Page 61 of Entirely Yours
I’m still unclear what those specifications actually are, however.
Once we’ve been playing for about an hour, I find a shady spot for us to sit down. Chloe takes long drinks of water as I enjoy the late spring breeze. “Hey, Chlo?”
“Yeah?”
“How would you feel if I took your mom out on a date?”
One of her braids has fallen out, the bow stuck haphazardly into her undone hair. She looks at me quizzically. “What’s a date?”
Right. Should have expected that question.
“Well, it’s when someone likes someone else and wants to spend more time together.” That’s the best I can come up with off the top of my head.
“Kind of like us right now. You want to take Mama to the donut shop and park?” she asks.
Laughing, I reply, “I guess it does kind of seem like what we’re doing right now, but it’s more than just wanting to be friends with someone. It’s like…” How do I explain this?
“Like you want to marry Mama?” Chloe supplies.
“I—” I mean, she’s not wrong. “I think a date is a way to decide if you want to marry someone. People usually go on lots of dates before they get married, though.”
She flops back into the grass. “You can do a date with Mama. Tell me if you marry her, okay?”
Smiling at that, I say, “Okay, Chlo.”
When we get home a little while later, Thea is sitting at the breakfast table eating one of the muffins I baked for her this week—coffee cake this time. Chloe pushes past me, hopping up on the chair next to her mom. “JuJu is going out on a date!” she exclaims.
Thea drops the piece of muffin halfway to her mouth, looking at me horror-struck. “Chloe,” I scold. “You were supposed to let me ask her.”
“Oops!” She giggles and then gives me ago ongesture. Thea looks back and forth between us, realization dawning.
“You, Rosie girl,” I cut in. “I’d like to go on a date withyou. We never did get our chance.”
Chloe stands up on the chair, putting her face right next to Thea’s. “You should say yes,” she whispers, loud enough for me to hear.
Thea turns to me. “Yes.” She smiles as Chloe squeals.
“Yay! He’s going to take you to get donuts, then you’ll go to the park and play games…” Chloe’s voice drones on as she details all of the things she thinks Thea and I should do on our date.
I watch as Thea smirks, taking another bite of her muffin.
“Tonight,” I interrupt. “Are you free?”
Thea stands, bringing her plate over to the sink. “I’ll have to check my calendar…” she teases, her hand brushing mine as she walks past.
“I’ll pick you up at six.” I wink, not waiting for her answer as I walk out of the kitchen.
“Wait!” she calls. “Where are we going? I need a dress code!”
“Anything you wear will be perfect, Rosie girl.” My laugh echoes down the hall when I hear her dramatic “Ugh!” in reply.
Good. I’m ready for her to be a little flustered around me.
Jules never did tell me what I should wear tonight. I landed on a floral sundress that leaves room for my growing baby bump and a light yellow cardigan.
It’s almost six, and I’m still in the bathroom finishing up my hair. I check the time on my phone again, hoping Jules didn’t have something planned where we have to be exactly on time. Just then, it lights up with a text from Maggie.
Mags
