Page 106 of Enough
“He did?” Her head and eyes perk up simultaneously. “What did you say?”
“I told him to be patient.”
She shakes her head. “Let’s just go have lunch and forget about men. I need girl time.”
AS MUCH AS we try to not talk about Nick and Cooper, they’re a hard topic to resist. As Gwen drives me home, she brings him up again.
“I don’t think it’s going to work out with us,” she states matter-of-factly.
I sigh. “Why?”
“He’s just not right for me. It’s done. I’m done.”
“Gwen…”
“No, Ev. I don’t want to be hurt again, and Cooper, well, he’s got that power. I think I’m meant to be alone.”
When I try to help her see he’s worth the risk, she insists she doesn’t want to talk about him anymore. When I try to persuade her to give him a chance, she gets angry, so I let it go. She’s so stubborn.
The kids come home from school a few hours later and after homework, I start making dinner. Marlow notices me checking my reflection in the mirror and fixing my hair before Nick arrives.
“Do you like him?” she asks innocently.
I glance up to see if Kale’s in earshot. He’s not. “Why would you ask that?”
“Well… you guys are always staring at each other at games, and I think he likes you, Mom.”
I can’t help but smile. “He kinda does, and I like him too, a lot. How do you feel about that?”
Her big blue eyes focus on me and her brows furrow. “I don’t know.” She pauses. “Is that why he’s coming to dinner?”
“Well… he’s coming to dinner for a few reasons.”
“Is he coming just to see you?”
“No. He’s coming to see you and Kale more than me. He promised you some soccer time and I think he’s really looking forward to it. It’s important to him that you like him.”
She waves. “Oh, I liked him way before you even liked him, Mom.”
I smile at her. “Yeah, that’s true. You have good taste.”
The doorbell rings and I gasp. Kale runs to the door. “Nick’s here!”
Kale swings open the door and it crashes into the wall. I hear it and sense his enthusiasm.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” Nick asks.
Marlow and I round the corner to see them fist bumping each other and Kale grinning widely. I wonder if that grin will still be there when I tell him we’re seeing each other. My eyes fixate on Nick’s gorgeous face. He’s shaved and smooth. He’s wearing faded jeans, and they highlight the ridges of his thigh muscles. The sight of him makes my girly parts dance.
Roscoe barks and wags his tail, and Nick bends down to pet him. “His name is Roscoe,” Kale advises.
Nick listens and nods as Roscoe almost knocks him down. Nick and Kale both laugh, and Kale says, “Whoa, boy, down!” He’s such a little man.
I lean on the wall and watch Marlow dash from me straight to him and throw her arms around his neck. He lifts her by her waist and she shrieks in delight. “How’s my favorite soccer player in the whole wide world?” he asks as he holds her above his head.
She laughs wildly as she tosses her head back. “Good! I’m good…”
He sets her down and she grabs his hand and pulls him in my direction. He notices me standing against the wall, and his face brightens while his eyes smolder.
