“In the morning?”
I nod.
“You work nights?” She’s looking anywhere but at me.
“I’m sorry, are we having a conversation?”
Reluctantly her eyes meet mine, and I can’t help my smirk. I’m rewarded with a scowl. “You know how hard this is for me to ask.”
“Sorry, but I’m just wondering why you’re having such a hard time looking at me.”
“I have a date.” She swallows. “Well, not a date, kind of a date. An old friend from college. He wants to have a drink and catch up.”
“Good for you. Go. I’ll take good care of him.”
She hesitates, glancing over my shoulder. “Just forget it. I can do this another time.”
“What changed your mind in the five seconds since I agreed?”
“I just…he hasn’t eaten dinner.”
“I fed him already.”
She gapes at me. “What?”
“Grilled cheese.”
She palms her forehead. “He’s lactose intolerant.”
“Shit,” I glance back at Dante, who’s still mouthing off to Theo on the couch. “Do I need to take him to the doctor?”
“No,” she sighs. “He knows better. You’ve been suckered.”
“That’s my boy.”
Her glare has me swallowing.
“And there’s my hesitation. He’s probably going to run over you.”
I lift my hand, “I think I can handle him.”
“Do you?” The smile she’s sporting scares the hell out of me. She bites her lip and looks up at me through her lashes. “Good luck with that, neighbor.”
“Hav
e a good time on your date, not a date, old friend get together.”
She rolls her eyes and sighs. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Sounds good.”
I shut the door and mentally roll up my sleeves. This is my shot.
“TROY!”
I close my eyes and scrub my face with my hand as Theo chuckles from where he sits on the couch.
“Bet you’re wishing you didn’t offer your child sitting services up so fast.”