Текст книги "Running on Empty"

Автор книги: L. B. Simmons

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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

“Don’t get me started, Blake. I couldn’t help it.”

He turns back around to me and continues his mockery. “I know. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t hilarious, and kinda cute.”

Out of frustration, I put my head down in my hands and rub the heels of my hands into my eyeballs. “Blake, seriously, I’m about to not be cute at all. Trust me, I’m warning you because you are my dear friend and I care about you. Knock it off!”

Blake once again turns back to the stove and I can see his shoulders convulsing. I’m really contemplating murdering this man. But when I look at my girls as they watch our exchange, all with huge grins on their faces, all the frustration leaves my body. I roll my eyes at them and jerk my head in Blake’s direction. Once they’ve figured out Blake is in no real danger, they all happily go back to their breakfast duties.

After a few minutes, the girls put their finishing touches on the plate of warm pancakes and bacon they prepared for me and start to carry it to the table. A couple of times, in the only ten feet of distance, they almost drop it since they all had to be touching the plate.

Rylie would get mad if they held it too high and she couldn’t reach it, which would lead to her bouncing up and down in a mini-tantrum and hitting her head on the plate. Nycole would then have to bend over so Rylie could reach it which would lead to her complaining that her back was hurting. Yes, just ten feet. Eventually Blake steps in and holds the plate to ensure everyone can touch it and to make sure it successfully crosses the kitchen without being splattered all over the floor.

I watch Blake, his tall body hunched over gently carrying the plate. I can’t help but smile at him – while he isn’t looking of course – because he really is sweet with the girls.

Obviously I’m going to have an in-depth discussion with them about my relationship with Blake. He’s the first man in this house, literally, since Derek. I don’t want the girls to jump to conclusions. The situation is a delicate one, but one that I definitely need to get a hold of before any misconceptions occur.

Blake looks up from the plate to meet my eyes and I immediately remove any evidence of smiling and replace it with an annoyed glare. I watch as corners of his mouth just barely tip up and he clears his throat in an effort not to laugh. Honestly, I can’t even remember why I’m mad at him. But I’m sure whatever it is, it’s a good reason. I think I’m too distracted by the food to remember, or care.

I turn my attention to the yumminess in front of me and struggle to not immediately start shoveling the food in my mouth. I wait patiently while Blake helps Kyndall and Rylie get their plates ready, which goes surprisingly well, brings them to the table and goes back to get his own plate with Nycole. While they head to the table, I look down at the pancakes.

“Um, guys. Why are these pancakes brown? Are they burnt?” I say picking up the top one and turning it over for examination. I lift it to my nose and sniff. Chocolate.

I look up at Nycole and Kyndall as they attempt to use the “bat the eyelashes and smile” technique to proclaim their innocence.

Raising my eyebrows at them (they so don’t have me fooled) I ask, “How many chocolate chips are left in the bag?” They look at each other, obviously deciding who’s actually going to be representing the guilty parties. It’s Kyndall that steps up to the plate – I mentally applaud their effort. It’s nice to see them working together actually.

“None, Mama. But we had to use them all. We wanted to make them really chocolaty for you. We wanted you to have the best breakfast ever, since you hurt your hand yesterday. We did it for you,” she says, her eyes as wide as saucers.

Well played, child of mine. Well, played.

I narrow my eyes at her and look over at Nycole who’s nodding her head in support of her little sister. I then glance over at Blake who’s obviously having shoulder problems this morning because they’re shaking again. Then I look at Rylie who couldn’t care less about this conversation and has already started eating her “chocolate extreme” pancakes. She looks up and flashes her dimples at me.

“Okay,” I say, looking back at Kyndall. “Just next time, ease up a bit on the chocolate. I don’t buy a whole bag of chocolate chip for a single use. Got it?”

“Got it Mama. Love you!”

“Love you too, sweetie. Now let’s eat! I’m starving!” I say picking up my fork.

I take a bite of the pancake and actually, it’s pretty good. I smile at the girls. “Delicious! You guys did a great job. So are you guys gonna start cooking every morning or is this just a weekend thing?”

“Well…Blake helped,” Nycole says a little too sweetly. “It depends how much he’s here.”

I laugh. “Well, Blake isn’t going to be spending the night with us again. Sorry guys. That was just a onetime thing since Harlow and Nancy were both out of town and I needed someone to help me.”

I notice Blake spit some of his coffee back into his cup and start to choke when the word “help” is used. I ignore him and keep speaking.

“There won’t be any reason for him to spend the night again.” I watch all of their faces fall. Yeah, we’re going to need to have this conversation ASAP.

With their poor grief-stricken faces looking back at me, I add quickly, “But that doesn’t mean he can’t come over for breakfast some mornings. But that’s up to Blake. And,” I say with emphasis, “it’s not going to be every weekend. I know how you guys work. Blake has his own life and won’t be able to come over every time you guys ask, okay?” I say, shooting a quick glance at Blake to make sure he isn’t hyperventilating from a panic attack in the corner of the kitchen. Although the spitting of the coffee was completely unnecessary, so I doubt I would help him if he was.

“Girls,” he says, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “How about we start at breakfast two times a month? Two Sundays every month, we’ll have breakfast that we’ll cook together, to remember the weekend that your mom and I became best friends again? How do you guys feel about that?”

“Whooo-hoooo!”

“Yay!”

“So cool!”

I can do nothing but mouth a silent thank you to him from across the table. He nods in acceptance and takes another sip of his coffee while striking up a random conversation with the girls.

It seems that Blake Morgan has an uncanny ability to take my breath away constantly. Wow. I’m honestly in awe at how giving this man is. I’m so lucky to have him back in my life. As my best friend. And hopefully for a very long time.

After taking a sip of my own coffee, I smile at him once again and then at each of my girls.

Yes, this is definitely the beginning of a beautiful friendship…again.

After breakfast the rest of the day went pretty quickly. Nycole got her ‘Nycole time’ as promised, in which she locked herself in the office and watched her own movie. Blake, Kyndall, and I played the only thing I could play one handed on the Wii. Wii Tennis. However, I was evidently becoming, as Blake put it, a little too competitive since I threw the remote across the room after he landed an ace on me.

So now, while Blake and Kyndall battle it out, I’m curled up with Rylie on the couch reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar – slightly aggravated at Blake’s version of ‘time-out for Alex’. But regardless of what mood I’m in, reading this book with her always makes me laugh. It never fails that she calls the plums – blueberries, the Swiss cheese – pineapple, the salami – pa-slami, and the pie – pizza.

Wrapping up reading time, I almost feel better about being kicked out of the tennis game…almost. I’m still a little peeved actually, but listening to Kyndall’s infectious laugh as she gets a point in against Blake, I can’t help but giggle myself.

“You know, Blake, I can beat her. Just let me know if you need my help,” I say, watching them from time out.

“No thanks, Alex,” Blake says through his teeth, jumping up and down as he hits the ball. Wow, he’s really into this game. And now I’m really into the game because he just got beat by my seven year old. Ha-ha-ha!

I hear Nycole finally exiting from the office, probably because Kyndall‘s laughing incredibly hard at Blake throwing an oversized fit in the middle of the living room.

“Come on, Nycole,” Blake finally says. “I need rest. Your sister’s killin’ me over here. Come beat her so her head doesn’t get too big.” He walks by Kyndall, palming her head and ruffing her hair.

“She can’t beat me either, Blake. I. Am. The. Champion!” Kyndall shouts in a booming voice. “But she can try I guess.” She walks over to the “Wii” drawer to get Nycole her own controller.

My mouth drops open as I stare down at the two biggest traitors in the world. “What?” I exclaim. “I said I wanted to – oh, forget it! You guys are no longer my friends.” I say with my best pouty face.

Laughing at me, Kyndall says, “I’m not your friend, I’m your daughter, silly Mama.”

“Yeah, well, you know what I mean,” I say, still pouting.

Blake looks over and I roll my eyes at him. You suck, I mouth to him so none of my children can hear me. He gives me a grin and turns back around to watch Kyndall and Nycole play. I sit there for a few seconds, secretly envious that I can’t show these people how to really play Wii Tennis. Oh well, their loss…

I hear my phone vibrating on the table. Harlow’s name appears on the screen and I smile. I miss my best friend but, oddly enough, not as much as I usually would. Probably because Blake was here to watch The Breakfast Club with me and regularly make fun of the girls…Harlow’s two favorite past times. I reflect on how much I’ve actually enjoyed spending the last day with Blake. I guess when I decided to open the floodgates of my past with him, I connected with him in a way that I didn’t think I would be able to do with anyone besides Harlow. I know that we still have a lot of our friendship to rebuild, there has been some damage done there, but I think we’re off to a pretty solid start. I feel really good about it.

It would be really nice to have someone to lean on besides Harlow. She has spent the last three years, three of her prime years, taking care of me and my children. I honestly hope and pray that she’ll be able to move on with her own life without feeling guilty now. Hopefully this moving on includes Trace, because I see the way he looks at her, and I know deep down in my soul he is what she needs and deserves.

So as I let go of Rylie and lean over to grab my phone, I find myself making a mental note to find out all I can about Harlow’s feelings for him. It will be nice focusing on her for a change. Smiling, I hit the answer button on my phone.

“What’s up love? How are you? Where are you?” I shoot the questions out before she even has a chance to say hello. Wow, I guess I miss her a little more than I thought.

I watch Rylie pick a plastic grape off of the centerpiece on my table and pop it in her mouth. “Hold on, Harlow.” I put my hand over the receiver so I don’t deafen my best friend.

“Rylie Meyer! Get that grape out of your mouth before you choke on it.” She spits the grape into her hand. She then turns, looks straight at me, puts her hand on her hip, and says, “Well…I didn’t die last time I did it, did I?” Blake immediately starts cracking up. She pops the grape back in her mouth.

“Stop laughing, Blake. It’s not funny. Please get that grape from her.” I watch nervously as he chases her around the living room, grape still in her mouth, which isn’t as easy as it may seem, because my baby girl is fast! But finally he catches her and she spits the grape into his hand. I’m shocked that he isn’t completely grossed out. I would be, and she’s my child. But once he has it, he does a quick celebration dance, making the girls giggle, and then throws the spit covered grape in the trashcan.

I breathe a quick sigh of relief and turn my attention back to my conversation with Harlow. “Go ahead, sorry. Rylie’s just trying to kill herself again. You know…the usual.” Harlow laughs out loud, almost deafening me.

“Well, we’re on our way back now. We should be there in a couple of hours. We’re gonna stop to grab a bite to eat first. How are you feeling? Is Blake still there? How did it go with him there? Did he stay the night? Have the girls forgiven him yet? So sorry about that by the way. You know I generally speak before I think. I apparently lack whatever mental filter God gave everyone else in the world,” she says with a bit of laughter in her voice.

I smile at her thousand questions. I guess she must have missed me a little too.

“Yeah, he definitely has worked some Blake Morgan charm on them. I’ve been completely forgotten in this house.” Unfortunately, Blake chooses that time to re-enter the room and catches my pseudo-compliment. He smiles widely knowing that he just heard something that he wasn’t supposed to. I roll my eyes and turn my body away from him.

“Harlow – they won’t even let me play tennis with them. There has been a coup d’état in this house, I tell ya. I’m no longer the queen of my own castle. My reign is no longer.”

She giggles into the phone. “Excellent, that’s what I want to hear. Listen, I have to go. I just wanted to check on you before we stop for lunch. Like I said, we’ll be there soon. Do you need us to pick up anything for you on our way?”

“Wait, I have questions for you about this little excursion you decided to take without even asking me for my permission. What’s going on with you and Trace? Are you guys dating? Because I’m pretty sure you don’t date at all! ” I ask her with obvious amusement in my voice.

“Alex, we will discuss this in depth at a later time. Like, as soon as I get to your house. So be patient, because I’m sure you want every single detail, which I am not at liberty to discuss fully at this time. Get me?” she says while giggling into the phone. Obviously Trace has caught on to the topic of our conversation.

I find myself unable to control my grin. “Sure, but you better lawyer up because you are getting the fifth degree when you get here. Get me?”

“Yeah, I got ya. Love you sweetie. See you very soon. And don’t worry, you’ll also be getting your own line of questioning, so be prepared to spill. Bye, Alex.”

“Bye hon, be safe and see ya soon. Love you,” I say, hanging up my phone. Blake crashes down on the couch beside me leaving Kyndall and Nycole to their game. Rylie immediately crawls into his lap and continues to watch her sisters.

“Harlow?” he asks, still grinning.

“Yeah, they’re on their way back. You’ll be relieved of your duties in a couple of hours.”

“Well, thank God for that. I mean, hanging out with kids and playing video games all day…it’s been really awful. I’ll be glad to finally be done with all of this hard work,” he says elbowing me in the side.

“You know what I mean, Blake. I’m sure there’s stuff you need to do. You can’t take care of me forever. You have your own life.” I elbow him right back.

“Ouch!” he cries out as he grabs his side. “You have some sharp elbows, Alex.” Rylie looks as him with concern, but Blake winks at her. She smiles back at him and crawls off of his lap to sit closer to Nycole and Kyndall.

“I know. They’re lethal weapons so watch out. I plan on using them next time you guys decide I can’t play. Jerks,” I add with a roll of my eyes.

Blake laughs and looks forward, focusing on the game.

“It doesn’t make you a weak person if you let people help you every once in a while,” he says quietly.

I look over at him but he continues facing the TV.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re so stubborn, Alex.” He finally turns and faces me. He looks me directly in the eyes and doesn’t hesitate. “It doesn’t bother me to be here no matter what you think. I enjoyed the time I’ve spent with you and your girls this weekend. This is the most fun I’ve had in a really long time, longer than what you probably realize. So stop trying to push me away, Alex. I know what you’re doing.”

I break his gaze as I look down to the floor. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Blake.”

He doesn’t force me to look back at him as he continues. “Yes, you do, Alex. You know exactly what you’re doing. You’re trying to push me away. You’re trying to make yourself believe that I don’t want to be here. Trying to convince yourself that my life can’t include you. This is the second time you’ve attempted to make a point regarding me having my own life. I do have a life, Alex, but that doesn’t mean it can’t include you. I’m not going to let you push away this friendship because you feel scared, or guilty, or whatever is bringing this on. I’m not going anywhere. So stop pushing.”

I look up from the floor to once again meet his eyes. They’re full of determination. And a little anger. I immediately reach over and give his hand a gentle squeeze.

“I’m sorry, Blake. I can’t explain why I do it. I guess part of me feels like I’ve already taken advantage of Harlow’s kindness and I don’t want to do the same to you. I don’t want you to miss out on your life because of me. You have so much of it left to live. I don’t want you to get sucked into my life, only to look back one day and realize you missed out on yours. That’s all,” I say, letting out a deep breath.

“Well, why don’t you let me make that decision, Alex? That’s all I ask.” He offers me a soft smile and squeezes my hand in return.

“Alright, Blake.” I take my hand back and use it to push myself off the couch. “But don’t blame me when we’re eighty years old and you have to stop by my house every day to help me clean litter boxes. I plan on being one of those old ladies with like a hundred cats. Just remember this moment when that becomes your inevitable future.” I give him a huge smile and walk to where Blake left his Wii remote and push the “A” button to turn it on.

“But for now, all I ask, is for you to work your magic and get me into this game. We’ll play doubles,” I say giving him a wink of my own.

Evidently there’s a John Hughes marathon on VH1 which is freakin’ awesome…for me anyway. Blake and I have now taken over the TV and are watching one of my favorite movies of all time. Some Kind of Wonderful. Sigh.

I love Watts. There’s something about her that I really identify with for some reason, I always have. I don’t know if it is her tomboy persona, her tough exterior, her mad drumming skills, or the fact that she told the evil Amanda Jones… “You break his heart, I’ll break your face.” Probably all of the above.

My favorite scene in the movie is the end…of course. When Keith gives Watts the diamond earrings. Walking down the street she asks him how they look and he says, “You look good wearing my future.” I used to live for that line, yet every time I see that movie randomly on TV, I never get to hear it. It never fails that my children somehow manage to distract me.

Well not today! I have Blake here to distract them.

So as the movie starts to come to the end and I see Watts walking down the street crying with Keith running up behind her, I scoot to the edge of my seat in anticipation. When he kisses her, I smack Blake on the shoulder repeatedly out of pure excitement. He looks back at me like I’m crazy.

“I can’t help it Blake! I never, ever, ever, get to see this part. You know I love it!” He rolls his eyes and sighs. “Yes, Alex, I know you love it. I know the scene by heart thanks to you. It’s stuck, right here,” he points to his head, “in my brain, taking up very important space that could have actually stored something useful.”

I roll my eyes. “It is useful, Blake. You never know when you need a good line to use on the woman of your dreams.” I wink at him. “Now you have one ready for use. Now shush! He’s gonna say it!”

I eagerly turn back to the TV, writhing with excitement, when right on cue, the girls run into the room screaming something about the computer and sharing.

“No! No! No!” I jump up to look for the remote…thinking maybe I can pause it. “Blake, do you know where the remote is?” I literally grab Blake with one hand and pull him up off the couch. I start pulling up the couch cushions…nothing.

Blake’s laughing hysterically.

“Mommy! Kyndall and Nycole won’t let me play my games. They aren’t shaaaaaring!”

“Mom, she’s been playing on it since we got in there! She is lying!” Nycole’s voice gets a whole octave higher at the end.

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

I tune them out, dropping to my knees to scan for the remote under the couch. I see a few candy wrappers and a couple of eating utensils. Where in the world –

I look up at the TV and see the credits beginning to roll. I sprawl out face down on the floor, fighting the overwhelming urge to kick and scream and wail and roll around …Kinda like Rylie when she doesn’t get her way. Just as I feel like giving in to the tantrum temptation, I hear Blake addressing the girls.

“Hey! Let’s play hide and seek! I think that would be safer than sticking around here right now.” I continue laying on the floor in defeat. “One…two…three…” The girls squeal and run out of the room. Blake sits down next to me. I can feel him staring at the back of my head.

“Don’t even start with me, Blake. You know that’s my favorite part. I never get to hear my favorite line. Ever. Is it really asking too much? It’s like they have radar or something.” I lie there for a couple more seconds. “I’m selling them Blake. So don’t get too attached.”

He chuckles. I push myself into a seated position right next to him. “I’m serious, Blake.” I stare forward at the wall…specifically the crayon drawn hand holding stick figures that have been there for a couple of months now.

“So this isn’t the time to go into the fact that those people are called actors? And how that is what you call a movie? And that it’s not real?” He puts his arm around me. We sit in silence a couple of seconds before Blake yells, “…ninety-nine…one hundred! Ready or not, here I come!”

What? I totally knew he never really counted to one hundred when we were kids!

Cheater.

He jumps up and rustles the hair on the top of my head. “Don’t worry Alex. Since it’s a movie, you can buy it at this thing called a store –” Lucky for him, the doorbell rings, cutting him off.

“Harlow! Yay!” the girls scream as they run, all tripping over each other trying to be the first to reach the door. Shortest game of hide and seek ever. How come I never get that lucky?

“Girls! Be careful!” I shout at them getting up off the floor. I roll my eyes and let out a sigh while looking back at Blake. He just grins while following the girls to the door.

“Who’s there?” all three girls shout.

“The big bad wolf to bloooow your house down!” Harlow shouts back through the other side of the door.

“Not by the hair of our chinny chin-chins!”

The girls giggle as they open the door and throw themselves at Harlow so hard she almost loses balance. She wraps her arms around all three of them affectionately, giving them all kisses on the tops of their heads before letting them go.

I glance back at Blake, standing behind me. “Now you know how it feels to be yesterday’s news,” I say with a teasing grin on my face.

“They’ll be back. They ALL come back,” he jokes while reaching down to grab Rylie who’s already made her way back to him in the two nanoseconds since I took my eyes off of her.

He flashes her a huge smile before meeting my eyes again. “See?”

I give him a smirk and turn back to the door. I greet Harlow with a big hug of my own. “I missed you. Thank God you’re back. These children have completely abandoned me while you were gone. At least I know you still love me.”

“That I do, sweetie. Now let me see that hand,” she firmly states while releasing me from our embrace. I hold it up to show her and watch as the corners of her mouth turn down in obvious disapproval. She immediately looks over my shoulder at Blake.

“You and I are gonna have a chat. Seriously.” She shoots him a dirty glare.

“Yikes,” I say with a giggle, “I’m outta here. I’ve already been injured once this weekend. No way am I getting caught in the middle of this.”

Blake sets Rylie down, obviously noting the seriousness of her tone. I watch Harlow grab his arm and lead him away from the door. She then pulls him down the hallway into my bedroom and closes the door. Jeez, overdramatic much?

“Um! Blake’s in trouble, Blake’s in trouble,” the girls sing in the doorway. I hear them all “shh” each other as they tiptoe after them. Shaking my head, I turn to close the door.

When the door is almost shut I hear, “Hey, Alex.” I look up just in time to see Trace approaching the door with Harlow’s overnight bags draped over his shoulder. Oops…

Opening the door, I let a little giggle escape. “You still out there? I thought you snuck in behind Harlow,” I say in an effort to cover up the fact that I had completely forgotten about the man standing outside my house.

“Nope.” He chuckles. I’m pretty sure my cover up didn’t work as planned.

I attempt to give him the same “innocent/apologetic” eyes my girls use on me. Either it works or it’s just really that bad because his chuckle turns into a laugh. I plaster a huge smile on my face and I let him in the door. I lead him into the living room, passing the hallway that leads to my bedroom. I make eye contact with the girls, who each have their ears up to the door, and hold my finger up to my lips reminding them to be quiet so they can hear. If I can’t do it myself, might as well send in my troops to get the job done.

“Where’s Harlow?” he asks setting the bags down on the floor by my couch.

“I think she’s chastising Blake right now. Don’t worry, if she’s not out in a minute, I’ll go check for collateral damage,” I say to him, heading to the kitchen. “Want something to drink? Eat?”

“Nope, I’m good. We ate on the way here.”

I slow down a bit in an attempt to have him follow me. I don’t know him that well, but I would prefer to keep him out of earshot. I have no idea what’s going on, but the look on Harlow’s face told me she meant business.

He eventually catches up and falls into step with me. We enter the kitchen and I grab my glass from off of the sink. Filling it with water, I grab some ibuprofen and swallow them down with a big gulp.

I take the glass with me and motion for him to have a seat at the table. “How was the trip?” I ask full of curiosity.

“It was good. I took Harlow dove hunting with me this morning before we left. My cousin has a place right outside of Dallas. So I took her over there to show it to her. We got up pretty early. Around five o’clock this morning. She was wonderful about the whole thing though. It’s hard to find a real morning person.”

“Ha!” I immediately cover my mouth as I let out a giggle. I have spent a lot of mornings with that woman and one thing I know without a doubt is Harlow is not a morning person. Like, not ever.

Eyebrows raised in surprise, I look at Trace. “Sorry. I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Harlow ‘the morning person’. Are you sure we’re talking about the same Harlow?” I bring my knees up to my chin and place my feet on the chair.

He laughs a deep laugh and nods his head. “Yeah, I’m sure. Unless you know some other curly headed, hot tempered woman, who has no mental filter named Harlow?”

I let another giggle. “Nope, that’s definitely her.”

I hear the girls shriek loudly. I just barely catch sight of all three of them running through the living room screaming and laughing loudly. A second later I hear the slam of one of their bedroom doors.

I smile at Trace who looks back at me, face full of surprise. “Those are my wonderful children who you’ve not had the luxury of meeting just yet. Once I make sure that Harlow isn’t going to kill them, I’ll bring them out for a meet and greet if you’d like.”

Trace shakes his head. “Actually Alex, I’ve got to get going. I need to get some of this stuff in my new apartment. It’s looking kind of bare in there. I was going to take Blake off of your hands for a while and give Harlow a break, seeing as though loading my furniture is pretty much all we’ve been doing this weekend. I’m sure he’ll need a ride home anyway; I don’t see his bike out there anywhere. He drove you in your truck right?”

I suddenly find myself both shocked and saddened that Blake is leaving. I guess I didn’t realize he would be going so soon. I was hoping he would be here for dinner. I was going to have the girls make him a cake, as a thank you for helping me these last two days. I take a deep breath to force down the soccer ball in my throat. Seriously, I must be hormonal right now. There’s nothing to be this upset about.

“Yeah, he did. I can’t drive right now so he’ll definitely need a ride. Thank you for offering,” I say politely.

I look up from Trace to see Harlow and Blake walking into the kitchen arm in arm. When did they get so chummy? He must have used his charms on her too, just like he did with the girls. I guess no one is immune to them, not even Harlow.

Very interesting.

Still completely confused, I give them both my best fake smile as they walk up to the table. “Trace is going to take Blake home, I think, right Trace?”

“Yeah, I think so. If that’s okay with him,” he says looking at me. He then turns toward Blake and adds, “Sorry buddy, I need your help moving some of my heavier furniture. My cousin and Harlow helped me load it, but I’m gonna need help unloading it. That okay with you? Then I’ll drop you at your place.”

I watch as Blake looks at Harlow and as Harlow looks from Blake to Trace. Then Harlow gives Trace a look I know well, the ‘we are so gonna have a talk later’ look. What the hell is going on? I feel like I’ve landed in some weird episode of The Twilight Zone. Trace looks at Harlow with his eyes wide. “What?”

“Nothing, honey,” she says a little too sweetly. “Alright, well, you boys get out of here then. I need my girl-time with Alex.”

Trace and I both get up from the table and all four of us walk into the living room.

Blake stops by the couch and turns to me. “I need to change and then we’ll be off. I’m pretty sure most people are out of their pajamas by this time.”

I look down and laugh to myself because it didn’t even dawn on my until this very moment that we are both still in our pajamas.