Page 46 of Dating the DILF
“So, Miles and Renee were close?” I push.
Shannon startles at my question and understanding is written all over her face. “God, not like that,” she reassures me. “Honestly, they were only ever friends. There was never even a hint of anything else.” She sighs sadly. “That night was so out of character for both of them. Cam thinks it’s silly, but I like to think it was the universe’s way of making sure we got to keep a little piece of Renee after she was gone.” She looks at me, a watery sheen to her eyes. “It probably is stupid, but it makes me feel better.”
I reach across the table and grasp her hand, squeezing it gently. “I don’t think it’s stupid at all.”
She clutches my hand gratefully. “Anyway, I think Miles felt like it was his only shot at getting his happily ever after. He was exhausted, working himself to the bone trying to balance fatherhood and work and he wasn’t making good choices.” She purses her lips and her eyes narrow angrily. “He didn’t deserve what they did to him.”
I’m about to agree with her when there’s an almighty shriek from the other side of the yard and I look up to see Lulu glowering at Tyson.
“Give it back, you fuckhead!” she screams, her words loud and clear.
A shocked gasp slips past my lips. There was definitely no misunderstanding that.
Tyson’s face crumbles and he starts crying just as Miles comes storming outside.
“Tallulah Renee Kent, get your butt over here,right now.”
She spins around, turning her death glare to Miles and looking completely unmoved by his tone.
Then, as though a switch has been flicked, she begins bawling too. “He-hetoo-took my balloo-loon,” she stutters between sobs.
“I don’t care, you do not use language like that. I think it’s time for you to have a nap.” He begins to walk toward her, and she immediately drops to the ground, screaming and flailing her arms and legs around like crazy.
My eyes are round, and I’m pretty sure my mouth is open wide in horror.
“What’s wrong with her?” I turn to Shannon who is watching everything unfold with a grin. “Is she hurt? She sounds like she’s hurt.”
“Nope, she’s just being a normal three-year-old. I swear they demonize two-year-olds and hype up the terrible twos, but in my experience, three is so much worse.”
I watch Miles bend down and scoop Lulu up, expertly avoiding her thrashing limbs. He carries her like a football, tucked under his arm, restraining her arms and angling her legs away from his body.
Her face is beet red and she continues to screech as Miles makes his way inside.
A loud laugh directed my way drags my attention from the now-closed back door to Shannon.
“Oh God, your face,” she sputters.
“Does she do that a lot?” The sound of her screams still echoing in my ears.
“A normal amount.”
“That’s normal?” I can’t hide the doubtful note in my voice.
“Yep.” Shannon pops the P. “That wasn’t even that bad. When Brianna was younger, she would set all the dogs off in the neighborhood with her shrieking.”
My silence must speak volumes because Shannon loses it, laughing uproariously.
“What’s so funny?” Camden appears and leans down to place a kiss on his wife’s head.
“I think Lulu just sent Charlie running for the hills.”
“That was nothing.” He scoffs. “Do you remember the time Tyson lost his shit at the mall?” Camden turns to me with a smirk. “This one.” He points at Shannon. “Calmly moves away from us, sidles up to the group of people who were gawking and says, ‘I wonder where his mother is, she should be ashamed’ and then walks away leaving me to handle both kids and the crowd.”
Shannon rolls her eyes. “I stand by my actions and I’d do it all over again.”
I giggle just as Miles joins us, looking completely wrung out. He flops into the chair next to meand rests his hand on my thigh, giving it a squeeze.
“I guess you finally got to meet Lulu’s alter ego. We call her Annabelle.”
