Page 79 of From Nowhere

“Lola can spend Saturday night at my mom’s house, and her other grandparents will visit their son when Lola’s at my mom’s. You’re invited to stay the night with me after you get off work on Saturday. Clothing is optional. And if I’m being frank, it’s downright frowned upon.”

She laughs. “Something will happen. You’re getting my hopes up, but something will happen.”

“Don’t be a Negative Nellie. Could Lola get sick at the last minute? Absolutely. Could my house burn down before then? Of course. Might you find a guy who drives a carandhas sex with you? For sure. But despite all those possibilities, I’m banking on everything going well. And I’m going to finally use that box of condoms that nearly landed me in jail.”

Maren’s laughter spreads along my skin, warm and sweet like honey. “Jail? We have so much to discuss. I know nothing about your parents. I’d love to see your whole house. And don’t even get me started on all the questions I have about your box of condoms.”

I hum. “Yes. So much to discuss.”

“Ozzy, I feel like your dirty little secret.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I say. “We haven’t even done the dirty.”

“Oswald.”

I laugh because she’s never met my mom, but she’s mastered the tone in which my mother has always said my name.

“I miss you,” I say.

“I miss you too. So, this weekend?”

“Yes. As long as Amos and Tia can get plane tickets. If not, we’ll have to push it back a few weeks until your time off falls on a weekend again.” I flop back onto my bed.

She sighs so hard I swear my phone feels heavier. “Do you wonder where we’re going with this? Whateverthisis? I feel guilty for inserting myself into your life, since you have a child and all the delicate complications that come with that role. Yet, simultaneously, I’m scouring real estate listings for a house because I want you and Lola to come see me and Bandit anytime. Speaking of Bandit, how is my furry friend?”

“You’re never getting him back. You had to know this was going to happen.”

She laughs. “Since you started this call with such honesty, I’ll tell you how far I went for Lola’s cat. You know that shed he lives in?”

I adjust myself because my dick has a perfect memory. “Yes,” I say.

“Will is charging me double rent for Bandit to live in the shed.”

“You’re not serious.” I run a hand through my hair, staring up at the ceiling.

“I’m dead serious.”

I’m speechless for ten seconds before I fumble my first minimally coherent thought. “We’ll keep the cat.”

“Nope,” she says with a pop to her lips. “Fitz and Jamie found a different house. The one with the tree house is still for sale. I’m thinking of making an offer on it.”

“That’s excitingunlessyou’re buying it just for the cat. Then it’s a little messed up.” And by the cat, I mean Lola. But suggesting she’s buying a house, in a roundabout way, for my daughter seems serious. I can’t allow myself to be that level of serious with someone I have to sneak into the house through a window.

Jesus. Maybe sheismy dirty little secret.

“I used to have a tree house, minus a roof,” she says. “It was a platform with a railing. I’d lie on my back, staring at the sky, and that’s when I fell in love with flying. I’d see planes and birds in the sky and wanted to spend my days in the clouds too.”

I can’t help but grin, imagining young Maren in a tree, staring up at the blue sky and dreaming of flying. “Buy the house,” I say.

“You think?”

“I do. Real estate is always a great investment. Interest rates are pretty good. Go for it.”

“Okay. I have to message my Realtor,” she says in a rush.

“It’s late.”

“I know, Ozzy. But I don’t want someone else scooping it up.”

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