“Tonight. When you were up in the bathroom with Declan.”
“Did he say anything else?”
I thought back, trying to remember. “Yeah... I don’t totally remember though. Just that he never pictured you with a kid, I think.”
It was hard to read the expression on Cole’s face, but I was getting the feeling that he was thinking Ben had said something to me that he shouldn’t have.
“I think that’s pretty normal,” I ventured. “I know plenty of parents that are still surprised sometimes to realize that they have a child they’re completely responsible for. I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if I felt that way. If I had my own kid, of course.”
Cole had this kind of odd, pensive look on his face, but then the server came back over with our wine and asked us if we were ready to order, which we weren’t since we hadn’t even looked at the menu yet.
So we busied ourselves doing that; I decided on the seared sea bass, and Cole got the roasted rack of lamb. We both got salads and decided to split the cheese platter. Luckily, the conversation did not go back to my mother, and despite the fact that I could feel my phone vibrating in my purse, we had a great time.
When it came time for dessert, I felt so stuffed, but the warm chocolate lava cake with almond ice cream just sounded too good to pass up, so we decided to split it.
“Ohhhh, this is heavenly,” Cole said, his eyes closing as he took a bite. “You have to try this. And quick, before I eat the whole thing. Here, try it like this, with the ice cream.”
He hoisted his spoon across the table to me and I leaned over and took a bite. It might have been the most delicious thing I had ever tasted, the warm cake melting the almond ice cream, a flavor I didn’t think that I’d tried before.
“Oh my God,” I said. “You’re right. That is amazing.”
I was almost tempted to suggest that we order another once we had all but licked the plate clean, but I decided against it, not wanting to split the seams of my dress.
It was actually pretty late when we were finally finished with dinner, so we went back home. As we drove, Cole reached over, took my hand, and gave it a squeeze.
“Tonight was absolutely lovely,” he said. “I’m so glad that we were able to go out and do that. I guess we’ll have to thank Ben, too.”
“Yes, we will,” I said. I shook my head, laughing. “I can’t believe that you guys had that dumb bet about who was going to sleep with me.”
Cole started to laugh, too. “Oh yeah, that. It seriously seems like a lifetime ago, even though I know it wasn’t that long. It’s weird, though—it feels like I’ve known you a lot longer than just this summer.”
“I know,” I said. “I feel that way, too.”
“I guess that just means that you were meant to be in my life.”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” I replied with a smile.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cole
“So you’ll be going out for a ride?” my father asked.
He and my mother were about to leave with Declan to head for the playground and then ice cream.
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s a good day for a ride. I probably won’t go too far.”
“Take your time,” he said. “If we get back before you, we’ll just hang out. Enjoy yourself.”
r /> I gave Declan and my mother a hug before they left, then I stood there in the driveway and waved as they drove off.
I went into my room to change into my kit, but I happened to look out the window as I was pulling my T-shirt off. And there was Allie, stretched out in the backyard on a lounge chair, wearing a bikini. A rather modest one, but she looked hot as hell in it, those long, tan legs of hers, her toned torso, and smooth skin all gleaming with suntan lotion. I felt myself get hard just standing there, and I left my cycling kit on the bed and went over to her yard.
“Hey,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, though all I really wanted to do was jump on top of her. She sat up, a smile on her face.
“Hey, you,” she said. “How’s it going? Pull up a chair; I’m just being a lazy bum.”
“Well, you look damn fine doing it.”