Page 46 of If Love Had A Manual

“You’re going to the store?”

“Yup. We’re low on everything. And you’re out of coffee. Which, frankly, explains a lot.”

I’ve been meaning to go with them anyway, to see what she actually buys. Lena shops like someone who cares. Fresh produce, organic this, whole grain that. On her days off, I don’t want Rosie eating microwave chicken nuggets and whatever random crap I throw in the cart.

“Text me what store when you get there.”

Why is she looking at me like I’m sick? “You want to go shopping with us?”

“Yes,” I bite out. Someone needs to stop her from buying more Brussels sprouts.

A slow grin spreads across her face. “How very domesticated of you, Wesley.”

I’m not fucking touching that.

Grabbing my keys, I try to escape before I do something like offer to help with the dishes just to see her bend over.

I turn back toward the hallway just as my speakers cut off and the music stops playing, only to be replaced with some high-pitched jingle.

Confused, I peer back into the kitchen.

Lena’s holding her phone as a voice announces, “Welcome back toSkeptically In Love, the podcast where we dissect modern dating, one red flag at a time.”

Rosie starts clapping, and God help me, dancing. It’s a full-body bounce right there on Lena’s hip like the intro music is her personal club anthem. She’s heard this before.

I point to the phone, eyebrows raised. “What do you have my niece listening to?”

“It’s a podcast,” she says slowly.

“I gathered that.”

“It’s good for her language development,” she adds, adjusting Rosie’s onesie. “We do music after her morning nap. Right now, we’re making our way through your vinyl collection alphabetically.”

I blink. “Alphabetically?”

“Teaching her letters.”

“Could you have her listen to a podcast about…” I wave a hand. “I don’t know. Anything else?”

“What?” she asks, looking genuinely confused. “There are a ton of strong women on this. Doctors, psychologists, therapists. It’s educational.”

“It’s about dating.”

“Exactly. Dating is a crazy world. I’m preparing her. And let’s be honest here, it’s not like she understands what they’re saying.”

My jaw locks. “She won’t be dating.”

Lena snorts a laugh under her breath. “Right.”

“I’m serious. Not until she’s twenty-one.”

“Twenty-one?”

“Minimum.”

“Wes.” She actually laughs. “She tried to eat a dryer sheet yesterday. You think you can control her teenage years?”

“I’ll do what I have to.” I grab my hoodie from the chair. “Alright. I’ve gotta get to the shop.”

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