Page 25 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

“There what?” I try to play stupid, which doesn’t work.

“Why are your cheeks on fire? Maeve Banks, what are you not telling me?”

I’ve never been a good bullshitter. In fact, I’ve been told my bluntness is both a gift and a curse. But I’m not ready to tell Stella yet. For now I want to keep this just for me.

Even if just for a little while longer…

“Okay, something did happen.” I barely have the words out before Stella squeals so loud the neighbor’s dogs start barking. “But! I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

I nod toward the living room where Jayce is still content watching television, feeling only slightly bad that I used my kid to get out of this conversation. Chalk it up to my bad mom score of the day. Though I argue that if you don’t use your kids to get out of stuff, what are you even doing with your life?

“Ugh, fine,” Stella groans. “I’ll drop this for now.”

“And please, don’t tell Quinn and Ainsley. I’ll tell…eventually. Just not yet.”

She nods in understanding, like only a sister can.

“I get it,” she says. “Oh the days of secrecy…”

I laugh as Stella talks about the days of her secret relationship like it was some huge saga. It was a month, tops.

“Thanks,” I say. “And not just for keeping this secret, but for watching Jayce. I don’t know what I would’ve done without all of you.”

I’ve been traveling more for work over the past six months, and each time I go out of town, it takes every person in my arsenal to make it happen. And then when you add on a night like last night, it’s a scramble. Josh had had him for his normal Sunday and Monday schedule when I first left. Since he owns a bar—and it’s pretty successful since he opened it with country mega star Walker Boone—Fridays and Saturdays are tough, which I understand. After that, my parents took over, staying at my house for the week so he could be on his school routine. Stella and Ainsley took over on rotation for the weekend and the beginning of this week, because it was easier for them than for Josh to change his work schedule.

Or so he said.

“It was my pleasure,” Stella says. “Bye, Jayce!”

My son comes running back in the room, wrapping his tiny arms around Stella’s waist as she bends over to return the hug. “Bye, Aunt Tella.”

“Love you,” she says, kissing his forehead before looking back at me. “Love you too.”

I nod. “Right back at ya.”

As Stella exits my house I look over to the clock and see that it’s now close to seven. I’m guessing Jayce already ate dinner, and I’m trying to remember if I’ve had anything since this morning when I got to the airport before the coffee shops even opened. My stomach takes that cue to let out a loud groan, which I ignore. It’s almost time for Jayce to wind down for bed, and I need a few minutes with my boy before I tuck him in.

“So,Lego Batman, again?” I ask as I sit on the couch, making sure to grab my phone so I don’t have to get up if it goes off. And because we’ve done this a thousand times, Jayce climbs up and snuggles into my side.

“It’s the best.”

Neither of us say anything as the movie plays, which is on par for us. Jayce is one of those kids who doesn’t need to talk all the time.

He gets that from me.

The fact that he’s super hero and video game obsessed? That’s from his dad.

I hear a tiny snore from Jayce. I look down, and yup, my boy is out. He’s somehow slid down my side so he’s now lying on my lap, his thumb by his mouth, which he still does from time to time. It’s adorable—a little signal that, yes, he’s growing up, but he’s still my baby.

My eyes were starting to get heavy as well when my phone dings, startling me so much I nearly wake Jayce as I scramble to grab it. As soon as my eyes focus on the device I seea notification of an email from my favorite maybe-not-so-real assistant, Katherine Smith.

“What does she want now?” I mumble as I click open the alert.

To: Maeve Banks, Banks Interiors

From: Katherine Smith

Subject: Re: Reschedule?

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