Page 11 of Play For Keeps

Everly is looking at her daughter as if she hung the moon and the stars. We share a small smile before my eyes are back on Birdie. “Do you know what else they can do?”

“What?” she asks.

“They can jump up to six times their length.”

Birdie’s mouth falls open, and then she gasps. “Wow.”

Everly arches a brow at her daughter, then at me, then shakes her head with a soft smile. “Birdie, your five minutes is almost up. Time is ticking.”

My family is small and neither my sister nor me nor many of my friends are parents yet. Honestly, I’ve just never really been into kids. They always seem to be talking or crying or yelling. But Birdie? She is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen and, surprisingly, not a deal breaker for me.

Especially with a mom like Everly.

Do I really want to see where this could go?

It sure as fuck feels that way.

“Was that okay?” I ask quietly, standing as Birdie skips away.

“It’s fine. But look, being friends with my daughter isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. I already told you that she is my focus right now. I need you to know that.”

“I was just trying to be nice. I’m a nice guy, Everly. You would see that if you got to know me.”

Everly inhales and drops her gaze to the floor. “Jake,” she whispers. “I barely have time to wash my face these days. And I have a pretty good feeling you’re a lot younger than me—”

“I don’t care.”

“How old are you? Are you even 30?”

“No.”

She snorts at that. Fuck. She thinks I’m a kid. “My God, Jake. You are young. You should be out having fun, not hanging out with a girl with a child. Frankly, we just don’t make any sense.”

“I disagree.” I stare back at her, chewing the inside of my cheek, and decide that as much as I want to push her, I won’t. “Fine, then what about friends? Can we at least do that?”

She folds her arms across her chest. “So how old are you? For real, I want the truth.”

“Does it matter?”

“It does to me.”

“Fine. I’m 27.”

She shakes her head and blows out a breath. “You are too young. I’m seven years older than you, Jake. And like I said before… my life is complicated. I’m not sure how good of a friend I can be.”

I couldn’t care less about Everly’s age. Am I surprised? Fuck, yes. She looks at least eight years younger. But the fact that she’s older is nothing but hot to me. Especially since she looks like that, and my attraction to her is so strong.

“I’m busy too, Everly. I’m fine with an occasional, friendly text. Maybe a cup of coffee here and there. Yeah?”

If I don’t get her number tonight it might kill me.

She inhales a deep breath before quickly glancing at Birdie, who is back at the ice cream counter. Then her eyes are back on me. “My pace?” she clarifies in a quiet voice.

“To start.” I smile. “Hopefully I work my way up to a real date one day. But no pressure. Give me your phone.”

She chews her bottom lip as she studies my face, and it’s fucking cute. “Why do you want my phone?”

“I’m sending you a friendly text.”

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