going over for a few hours after Harvey has gone to bed for the night. Once, Rhodes and I planned to go see a movie, but somehow got waylaid and ended up eating polish sausage sandwiches from Jim’s Original on the side of the road, then making out like teenagers in the front seat of his car.
Life is good, and the more time that passes, the deeper I fall for the guy and Jake and the promise of what a future with our combined families could look like—the more I want to dive in headfirst and get on with it already. I’ve never been surer about my feelings before, which doesn’t say a lot for my first marriage. A lot of it has to do with the stage of my life I was in when Flynn and I first met and how well I know myself and what I want now that I’m closer to forty than thirty.
There’s a lot to be said for maturity when dating after a divorce—albeit an amicable and mutual one. You know what you don’t want, and what your must haves and must not haves are. You also know that when you find a rare diamond with a heart of gold, who is thoughtful, kind, sexy, charming, a great dad, and an incredible man, lover, and friend—you hold on tight. And as a divorced thirty-seven-year-old woman, I knew I might find another partner to spend time with, I just never anticipated I’d meet a man quite like Rhodes.
Now it’s a Saturday afternoon, and I’m snuggling on the couch with Harvey as he reads me a book about ocean animals that his Aunty Faith gave him while I wait for Rhodes to pick me up.
Skye and Cohen had a beautiful baby boy a few weeks ago, and remembering what it was like to have a newborn, Rhodes and I decided we’d wait until they’d settled in at home and at least got into some sort of routine before visiting. Rhodes worked yesterday, so after sleeping this morning, we’re on our way to meet the baby.
My phone vibrates against the coffee table with a text message.
I pick it up, expecting it to be Rhodes. Instead, it’s Skye texting in our girls group chat. Recently, it’s become a bit of a parenting forum with all of us moms—except Renee, who isn’t there yet—giving Faith advice about teething babies who never sleep and Skye about everything new-mom related.
Skye: I never thought I’d ever send a text like this but, Dee, can you PLEASE bring some cabbage with you and maybe a mouth guard for my vampire
