Page 33 of Pour Timing

“Grandma needs to stop talking!” We both laugh, but I realize that Kylie is as good for me as she is for Liam. “How about I ask her out on a date, and if it goes well, the three of us can go get ice cream again the next day.”

“Deal!”

* * *

It’s late in the evening and I’ve just gotten Liam to bed. The school year is coming to an end, so the excitement of being a kid on summer break is hitting hard. But I just need an hour to myself to wind down. The winery was not as full as it was last night, but people did come out. I love the support I’m receiving from them and everyone has had great things to say about Uncle Paul and even greater things to say about my son. They’re genuinely happy to have us back in Starlight Bay.

I step out onto the back deck with a glass of red in hand, exhaling slowly as the screen door clicks shut behind me. The night air is cool blowing off the ocean, despite the warm temperature. This is my favorite part of the house, and my favorite part of the day. The area where I try to decompress, where I try to sort through the chaos of the winery, fatherhood, memories. But tonight, there’s only one thought looping in my mind:How the hell am I supposed to ask her out?

At thirty-four, I shouldn't be nervous. But after staying in a loveless marriage, I’m practically a virgin. So here I am, wine in hand, heart thudding like when I was sixteen and asking her to prom, wonderingagainhow to askthiswoman on a date. The one who somehow slipped into Liam’s life and mine like she’d always been meant to fit there.

I could shoot off a text. But she deserves more than that. I press call before I can talk myself out of it.

It rings once. Twice.

“You’re alive,” she says with a snicker.

I hold the phone with one hand and run my palm down my jeans with the other. Hearing her voice instantly soothes me. “Just barely, that event wore me out.”

“It was a week ago!”

“Even a week ago, I’m still recovering. The staff was amazing though because, by the time I got there the next morning, they had mostly cleaned everything up.”

“Oh? You weren’t up at the crack of dawn?” She laughs, knowing I’ve always been an early riser.

“God no. But the days that followed I was up early, and it wasn't until today that I slept late. It was after ten o’clock before Liam came in and jumped on my bed.”

With faux outrage, she says, “Ten o’clock? Mr. Byrne, I have never known you to sleep that late.”

I stretch my legs out and cross them at the ankles, loving the way she uses my surname. I take a sip from the wine before placing it back on the table. “Well, I had a big night I kept remembering, so I needed the rest.”

“I don’t remember it beingthatbig of a night.” Her voice is loaded with sarcasm and she’s doing it to push my buttons.

“I didn’t hear any complaints about it being asmallnight.”

“You always loved to hear how wonderful you are. I should’ve known it would be no different now.”

We laugh together and then I clear my throat and say, “Kylie, I’m sorry if it was too fast.”

“Matt, don’t apologize. I kind of took advantage of the excitement of the day.”

“Did you just admit to taking advantage of me?”

I can just imagine her rolling her eyes at me. “Oh please, you were willing every time I came around.”

“Clearly I still am.” She lets out a small laugh and I take that as my opening. “Why don’t we go out on a date?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, why not?”

She hums into the phone. “Maybe a second go around wouldn't be so bad. Anything is better than Tinder. We could try thismature datingthing on for size.”

“I already know you fit, Kylie. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

She laughs. This banter is so fun and easy, and it’s what I was missing in a relationship, but I’ve only ever had this connection with her.

“All right, I’ll let you take me out. On one condition.”

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