Page 45 of The Fine Art of Faking It
Eden nodded. “Got it. Any dietary restrictions?”
“Gluten- and casein-free… and I just realized I should have told you that before showing up with a kid to a birthday party.” He smacked himself in the forehead.
“Gia has you covered,” Eden promised. “She sent a three-page write up on all of the dietary restrictions complete with recipes, and I made sure all the treats are gluten- and casein-free.”
Davis looked relieved. “Thank you. I appreciate that.” He looked down at his arm where Eden’s hand rested. She snatched it away.
“Davis! I haven’t finished telling you about the second season ofGuess Again,” a lanky girl in striped leggings and a hoodie announced earnestly from the doorway.
“I was hoping we weren’t done yet, Claudia. Come here and meet Miss Eden first, and then we’ll talk all the game shows you want.”
“Just Guess Again,” she reminded him. “Not all game shows.” Reluctantly the girl sidled over.
“Miss Eden,” Davis began the introductions. “This is Rubin’s sister, Claudia. Claudia, this is Miss Eden.”
“Nice to meet you,” Claudia said flatly. “Now can we?”
Davis gave the girl a smile that made Eden’s heart roll over in her chest. “Sure.”
They wandered off in the direction of the snacks, Claudia peppering Davis with every known fact in the world about the game show.
“That one is a keeper,” Gia sighed after him. “Claudia is on the spectrum as well. She’s super smart but gets hung up on certain topics. Last year was that crazy video game that all the kids play. She can be a handful as well, just in a different way.”
“She seems really sweet,” Eden responded. “And Aurora is amazing with her brother.”
“A single guy who steps up for a family like that?” Gia continued. “If my ovaries weren’t already spoken for by that sexy hunk of man who just snuck a handful of candy into his pocket for Aurora later, they’d be in a hormonal uproar.”
Eden didn’t want to hear how amazing and wonderful and thoughtful Davis was. Certainly not from a Beautification Committee member. She preferred thinking of him as an undercover asshole and hated the fact that her up-close view of him this past week was showing her a different side to him. A side that meant maybe she’d been very wrong for all these years.
“What’s that about your ovaries?” Beckett asked, sliding his arms around his wife’s waist from behind.
“Davis,” Gia said, leaning back against him.
“Oh, right. Yeah, if I were into guys, I’d be into that,” Beckett agreed.
Eden laughed despite herself.
“Okay, who wants their nails painted?” Aurora called out, adjusting her tiara.
* * *
“Honey,maybe Lionel doesn’t want his nails painted,” Gia said as Aurora oversaw the navy blue polish go on the seven-year-old boy’s fingernails.
“Mom, I went to Lionel's paintball and monster truck party last week,” Aurora pointed out.
“It’s only fair,” Lionel sighed with resignation.
Eden hid her laugh behind her hand. Aurora was going to grow up to be the first president of the universe someday. She was sure of it. She took a moment to re-stack the colorful napkins that had fallen into disarray during the cupcake decorating.
“Listen, I hope you don’t mind me crashing the party.” Davis stood to her left, a pink cupcake with glittery sprinkles in his hand.
“I was just surprised to see you,” she said lamely, adjusting the perfectly positioned veggie tray.
“It was a last-minute thing. Their parents just needed a break.”
“And you were the one to give it to them,” she said.
“Why do I get the feeling that this bothers you?” he asked. “And how long are you going to keep avoiding me?”
