Page 157 of Push

I glanced at my phone. All the warm fuzzies burst to life in my chest.My lady.And a video call!

I hit accept and spun around. Nothing got past Gwen. She’d dissect all the background noise to figure out I was in a store, but with a blank wall behind me, at least her eagle eyes wouldn’t be able to spoil all my surprises.

I fought to keep the grin off my face, but it was impossible. I waved hello. “My fair lady.” I bowed with a flourish.

Gwen smiled, but it seemed like an effort. “Hey.”

“Is everything alright—” Noah’s chubby mitts snatched at my phone. He was a menace. “Whoops.” I laughed, lowering the phone so Gwen could see his little face scrunched up with determination. He wanted in on the action. “Can’t forget my wingman. Say ‘hi’ to Mama!”

The baby babbles were endless.

“Hey, little man!” Gwen’s face brightened, but only for a second. Her brows pinched together. “Where are you guys?”

Yup. Called it.Eagle eyes.I bent down closer to Noah. “Don’t breathe a word,” I whispered loudly to him. “Mama can’t find out we’re on secret shopping business.” I winked at my phone.

Gwen never gave much away, but I spotted the pop of her eyebrow. “Secret shopping business, huh?”

“Yup. We’ve had a busy morning of scheming.” It was hard to keep the mood light when her eyebrows stayed so wrinkled. Something was on her mind. “How’s work? Busy?”

“Work’s…boring.” She sighed.

“One of your bosses getting you down?”

“Eli’s got his nose stuck in a thousand spreadsheets. His secretary told me he hasn’t moved from his desk since ten o’clock last night. And I haven’t seen the blond one since hebreezed past me, whinging about how I was late again onhisTuesday.” She rolled her eyes.

“You were late getting to work?” I tried to focus my attention on Gwen even though Noah babbled up a storm. “Was there an accident on the road…or…?”

“Oh… No. I, uh… I had an appointment.”

“Sounds shady.” It soundedserious, but I covered up my worry with a hundred questions. “You doing some secret shopping business of your own, doll? New outfit? Pedicure?” I grinned. “I like it when you get those sparkly toenails.”

“Nothing like that.”

“You need to keep it a secret?”

“No… I don’t want there to be secrets between us… Other than secret shopping business, of course.” A smirk twitched the corner of her lips.

“You’re still mulling it over? Figuring it out?” Sometimes, it took Gwen time to get comfortable with new ideas. I didn’t want to push her too hard. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

“I will.” She smiled, but it still seemedsad. “I miss you guys.”

“We miss you, too.” I swallowed. Would Gwen ever understand how much I missed her when she wasn’t around? “We’re not far away… If, um…” I shrugged, suddenly too nervous to look at the phone. “Wanna hang out with some cool dudes in the park for lunch?”

“You guys are in the city?”

“Yup. We’re up to mischief. Well,Noahis.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m just here chaperoning while he charms old ladies. I’ve, um…you know…” I shrugged. “I’ve got the picnic blanket in the back of the car. I can grab it and head to Hyde Park… If you’re free…”

“The weather’s nice today. But aren’t you busy?”

“I’m never too busy for you. I’d love to see you.”

Was I imagining that her cheeks flushed a little pinker? “Okay,” she said. “One thirty?”

“Seriously?”

She nodded.

“Yeah!” I pumped my fist. “This is—yeah—awesome! Hyde Park at one thirty! See you then.”

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