Page 104 of Mr. Almost

I nod, getting Ari set up in the booth with her nuggets. That’s what I love about coming here. They already know us and make an exception to the no outside food or drink rule.

“Sorry. I needed some sugar,” Chloe tells me as she eats her ice cream sundae.

“All good. I thought you were going to stop dating off the app.”

She groans. “I met this one at the grocery store. He was cute and made me laugh in the produce section. So I asked him for coffee. Big mistake. He spent an hour talking about his car. I joked, asking if I’d have to take my shoes off to get inside. You know, like the Shania Twain song? He laughed and said that would be impractical. Then he informed me that if I were to get a ride with him, I would need to wear protective booties on my feet.”

“Wow.”

“Yep. So thank you for saving me from that. Now, enough about me. Tell me your good news first.”

Richie brings over my ice cream then. Mint chocolate chip. So delicious.

Then he sets the kid’s strawberry-flavored burst bowl with sprinkles in front of Ari.

“Thank you.” She beams up at him.

He smiles back. “Of course. Let me know if you need anything else.”

After he walks away, I look at Chloe. “I got hired on at the hotel. Not only that, but they want me to be a manager.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh my god. I am so excited for you. That is amazing news.”

“Right? I was worried they were only offering because of my relationship with Mason, but Iris assured me that she wouldn’t allow Max to do that. Call me crazy, but I believe the woman.”

“We should invite her to the next girls’ night,” Chloe adds. “She keeps Max on his toes. I noticed that at the hockey game.”

“She was there?”

“Yeah. I guess they had some business stuff, but he didn’t want to miss out on a game with his niece, so they compromised. She busts his balls. It’s quite comical.”

“I bet. I’m not sure it’s professional to invite my boss or whatever she is to girls’ night.”

She shrugs. “If you say so, but you’re going to marry into that family soon enough.”

“What? No way. We aren’t anywhere close to that yet.”

“That’s the point of dating, though, right? To eventually get married, have kids, and live together forever? You already have the kid.”

“Sure, but Mason was off tonight. What if he’s second-guessing everything?” I ask quietly, admitting my true fear.

“What makes you think that?” she asks.

Glancing over at Ari, I see that she is focused on her ice cream now.

“He didn’t seem like himself. He left saying he had a meeting, but it was the vibe I got. Ari said Max called about a meeting, though, so maybe I’m overreacting?”

“Hey, Littles. Your daddy said he had a meeting tonight?” Chloe asks Ari.

“Yep. Uncle Max is going to meet him there. He didn’t seem to want to go to the meeting, though.”

“You’re overreacting,” Chloe tells me, point-blank. “Kids don’t lie. They have no reason to. Sounds like maybe it’s something he isn’t happy about. Did he say he was coming back to your place after?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Put Ari down early. Meet him at the door and ask him about the meeting. Relationships take time and effort. Communication is key. If something isn’t working for you, speak up. If you feel like he is hiding something, ask him about it. Ninety-nine percent of fights can be resolved just by communicating.”

“You’re right. I am being crazy.”

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