Page 20 of Saving You

I look to Lily, but it’s Olivia who chimes in. “After our mani-pedi, we are all going to the guys’ game. I asked if you guys wanted to join us?”

I look at Charlie and see the hope written all over her face, but I don’t know if I can handle seeing Caleb again—especially so soon after I made a complete fool of myself in front of him.

Lily doesn’t skip a beat answering for us. “Of course, we’d love to go. I heard all about the last game. I want to see this.”

Lily grins at me, and I glare in return, but it melts away when I hear the excited cheer that comes from my daughter. How can I deny her something that makes her so happy and doesn’t cost me anything but time, and maybe a little bit of my sanity?

Olivia and Zoey insist on being with Charlie while she gets her nails done, so that leaves me with Lily, Hannah, and Liz as we get our pedicures. I take a seat, and Lily grabs the one to my left, Hannah to my right, and Liz to her right.

As soon as we are all settled, Hannah starts in on the questions. “So, are you going to make a move on Caleb?”

My eyes widen in shock. “No, of course not. Why would you ask?”

“Because you obviously have some sort of feelings for him. You should take the jump. It’s the twenty-first century, women can make the first move.”

I quirk a brow. “Have we completely forgotten everything we talked about on Saturday? What about the fact that I completely embarrassed myselfin front of the man and he had to carry me out of the bar? I have no desire to put myself in that situation.”

Hannah stares me down, but it’s Liz who says something. “Girl, he went feral when he saw that man touching you after you told him you weren’t interested. He was already tense just seeing you dancing with the guy. I don’t think your attraction is a one-way street. If you’re interested in him, maybe Hannah is right and you should make a move.”

My mind drifts back to the night in the bar and the way Caleb growled at the guy. I shake my head because the last thing I need is to convince myself something could happen between us.

“Mommy, look at my new nails,” Charlie calls as she runs up to me and shows off her new pink nails.

“They’re beautiful, Baby Girl. Are you going to get the same colour for your toes?”

“Yeah, and Aunty Liv got the same colour as me, too. We match!”

My throat tightens at Charlie calling Olivia aunty. She hasn’t had a lot of people in her life that have been there for her. The fact she’s connected with Olivia this quickly and feels so comfortable fills me with a mixture of happiness and worry.

Will she lose Olivia the same way I lost all the people I thought were my friends until I had Charlie? The last thing I want is for Charlie to lose people. I smile at her and look up, my gaze catching Olivia who smiles brightly at us. I’m going to have to hope for the best. Hope that these people will stick around and I’m building a new support system.

“I’m going to go back with Aunty Liv,” Charlie says as she runs back across the salon.

I look at Lily and her soft smile as she watches Liv and Charlie together. I take a deep breath, trying to gather myself.

“You okay?” Lily asks.

I close my eyes and nod as she grabs my hand and squeezes it. She was there for the aftermath with my old friends when I got pregnant. She knows I’ve been worried about not having a support system and group of role models for Charlie.

When we all finish with our nails, we make our way to our cars and agree to meet at the entrance of the rink. Charlie is bouncing with energy when I pull into the parking lot. I’ve barely parked the car and turned it off before her seatbelt is undone and she’s trying to make her way out of the car.

“Whoa, Baby Girl, you’ve got to wait for Mommy and Aunt Lily,” I call.

“Sorry,” she says meekly as she waits for help to get out. “I just really want to go see Aunty Liv.”

I hold her hand as we make our way across the parking lot. As soon as we are on the sidewalk and she spots Liv, she’s running towards her.

As we walk inside, I hear a collection of male voices. One stands out to me. It’s one that’s been a part of my nighttime fantasies.

Caleb.

Charlie runs to him, seemingly forgetting everyone else.

“Caleb,” she calls.

He stops his conversation, smiling at her and crouching as she runs at him. “Look at my nails.” She thrusts her hands at him, and he takes them in his. The size difference is almost comical.

“They’re gorgeous, Little Bear.”

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