Page 37 of Sliding Into Love
But he’d remembered to send food for Jase and Janna, too.
Ugh. It was too early for her to get confused over his thoughtfulness, but she was dangerously close to embodying the heart eyes emoji.
“Guys, come here!” They trooped into the kitchen. Jase had the comforter wrapped around himself like a cape, and Janna followed, dragging a well-loved teddy bear by an ear. “Ethan sent us breakfast!” Ivy said, pulling her coffee out of the carrier and taking a small sip. It wasamazingand exactly what she needed. She snagged two chocolate croissants out of the box and went to text Ethan, but he’d beaten her to it.
Good morning, Ivy.
I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered breakfast delivery for you. I thought you might need it after last night. It’s not chocolate soufflé, but it’s a close second. The bakery has a pastry chef who trained in France.
ETHAN YOU SENT ME BREAKFAST?!?!! ????THANK YOU!!!
How are you feeling?
Much better now thanks to you
Umm. Sorry if I got a bit… forward last night…
Hope I didn’t offend you.
Thanks again for the food! You’ve elevated yourself to god status to the kids.
Then Ivy muted the phone and buried it in her bag before she could thumb open the email app. Tendrils of anxiety spread down her neck, tightening in her lungs. How many days had it been? She’d lost count at this point.
Better to focus on something else instead.
Focus on something shecouldcontrol. Like breakfast. And after that, she’d call the assistant principal. Why hadn’t she thought of it before?
The croissants were lovely and flaky, with heavenly, rich chocolate. When she ventured back to the kitchen, the other pastries had been devoured, with only crumbs remaining in the box.
By the time Ivy worked up the nerve to check her phone again, she saw with a pang of disappointment she had no new notifications. Maybe shehadscared Ethan off. Resisting the urge to go back and reread the articles she’d read about him, she pulled up the number for the school instead. A tired-sounding receptionist informed her that the school administration was in meetings all week, but if she left a message, they’d get back to her. The phone call accomplished nothing, but taking charge made her feel better. Now there were two balls in the other court, so to speak, and her hope was bolstered just enough to take the edge off the tightening knot of worry forming in her throat.
To walk off her nervous energy, Ivy took the kids to the park, remembering how Ethan said her name on the phone instead of worrying over what felt like a nonexistent job.
At the entrance to the park, Jase and Janna made a beeline for the swings, while Ivy went to the water fountain to refill her water bottle. Keeping her eye on the kids while her bottle filled, Ivy watched them crowd around a large, dark-haired man in a backward baseball cap sitting on a bench near the duck pond.
Ivy’s heart stopped beating.
No. Fucking. Way.
The man turned to face her, and itwashim.
Ethan Fucking Ford was sitting on a park bench, with Jase and Janna climbing onto the bench beside him. Ethan gave Ivy a crooked, shy smile, and oh,God, it did things to her.
Water trickled over her fingers and Ivy realized her water bottle was overflowing. Swearing under her breath, she twisted the cap on and slowly walked to where Ethan was talking to Jase and Janna.
“–and and and we saw you get pulled away by that lady, but we didn’t know she was a doctor, and I thought you were introuble!” Jase was distraught. His dark brows pulled so low, his dark eyes were barely visible.
“I’m fine, buddy.” Ethan gestured at his wrapped knee, and Ivy’s stomach twisted at the sight of the tape.
Janna settled herself on his knee and twisted her fingers in his hair. Ivy tried to gently detangle Ethan’s hair from Janna’s fingers because if he didn’t stop her, Ivy knew from experience Janna would unintentionally pull it. Ethan’s hair was every bit as soft as Ivy imagined, and for a moment, Ivy considered taking Janna’s place on his lap.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was entirely too breathless. Yes, she’d wanted to see him again, but he’d caught her off guard. And so soon after her drunken attempt at phone seduction.
Oh,God.
“After last night, team management gave me the week off, so I caught an early flight home. The assistant coach is taking over for the rest of the away games until the team is back here, and then whoever they hire for Marshall’s replacement will start soon.” Ethan’s voice sounded lighter than Ivy had ever heard.
“But why are youhere?”
