Page 53 of Crossed Up

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, yeah? She hasn’t even agreed to be my girlfriend yet. She could still turn tail and run the other direction. After all, what fresh out of college twenty-three-year-old wants to hitch her wagon to a guy with a kid and a demanding career?”

Mama smirks and uses her pointer finger to turn my head towards the swings, where I see Lyla staring at me with a soft smile on her pretty pink lips as she pushes my son. “One that looks at you like that."

23

LYLA

“Crew-bug, we need to go!”

“I’m ready, Lyly!”

Wren decided to work from home today rather than attend the Raptor’s last practice before the season opener this Thursday against New York, so Crew and I are heading over to play in their newly installed pool.

It’s been a few days since I met Aidan’s mom, and she’s been texting me every day about all kinds of things. She also officially invited me to join the monthly book club she’s in with Wren and Rhodes’s mom, Kaci.

Crew comes bounding down the stairs in his neon pink swim trunks and white rash guard, making me smile. I told Aidan he needed to buy Crew a neon swimsuit if we were going to be in water at all, just in case, and it looks like he took my words to heart.

“You look so handsome, Crew-bug! I love the new swimsuit.”

He giggles and does a little spin, showing off his trunks and the matching Crocs I didn’t notice earlier. “You said you like pink, so I got the pink ones!”

My mouth opens in surprise, and my hand automatically comes up to hover over my chest. I made an offhand comment a few weeks ago that pink is one of my favorite colors, but I didn’t really think he was listening since we were also watching Tinker Bell at the time.

“Crew…” I can’t help the way my voice comes out all choked, and just like his father, Crew’s eyes widen in a panic.

“Lyly! Why are you sad? Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry!” His eyes start getting watery, and he barrels into my legs, holding on so tight I belatedly wonder if he’ll leave bruises.

I manage to dislodge him so I can drop to my knees and pull him into my arms. “I’m not sad, sweetie. I’m so happy that you picked my favorite color. You’re the sweetest kid I’ve ever met.”

When I pull back, he’s back to smiling. “Love you, Lyly!” he chirps happily.

My heart threatens to explode inside my chest, but I quickly respond. “I love you too, Crew!” Clearing my throat, I grab my large beach bag off the counter and guide him toward the door. “Alright, little raptor. Let’s go see Auntie Wren!”

His cheers are our soundtrack the whole way to their house, and Wren meets us at the car with their grey Newfoundland, Finnegan, trailing close behind. The dog is a massive sweetheart and never more than a few feet away from Wren whenever they’re at home.

“There’s my pumpkin butter! Gah, look at you! I think you’ve grown an entire foot since I last saw you,” Wren exclaims dramatically.

Crew screeches with laughter as she tickles him, and he manages to answer her between breaths. “That’s because I’m growing up! Lyly said I had a…” He looks to me for confirmation, and I mouth the words so he can say them. “Grow spit!”

I snicker. “Growth spurt, Crew-bug. But you were close!”

Making my way over to Wren, I pull her in for a tight hug. She stiffens slightly in surprise, but her smile is miles wide when she pulls back.

I think this might be the first time I’ve willingly initiated close contact like that with her, and I’m surprised at how much I liked it. I didn’t come from an affectionate upbringing, and though there have been casual touches with both Aidan and Crew, they’re really the only ones.

I’ve been friends with Wren for over a year now, but because I was still healing physically and emotionally from everything Sebastian put me through, I’ve always kept an intentional physical distance from Wren and Rhodes, especially Rhodes. He’s a big guy and made me incredibly nervous despite his obvious kindness.

Wren must see the change come over my face because her expression softens, and she’s quick to turn Crew towards the house. “Kaci is here, too, so we’ll get him a snack if you need a second."

Gratefulness washes over me at her kindness, so I nod and do what she said, taking a second to sit on the front porch swing and pet Finn when he plops his head in my lap.

“I really do love Crew, Finny. But if I’m honest… I think I might love his Dad, too.”

I know Aidan’s at practice, but I send him a text anyway just so he knows I’m thinking about him. A snort escapes me when I notice his contact name. He must have gotten my phone and changed it at some point.

Me:

Love Crew’s new swim trunks! :)

---