Page 41 of Hello Single Dad

“I don’t understand,” I said.

She laughed, shaking her head. “My best friend doesn’t even have her GED, and she makes three times what I do. Clearly, I took the wrong path in life.”

“You’re making a difference,” I said. “That’s worth more than money.”

Her eyes warmed on me, and she slipped her fingers from mine, holding on to my arm with both of her own. “Thank you, Cohen.”

“Any time.” Everything in me wanted to kiss the top of her head, let her know how truly I meant those words, but I held back, focusing my gaze instead on the ice cream shop ahead of us. It was painted aqua blue with bright white trim, and a line extended all the way to the street. It must have lived up to its 4.5-star reputation.

I lifted my arm, pointing. “That’s our place.”

22

BIRDIE

Confession: Want to get on my bad side? Waste perfectly good ice cream.

The ice cream stand was cute, and it had plenty of flavors to choose from. I watched with anticipation as Cohen ordered. A double scoop of mint chocolate chip in a chocolate waffle cone.

“Nice,” I said. “I’ll have that too.”

“Easy peasy,” the woman behind the counter said. Cohen paid, again, and we stepped to the side to wait. This area didn’t have as nice of a view, but there were picnic tables scattered about a gravel lot. Couples and families sat enjoying the beautiful fall weather and each other’s company.

It was one of those days, one of those spaces, that made you feel like all was right in the world.

Or maybe that was just Cohen.

He said, “Why don’t you find a seat? I’ll get the cones when they’re ready.”

What a gentleman. With a nod, I began walking and found an open space for us to sit. As I waited for Cohen, I looked around to see who was there. In my world, people watching was more of a sport than football. And I could have been an Olympic “athlete” at it.

For example, the couple just a table over were clearly in a fight. She had her shoulders away from him, wasn’t even making eye contact as she toyed with her spoon in the paper bowl. Her partner had his eyebrows furrowed, legs crossed like he was protecting himself.

Dax and I had been in plenty of those fights before. Usually about money—the time our electricity got shut off because he forgot the bill had been a giant blowout. I’d never, never had that happen in my life before, even when Mara and I were scraping together pennies to pay our expenses at the apartment.

I turned my head away from the couple, away from the reminder of what my life could have been like had Dax not walked out on me, and my eyes boggled at what I saw. Headmaster Bradford sat with his wife and their grandchildren only a few tables away.

I got up so fast I fell over the picnic bench, making rocks dig into my hands and knees. My skirt had flown up, falling over my stomach, and I yanked it down to cover my underwear. A few people looked my way, but Bradford was preoccupied with a dollop of ice cream that had been dumped into his lap.

I hurried toward the back exit, keeping my head down and my faithful black purse clutched in front of me. If Bradford saw me here looking like I was dressed for the circus, with a student’s father no less, my career could be on the line. And breaking a major policy like the no-dating rule didn’t look good on a resume when applying to other schools.

As soon as I was on the opposite side of the building, I got out my phone and dialed Cohen’s number.

When he answered, he asked, “Where did you run off to? I don’t see you, and I have ice cream dripping down my hand.”

If I wasn’t completely panicked, I might have laughed. “Headmaster Bradfordis there with his family!”

“Oh.Oh. Walk down the block toward the screen-printing place. I’ll drive the car to meet you.”

The steady tone of his voice had me nodding and following his instructions. Maybe even calming down a bit. “Okay. Right. And if he sees us, it’s not a big deal. Friends can get ice cream together.”

“Friends getting ice cream wouldn’t run away from their bosses.”

I cringed. “So I’m not the best at playing it cool.”

“Understatement of the year.”

“I wish you could see me glaring at you.”

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