Halftime Husband (Sassy in the City 5)

“You want a drink? Then I’ll give you the five-dollar tour.” I hadn’t even really realized that I’d never invited anyone over to the apartment. It was hard to entertain as a single dad at any time, and nearly impossible during the season.

“Sure. Is Carson here?”

“No, not yet.” I went over to the area of the dining room where I kept the liquor in a locked cabinet. I’d started the habit of locking it when Willow started crawling and I’d kept up with it. Then with Bridget’s problems escalating, I’d stopped keeping alcohol in the house at all. Since my divorce, it was still a novelty to have a drink at night again. “I know Carson is young, but I appreciate that he gives me crap right back. He’s a good kid.”

“He’s hilarious,” Matt said. “For being that skinny he talks tough.”

The door buzzed. “That’s him. Fix yourself a drink.”

“You’re a garbage host. Just saying.”

I flipped him off and went to let Carson in. It was the first time I’d seen him in completely casual clothes. He was wearing joggers and a casual button-up shirt that looked straight out of the eighties.

“Wow, that’s a fashion statement, man.”

“What? It’s on trend. Just because you’re LL Bean until you die doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t have fun with fashion.”

I pointed a finger at him. “That. Right there. Fun with fashion. No.”

Carson just grinned. “Fuck off.” He stepped in. “Hey, Matt, what’s up?”

“Just pregaming before we go out.” He lifted a glass into the air.

I poured myself a bourbon like Matt had. Carson went for a gin and toxic. Then I gave them a tour during which Matt harassed me for the finishes and features. “They came with the apartment,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. “You’re just jealous.”

“Damn right I’m jealous. I have to mow a half of a fucking acre yard every week and constantly repaint rooms and here you are living like a bachelor in the city.”

I threw open Poppy’s bedroom door. “Does this look like a bachelor’s apartment?”

Her room was actually tidy, but filled with stuffies and her growing lab.

“What the hell is that kid doing, cooking meth?” Matt asked. “Jesus. Now I know how you pay for this apartment.”

“She likes to create chemical reactions. Don’t worry, I control her materials. Nothing toxic, illegal, or dangerous is happening here.

“And the new teenager’s room,” I said, opening Willow’s door. This room was classic teen girl. Clothes and fairy lights everywhere. Lots and lots of fuzzy throw pillows.

“This looks like my daughter’s room,” Matt said.

“This looks like my room,” Carson said.

That made me laugh. “I feel like you’re telling the truth.”

Matt had moved ahead and with the confidence of a decades-long friendship behind us, he was randomly opening the remaining doors. “Whose room is this, the nanny’s?”

“Yes.” I knew what he was seeing. A small room with very little personality. Dakota hadn’t decorated. The only evidence of her was her clothes in the closet.

“Hmm. Very clean.”

He wandered into the bathroom, and as we followed, Carson exclaiming over the floating mahogany vanity and the modern fixtures, Matt opened the door to my bedroom. He turned and gave me a look. “Are you for real right now, bro? Her room is connected to yours by a bathroom? That’s not even fair.”

“It wasn’t even my idea. It was Poppy’s. She had the small room and she wanted to switch. Talk about a stroke of luck.” I still felt triumphant about that.

“I hate you.”

“Don’t be like that.” I crossed my arms as I stepped into my bedroom, giving him a grin. “You know I’d love to have a marriage like you have with Shelly.” It was true.

Matt was being nosy as hell. He opened the nightstand drawer.