Page 15 of I Knew He Was Trouble
“I don’t know what youthinkyou saw, but you can erase it from your mind. I don’t find you attractive.” Her expression hardens, hiding all emotion.
I wipe a hand over my brow. “Whew, that’s a relief. You should probably work on your staring-at-muscles problem then. And your blushing problem.”
Kelsey shoves my chest. “You’re right. Maybe we shouldn’t work together. I wouldn’t want to punch you in the face in front of your niece. Imagine how embarrassing that would be for you.”
I take a step closer, smirking down at her. “I’d like to see you try.”
The clearing of a throat has me dragging my gaze up to the cashier.
“Whenever y’all are finished with”—she motions to us with a raised brow—“whatever that is, I can get you rung up.”
Kelsey’s blush deepens. She grabs her shopping basket out of my cart and shoves past me, moving toward the self-checkout.
“I guess I’ll see you at home,” I call after her in a sarcastic tone, and Kelsey raises a hand in a sassy wave.
I push the cart up to the register and offer my best smile to the clerk. “Sorry about that.”
“Not a problem.” She begins scanning my items. “Trust me, I’ve seen my fair share of lover’s quarrels. You wouldn’t imagine how many arguments people get into over groceries.”
“Oh, I’m not— We’re not—” I stumble over my words.
The clerk grins. “Just give it time, sugar. There’s a fine line between enemies and lovers.”
I hold back a scoff. I know withcertaintythere isn’t any love there. Kelsey and I will just have to see if we can put our grievances aside long enough to make it through these next three months in front of Evie.
Then we never have to speak to each other again.
SundayafternoonarrivesbeforeI’m ready for it. Even though my situation is entirely different, I feel like I have the smallest glimpse into how new parents feel coming home from the hospital with a newborn. Except I’m being given a child who has opinions and can talk back.
I’m already feeling the whole lack of sleep thing after how late I stayed up getting Evie’s room ready last night and childproofing my living room and kitchen. I stored all breakable decor away in closets and ensured everything in my fridge was kid-friendly. Even though I slept thirty minutes past my normal wake-up time to work out, I still only got about four hours of sleep, which doesn’t seem like nearly enough to function.
I give props to all the new parents who run on little to no sleep. I’d give everyone their coffee of choice if I could. Instead of trying to solve the parenting population’s need for caffeination, I find myself waving at Tess and Evie as their car slows to a stop in front of my house.
As soon as they park, Evie runs to me with a giant grin. “Uncle Ty!”
“I missed you, Eves.” I crouch and catch her in a hug.
She’s barely in my arms before she wiggles out of them and runs around me toward the front door.
My sister pulls me in for a hug. I wince as she yells after her daughter right by my ear. “Evie, your uncle says he missed you.”
When I pull back, I can tell Tess is annoyed by the scrunch of her nose. That expression was aimed at me plenty of times growing up, and I’m glad I’m not the recipient of this one.
Evie stops in her tracks and huffs. “I want to see my new room.”
My sister tilts her head and puts on a motherly tone. “Remember what we talked about.”
“Idoremember. You said he decorated a room just for me.”
“And…” Tess’s eyes take on a look that would persuade a child into spilling everything.
“To put on my listening ears.”
“And…”
Her shoulders drop as she acquiesces. “To be nice to Uncle Ty.”
Tess smiles, seemingly pleased with her daughter’s response.
