Page 80 of The Overtime Kiss

“I saw you two days ago!” Luna says.

“My point exactly,” Lauren replies, hugging her harder.

When they let go, Luna peers at the bags Lauren carries. “It looks like you brought something.”

“What kind of grandmother would I be if I didn’t bring gifts?” she says, making her way to the kitchen with a few small packages.

She turns to me, smiling. “Sabrina! Iknewyou’d be perfect for the job.” She says it every time she sees me, like she’s still patting herself on the back for setting this up. I can’t tell if it’s because she’s pleased with how well things are working out or if she’s making sure I never leave. Maybe they’re one and the same.

Either way, I’m so grateful for this position—and for her. My coaching business has been growing since I landed this role, and I’ve been saving money. I’m hopeful I can add clinics next year.

“What did you get me, Grandma?” Parker asks, looking up from his math.

“Oh, just a new Lego set,” she says, pulling out a space station kit from her bag.

“Now this is cooler than tofu fractions.”

“But you know what?” I tease. “Fractions will help you understand all the pieces.”

Luna, waiting for her turn, finally reaches into the bag, and pulls out a book. “Ooh,Cool Animal Facts!” Her eyes widen as she flips it open.

“It was inevitable you’d love animals with your last name,” Lauren says to Luna.

Which raises an interesting question. “Did you ever want to take Harvey’s name?” I ask her.

She laughs, shaking her head. “Changing names is such a pain. And really, why do women have to do all the work in that regard?”

“Fair point,” I say.

“Plus, it’s memorable and sometimes being a Falcon terrifies people,” she says in a stage whisper.

“Nothing like a scary name to get someone’s attention,” I say as the kids get absorbed in their gifts.

We chat more as I finish plating dinner. Just as I set the dishes down, she taps her chin thoughtfully.

“You know,” she muses, “my friend Elsie just introduced her granddaughter to this wonderful engineer. Now they’re engaged. It just goes to show how a little push can make all the difference.”

It’s out of the blue, but not entirely surprising. Moms and grandmothers love dispensing dating advice.

Then it hits me. She’s about to dispense dating advice tome.

She taps her polished nails on the kitchen counter, giving me a knowing look. “Do you even have time to date? Or is Tyler being a hard-ass?”

Parker snickers. “Don’t sayhard-ass, Grandma.”

She turns, bringing a finger to her lips. “Of course I didn’t say it.”

I laugh awkwardly, caught off guard—then the door swings open again.

Footsteps. A booming voice from the foyer.

“Hey, kiddos!”

Daddy’s home.

The kids race to greet him, and moments later, Tylerstrides into the kitchen in a beige suit with a burgundy tie and a thicker beard than he left with. My chest aches, and I dismiss it as best I can.

His mom spins around and immediately says, “Tyler, are you being difficult about Sabrina dating?”

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