Page 52 of Love Is Ale You Need

“Hey gorgeous. What are you doing?”

“Lying in bed, enjoying what little peace and quiet I can before tonight.”

“I heard about the big draft party happening at Porter’s tonight.”

“Too many people fighting over real people to create a fake team sorta. I don’t get it. Anyway, did you call for small talk?”

“While I love listening to your voice, my phone call does serve a purpose. Would you and Abby be interested in coming to a five-year-old’s birthday party on Sunday? It’s for Seth and Parisa’s son. It’s at the new adventure park in town. I thought maybe Abby would like to go. I remember you telling me that’s your day off.”

“Oh, wow… Um.”

Rustling sounds through the speaker as if she’s digging around for something. Her wallet, perhaps.

“I don’t know. Abby is already doing this school trip that costs a lot of money.”

“The ticket is already paid for, if that’s your concern,” I spit out. “Another kid had to cancel, so the ticket’s going to waste otherwise.” I pinch my eyes closed. I hate lying to Rylee, but also, I don’t want her to turn it down because she’s worried about money. Plus, this is the perfect opportunity to spend time with Rylee and meet her daughter. So, my intentions may be a little selfish, but it’s also coming from a good place.

“I’d hate for it to go to waste.” Silence fills the phone and I’m worried the call may have gotten disconnected. “Abby would love to go. Thank you. She’s going to be so excited.”

“Great! I’ll pick you two up on Sunday at two thirty.”

“H-how about I meet you there?” Hesitancy laces her voice.

A pang of hurt floats through my body. I was hoping to have even a few extra minutes to spend with her.

“Yeah, that’s fine. Three o’clock. I’ll see you then.”

The moment she was hesitant to come, I knew it was a money issue. But I didn’t want that to stop them, not only for Abby, because what kid wouldn’t want to go to an adventure park, but because Rylee’s a strong woman who works hard for everything and it’s clear she doesn’t want to be seen as needing a handout. But I’d give her everything if she’d let me.

EIGHTEEN

DESPERATE FOR YOU

Rylee

It was a bad idea telling Trey I would meet him here. If he’d picked us up, I wouldn’t have to walk in alone. Instead, I’m sitting in the parking lot in front of an enormous steel building with a colorful Adventure Land sign attached to the side, working up the courage to go inside. While I’ve had conversations with most of Trey’s friends at Porter’s, and even offered a few of the guys dating advice, I’ve never talked to them outside of my work. That’s the plus side of not dating. No awkward meet the family or in this case, meet the friends.

Abby’s foot presses against the passenger seat. “Mooom. Let’s go in,” she whines.

I guess we can’t stay in the parking lot forever. I twist around and glance at her. “Do you remember what I told you?”

“Yes. Be nice and listen to the adults.”

I smile. Now I wish someone would give me rules, so I know what to do. I push open my door as Abby unbuckles herself from her car seat. When I open the rear passenger door, she jumps out. We walk hand in hand across the parking lot. As I pull open the door, laughter and gleeful screams echo amidst the vibrant colors of the intricate maze of inflatable obstacles, trampolines, and climbing structures. It looks ten times larger on the inside than from the outside. Not even ten seconds after walking in, Trey spots us and immediately rushes over as if he was waiting for us.

“Hi.” He flashes me a warm smile that settles my nerves. A little.

“Hi.” I glance down. “This is Abby. Abby, this is my—Trey.” I’m still not one hundred percent on how I should introduce him to her.

Trey kneels, so he’s eye level with my daughter. “Hi Abby. It’s nice to meet you. Have you ever been to the adventure park?”

“No.” She shakes her head. Her confidence is much higher than mine. At least one of us has our shit together.

“Well, you’re going to have a blast. Let me show you and your mom around.”

“Okay.” An eager grin takes over her face.

Trey plays tour guide as he shows us around the adventure park, pointing out all the cool and fun things to play on. I trail behind as the two of them talk animatedly about the foam ball pit. After the tour, Trey waits for Abby as she removes her shoes and replaces them with the special park socks. After a quick introduction to all the other kids, they all scamper off toward the ball pit.

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