Luke raises his eyebrows. “Because you’ve never asked me to help you go to any lengths to impress a girl.”
“I’ve only been back here for a few months, so how do you know? Maybe I was impressing the pants off tons of chicks out in Texas.”
Luke laughs. “Yeah, dude. That’s real likely.”
30
Lily
“You’re going to wear something other than that, aren’t you?” Opal stands in her doorway, her lips pursed as she surveys me from head to toe.
“Yes, Judgy McJudgerson, I’m going to change.”
Chloe looks up at Opal. “Miss Opal, mom said we could watch Cinderella if you said it was okay. Not the cartoon one, though, that’s for babies – the one with people.”
“There’s one with people?” Opal asks.
“Yeah. We brought the DVD. Do you want to watch it?”
“Of course I do. We’ll have popcorn. Will you help me make pizza first?”
“With pepperoni?”
“Are you kidding? I have all the fixings.”
I squat down to look at Chloe. “You’re going to behave for Miss Opal, right?”
“Ugh, mom, yes.”
“I’m not going to be back until a little bit later, probably after you fall asleep.”
“Miss Opal, you’re going to let me stay up late, right?”
“Of course I will. Your mom said you can stay up until ten o’clock, even.”
“Ten o’clock?” Chloe squeals, throwing her hands around my neck. “You’re the best mom ever.”
I laugh. “And all I had to do to get called the best mom ever is let you stay up until ten o’clock.”
“And have ice cream.”
“Now you’re pushing your luck. Give me a kiss. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes!” Chloe kisses me quickly on the cheek and then runs to Opal. “Let’s go make pizza! Will you let me help water the flowers on the porch with the red watering can?”
“Sure thing, kiddo. Go grab it from the mudroom.” Opal gives me a pointed look as Chloe darts inside the house. “She’ll be fine. Come get her whenever you want. Although if it’s past midnight, I’ll be asleep too, so you’ll be out of luck. It’s totally fine if she stays the night, though. The guest room is kid-proofed for when Mary and Theo come by, anyway.” Mary and Theo, Opal’s grandchildren, visit frequently. Chloe loves Mary’s half of the guestroom. It’s so posh, Chloe said after the last time she visited. There’s a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the wall.
I exhale heavily. “I don’t know. I don’t want to put you out.”
Opal rolls her eyes. “Makes no difference, picking her up at midnight or in the morning. She’ll be asleep regardless. She won’t know any differently.”
I sigh again. “I don’t know. I’d feel guilty.”
“Lord, you’ll feel guilty about anything. Go, have fun! And for goodness sake, put on some makeup.”
“Do you really think I’m going on a date looking like this?” I ask.
“What’s a date?” Chloe appears in the doorway with a watering can in hand.
“Your mom is going to dinner with a friend,” Opal explains.
“With Killian?” Chloe asks, matter-of-fact.
“What? No.” The words leave my lips automatically and I clamp my mouth shut. I can’t lie to my kid. “I mean, yes. I’m going to dinner with my friend Killian.”
Chloe shrugs. “He’s funny. Can you fill this up with water for me, Miss Opal? Do you have strawberries yet?”
“Let’s go check on the plants together and we’ll see what’s producing.” Opal looks over her shoulder at me. “Have fun. And Lily?”
“Yeah?”
“Relax a little.”
“Can I sleep in Mary’s bed?” Chloe squeals.
“I have it all made up for you,” Opal replies.
“Yay!” Chloe screams. “Mom, can I sleep here?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Please? You said I could stay the night.”
“I said I’d be back after you fell asleep.”
“I know. So I can sleep here, right?”
“You can fall asleep here,” I tell her. I’m still not certain whether I can drop her off with Opal even even if she wants to sleep over and Opal is more than happy to have her spend the night. It just seems irresponsible for me to drop her off at Opal’s house so I can spend the night with my boyfriend.
Not my boyfriend, I correct myself.
“Go, before you’re late.” Opal shoos me away.
“Bye, mom!”
“Holy…” Killian wolf-whistles under his breath. “You look hot.”
I choke back a laugh, even as heat rises to my cheeks. “Um…thanks.” Applying a little makeup and changing into a sundress and cardigan paid off, I guess.
“Or something. . .you know. . . more eloquent than hot.”