Page 32 of Jaime
“Uh, yeah kind of,” I said with an awkward chuckle. “I mean, I wrote a list, but don’t know how to do anything on it yet.”
Ethan’s brows shot up.
“Why? What’s on the list?”
Using my free hand, I reached into my pocket for my phone, pulling up my notes at the same moment that the waiter arrived with the wine.
I waited while Ethan ordered two of the specials. I nodded at his look.
“That would be great,” I said, not that I remembered what the specials were.
“Let me see that list,” Ethan said the moment he was gone.
I handed him my phone, taking a nervous sip of the wine while he skimmed it.
“So,learn how to drive. Set up appointment for driver’s test,” he read.
I nodded.
“I got my learner’s a while ago, but it’s about to expire.”
“Get GED. Research colleges,” he went on. “Decide field of study and apply. Shop for clothes for Evie. Find part-time job. Find babysitter/childcare.”
He handed me back my phone, looking thoughtful.
“This is good, Jaime,” he said. “They’re good steps to take, especially when you have a child to care for. I don’t know how much your father left you but it’s good to be self-sufficient.”
“Exactly!” I enthused. “It’s the stuff I wanted to do before I got Evie. I stopped thinking about it for a while, but now, suddenly, I want it even more.”
“Having kids does that, from what I hear. It pushes people in the best way.”
I smiled.
“Of course, I can’t really do any of it without the bottom one. This is my first time out without her. It feels weird.”
He chuckled.
“I bet.”
“Thanks for getting your friend to come watch her. Naomi was really nice.”
“Yeah?” he asked. “She is great.”
Something about the way Ethan said it made my gaze narrow. He sounded kind of surprised.
“What is it? Do you not actually like her?”
His eyes widened.
“What? No, she’s probably my best friend. She’s fantastic. And good with kids. She has a nephew who is about four now who she babysits all the time,” he added, “so I’m sure she’ll be great with Evie.”
I stared at him for a long time.
“So, it’s not thatyoudon’t like her, you’re surprised thatIdo.”
He sighed.
“It’s not that,” he grudgingly admitted. “She’s protective of me, that’s all... I guess I had been kind of worried she would grill you or something like that. When I told her about you, she was worried.”
