Surprised, I lean back and check my daughter’s expression. She stares at me with Bridget’s wide brown eyes.
“Yes, I did,” I say carefully. “Asher and I are close, Rosie. And sometimes men kiss each other. Sometimes men even have boyfriends. A man can have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, just like a woman can have a girlfriend or a boyfriend.”
We have a picture book about this at home, of course. Bridget bought it when Rosie asked why Alba had two mommies.
“Mommy kisses Morgan sometimes,” Rosie says.
“Yes, I’m sure she does. She loves him. And when you love someone—and you have their permission—you can kiss them.”
“Okay,” she says.
This is going pretty well, but I brace myself for another question. And then it comes.
“Can I get frozen cheesecake on a stick?”
“Wait, what?” My mind scrambles to make sense of that question. But nope. I got nothing.
“When Darcy went to Disney World, she ate cheesecake on a stick. Are we going to do that?”
“Uh, maybe? If we see it, and if we ate a good lunch.”
“Okay,” Rosie says simply. “Neat.”
I close the door. Then I climb into the car and start up the engine.
See you later, Miami. It was nice knowing you.
39
NEVER SAY NEVER
TUESDAY AND BEYOND
MARK
“Can we go back to the pool, Daddy?” Rosie asks as I sign the dinner bill Tuesday night.
“Nope,” I say with weary firmness. “It’s already past your bedtime.” Daddy needs a twelve-dollar beer from the mini bar, a massage, and a break. “Tomorrow we’ll hit the pool, though. We’ll do all your favorite things one more time.”
“Even the teacups? Even if the line is long?”
“Yup. I promise.”
I’d bought four-day passes to the parks when three would have been plenty. Disney World is killing me. The lines. The crowds. The heat. But Rosie is having the time of her life. I’ve taken approximately one thousand photos. And I know I’ll look back on this trip fondly.
Someday. After my feet recover.
Rosie is tired, too, and she doesn’t put up a fight when I get her into her nightie up in our room. I skip bath time, though, because pool water totally counts, right?
Right.
“Good night, cupcake,” I say, kissing her forehead as she snuggles under the comforter.
My phone bleats with a text.
Her head pops off the pillow. “Is that Mommy?”
“No,” I answer immediately. Even if it is, this day is done. I’m mentally putting my feet up right now.
“How do you know if you don’t check?” my wise daughter wants to know.
Good point. I cross to the console table and peer at the phone. Asher St. James.
My stupid heart kicks just seeing his name. The text says: New episode tonight. Want to watch it together?
“Is it Mommy?” Rosie asks again.
“No, pumpkin. Just a friend.” I set the phone down and give Rosie another goodnight kiss. I turn out all the lights, mute my phone, and climb onto my own bed to contemplate Asher’s text. I wasn’t expecting to hear from him. Didn’t think we’d become text buddies. If that’s what this is.
And I haven’t reached out to Asher at all. In my defense, I’ve been busy dragging my ass all over Disney World.
But I also didn’t want to come off as clingy. The man is moving to another continent, after all.
I stare at Asher’s text, wondering what to say. After way too much thought, I go with: Hey stranger. Wish I could watch it with you. But I’m in a hotel room with my sleeping kid. You’d better watch without me.
And do every other thing without me, too. I don’t add that, even though it’s true. When do you leave for Paris? I ask, because I like to torture myself.
He replies immediately. Tomorrow.
Well that settles that, doesn’t it? I hope you have an amazing time. Be well and take care of yourself.
I almost add something flirty about his hair or his lips. God knows all the things I said to him this past week. It was a lot. It was intense.
But maybe every hot fling feels like that. How would I know? Maybe I imagined that we were something special together.
You too, he eventually replies. But that’s all I get.
I stare at my phone, wondering if there’s anything more I could say that would make a difference. Doubtful. Besides, maybe his watch-party offer is just something he does?staying pals with a hookup. Just like he rents expensive sports cars, flies first class, and knows all the DJs by name.
My phone lights up again, and for a second, joy whips through me. It’s scary how much I like being in touch with him. But Hannah’s messaging. She’s in Hawaii, where it’s mid-afternoon. Can I call you? she asks.
That gets me off the bed in a flash and tiptoeing into the bathroom, where I shut the door and tap her number. “Is everything okay?” I ask as soon as she answers.