Page 15 of Make You Stay

“He likes you.” Enid plops down next to me, a smile coloring her face.

“It’s a step up from loathing me.”

“He’s a good man. An amazing father. Really kind heart, and he’s damn good-looking if you like that type.”

“Are you playing matchmaker?”

“Maybe. I think you two would be good together, despite his rule.” Enid makes air quotes, rolling her eyes.

“Rule?”

“He only dates women with children.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But his rule is bullshit, and I’m pretty sure he’ll figure it out. Especially now since you’re here.”

The chat is destined to go no further, as Aidan, Jeff, and the girls barge into our moment, their noses red and breaths frosting in the air.

Enid grabs Jeff’s scarf, pulling him in for a kiss. Talk about love. Those two look like a couple of high school kids. “Come on, girls, Jeff and I will take you for hot cocoa. Aidan, you’ll get Chloe home?”

“I got her here, didn’t I? Didn’t plan to make her walk back.”

“What a gentleman,” Enid jokes, pinching Aidan’s cheek. “See you soon, Chloe. Call me if you need anything or if you want to chat.”

Just like that, I’m alone again with Aidan.

A man who willnotdate me because I don’t have children.

I’m going to ignore how that fact is bothering the hell out of me.

Whywouldn’the want to date me? I’m pretty, successful, disease-free, and reasonably sane, as sanity goes. But I’m a pariah, simply because I don’t have kids?

I scoff under my breath. His loss.

He’s not my type, anyway.

When we pull into Aidan’s driveway, a few flakes are drifting to the ground. Have to hand it to Asheville; they love snow. “Thanks for today.”

“Did you have fun?”

“I did. Thanks for keeping me upright.” I hesitate, my hand on the door handle. “I bought this great bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers the other night. Would you like to join me for a drink?”

Aidan taps the steering wheel, considering my request. “Umm…”

“Please don’t feel obligated. You don’t have to.”

“No, I’d like to.” Now he swings that emerald gaze my way, and a flutter rushes through my body. “Funny, I was trying to figure out a way to keep the day from ending, but you did it for me.”

With a mock sigh, I roll my eyes, a giggle escaping my lips. “Leave it to the woman to do everything.”

Aidan snorts, turning off the truck. “No wonder you and Enid get along.”

“We both have good taste.”

I didn’t mean for the words to come out sounding like some sexual innuendo, and I feel the flush crawl up my cheeks.

Gah, I’m so uncool right now.

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