Page 66 of Play For Keeps

She drops the gaming console on the floor and scrambles over to me, hopping up into my lap. She throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Jake. I love it. And I love being at your house. This is the best day ever.”

“You’re welcome, and of course Birdie-girl, we can play Mario Kart,” I say, adjusting her cat ear headband on her head. This kid doesn’t go a day without that thing. “Let me finish my lemonade first.”

She kisses my cheek before slipping off my lap and skipping back to her sticker book. I watch her turn the pages, thinking to myself what a great kid she is and what a great job Everly is doing raising her. Suddenly Everly nudges my side with her elbow. “Ouch.”

“Jake, you didn’t have to do all this. You need to stop spoiling us.”

“What? It’s not a big deal. I wanted the Nintendo Switch too, so it’s not just a gift for her.”

“Still… you bought out the entire store,” Everly says, sitting up on the couch beside me. She tilts her head, her eyes narrowing as she looks at me. “What’s that look for?”

“What look?” I shrug, trying to hide my smile.

“That look. What are you hiding?”

“I didn’t buy the entire store. I guess I’m lucky I didn’t buy her what I really wanted to buy her.”

She sighs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Do I even want to know?”

“Probably not.”

“Well, you have to tell me now. I’m curious,” she presses me, her soft hand squeezing my thigh. Birdie seems to be too focused on the sticker book to notice what we’re talking about, but I answer Everly in a hushed tone to be safe.

“I saw a really nice swing set, and since I have a yard, I thought it would be perfect.”

Everly’s eyes go wide.

“Do you think I’m crazy?”

“My God, Jake, no,” she says, her eyes misting over as she looks up at me. “Birdie would love that. It is so sweet of you to think about her. You have no idea what that means to me, but you have to stop spoiling us.”

I can afford to buy her a swing set, so why wouldn’t I? Now, I’m annoyed with myself that I didn’t. I have a sudden vision of the three of us in my backyard, Birdie on the swing set. It’s cheesy as fuck, and I love it. I am way more gone for these two than I thought. I need to slow the fuck down.

“It’s nothing. And I like doing nice things for the two of you so don’t expect it to stop.”

Her shoulders drop and she shakes her head. “Something tells me I’m not going to win with you. Thank you for being the best boyfriend.” She leans into me for a kiss, and I’m a little shocked that she’s going to kiss me in front of Birdie. We haven’t done that before, but I’m not complaining. I’m happy we’re at the place in our relationship where we can be ourselves around her. My lips melt into hers. The kiss is still very PG, but it sends a shiver up my spine nonetheless.

“We’re good?”

“We are… but I’m nervous to meet your family.”

“You need to relax. My family is going to love you,” I tell her squeezing her thigh. I can tell that she’s anxious about this evening.

She looks gorgeous as always, her hair in long waves down her back, and her pale-pink dress showing off her lean, tone legs. But she’s been a little antsy since she got here, which isn’t like her.

“What are you worried about?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She shrugs. “I’m a single mom who waits tables who is also seven years older than you.”

“Baby,” I say, cupping her jaw in my hand. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re the best mom I know, and you work your ass off to give your daughter everything you can. And even if they did have a problem with our age difference, it wouldn’t change the way I feel about you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good. I promise you, they’re going to love you and Birdie.”

I lean in and kiss her.

“Now, as much as I hate to leave you, I have a date to play Mario Kart.”

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