Page 76 of Make Mine Sweet
“My neighbor.” The angel next door I can’t get out of my head. But I’m not sure I’m even trying anymore.
“I haven’t slept in twenty-seven hours, but I feel like I’m missing something.”
I quickly explain about Tess’s daycare shutdown and my offer to step in for a few days.
He seems to process this slower than normal. “So…you’re babysitting. For your neighbor.”
I don’t like the way he says it so laced with judgment. I’m not sure just what he’s judging, but it’s probably me.
“I’m her manny,” I tell him.
He barks a laugh. “I must have called the wrong number. This is Ian Vaughn, right? Notorious climber, guide to celebrities, and absolute attention hog is a…manny?”
“It’s not that funny.” I don’t like the defensiveness in my tone, but I hate the incredulousness in his. “She needed help, so I’m helping. Is that such a shock?”
“Actually—”
“Forget I asked.” I don’t need a reminder of how unfamiliar this is for me. Not helping Tess out—I like to think I was always there for my friends who needed me in the past. But I never said Tess was just my friend. And I’m not sure I want her to bejustanything.
“Is this something serious?” he asks, his mirth subdued with the weighty question.
I hesitate. I haven’t had anything serious in…maybe ever. Nothing quite like this. Which is absurd to say, given that Tess and Iareonly friends. We’re not dating. We haven’t even kissed, much less considered anything more.
Well. I’veconsideredmore quite often. But that’s not the point.
I sit with his question. And I offer Pierce the most honest answer I can.
“I don’t know. But I’d like it to be.”
TWENTY-SIX
TESS
Little kid laughterhas got to be the best sound in the world. Innocent and infectious, they laugh with their whole bodies, throwing everything into their enjoyment at top volume. August’s laughter draws me through my apartment to the back door. I crack it open and bask in my little boy’s giggles.
He’s seated across from Ian at our patio table, coloring books and crayons spread out between them. Dutch is sunning himself nearby, flopped over on his side.
“Where do cows go on Friday nights?” Ian asks.
August’s already grinning. I get the feeling they’ve been doing this for a while. “Where?”
“To the moo-vies.”
August erupts in fresh laughter, his cheeks pink. “Another!”
Ian seems to think. “What kind of dinosaurs sleep a lot?”
“Dream-o-saurs!” August guesses.
“That’s a good one,” Ian says. “I was thinking of dino-snores!”
Once again, August laughs like this is the best thing in the world, his belly laugh echoing through the yard.
Ian catches me spying on them from the doorway. His expression brightens, his mouth curves upward, and I think my heart performs a complete cartwheel.
Oh hello, sunshine Ian.
“Tess. Welcome home.”
