Page 48 of Keeping it Real

“Yeah that’s what all the books say.My lips are sealed.”

She’d promised Finn.He was distraught that Alek might find out about his bedwetting.The poor kid had visions of Alek banishing them back to New Hampshire in horror.The irony was, she was sure he would be sympathetic to Finn’s predicament.

It was obvious to anyone who bothered to look that Alek adored Finn.Jamie had been correct.Alek was the best choice as guardian.Finn needed a male role model, and given her dating life, who knew when the boy would have gotten one.

She had to hand it to Alek, too.Not many men would take in a second grader they didn’t know.Especially when that kid was the son of his ex and former best friend.And he’d adapted to the role without a single qualm.

Yesterday morning was a prime example.He’d sensed Finn needed cheering up without her having to point it out.He’d rearranged his day to put Finn first.And that was before the fiasco of the asthma attack which he had handled like a pro.As upset as she was with her brother for the choices he made, she wanted what was best for Finn.And that was Alek.

Too bad he’s not the best thing for me.

Sheridan was ashamed to admit that her crush on Alek Bergeron was as potent as ever, despite her best attempts to keep it buried.And the blame for its resurgence rested squarely on Alek’s sturdy shoulders.He needed to stop touching her.Or acting like he was about to kiss her.The guy was giving off vibes like he thought of her as more than his best friend’s kid sister.

She wasn’t going to fall for it, though, because she knew it wasn’t true.And her heart couldn’t bear to be broken by Alek a second time.

“So there really isn’t anything going on between you and the stud hockey player?”Trent asked.

Only in my dreams.

She shook her head.“We’re just friends.Alek is dating Finn’s teacher.”

“You don’t say?”

“It’s still in the early stages, but I think they could be perfect together,” she lied.

The very thought of Alek looking at Miss Lane the same way he’d been looking at her the other night, made her stomach roil.

“Huh.And I always got the impression Bergeron was intelligent.”

Trent’s phone buzzed before she could ask him what he meant.After glancing at the screen, he began wrapping up the remains of his sandwich.

“This will have to be my midnight snack.We’ve got several overzealous high school football fans on their way in by ambulance.”

Peri and Kirk Bergeronarrived the following morning.Their presence in the house seemed to invigorate Finn.Sheridan hadn’t found the courage to broach the subject of Merriweather’s comments with him yet.Instead, she let him soak up the attention of Alek’s parents.Heaven knew the boy deserved it.

Kirk jumped right into professor mode, helping Finn build a diorama of a Potawatomi Indian wigwam for his social studies project on Native Americans.From the sounds of it, Alek’s dad was having as much fun with the project as Finn.Peri was cleaning up the lunch dishes while Sheridan cut up cheese and vegetables to take on their road trip the next day.

“We can stop and see the museum on our drive to the Door County tomorrow,” Kirk offered.“You can snap some pictures for show and tell.”

“That would be dope,” Finn replied.

Peri looked at her husband curiously.“Do they even have show and tell anymore?”

Finn sobered up.“Yeah.What is that?”

Sheridan and Peri both laughed while Hattie offered her own contribution in the form of a bark.

“Hattie, come,” Finn said.“I need to get a pic of you with my project so we can post it on Insta.”

His words had Sheridan nearly slicing off a finger.“I’m sorry.What did you say?”

Finn gave her a meek smile.“Hattie has an Instagram account.She’s got almost fifteen thousand followers after only three days.”

She carefully laid down the knife thinking that holding it might be making her hear things.“Hattie doesn’t have an Instagram account.”

“Yeah, she does.”Finn pulled his phone from his pocket.“See?”

“More importantly,” she continued.“Youdon’t have an Instagram account.”

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