Relapse

He smiles. “About yesterday-”

I should have fucking known.

I frown as I prepare to listen to him criticize my parenting skills.

“I’m sorry about Emmet.”

My eyes widen at that. “Emmet?”

“The man whose dog ran into you,” he clarifies, even though my brain has clued into who he’s talking about already.

“Oh.” I’m still caught off guard, not expecting this conversation to be going the way it is.

He runs a hand through his brown hair. “He promises he didn’t mean to cause you any trouble and he’s still young so sometimes he makes dumb decisions. He didn’t know anyone had moved into the house next to ours or he wouldn’t have been in your yard. I know it’s not a good excuse, but he really is sorry.”

Wait. They both live next to me. But I thought the hot cop was my neighbor. Maybe he lives on one side and they live on the other.

I shake my head. “Oh… well, thank you.” Fuck come up with words, you idiot. I clear my throat. “There may have been some fault on my part somewhere in there,” I tell him. See, you have matured some. “I probably shouldn’t have assaulted him with an ice cream cone.”

Nathan gives me a crooked smile and my heart beats faster. “From my understanding, he’d already caused you to drop your own ice cream, so it’s totally understandable.”

I find myself smiling back at him as my heart flutters in my chest. “You called him young, but the guy didn’t appear to be too young to me.” I distinctly remember thinking the man looked to be around my age.

“He’s 27.”

Only a year older than me.“So, a completely grown man,” I clarify.

Nathan lets out a slight laugh. “I tend to forget that just because someone is younger than me it doesn’t mean they’re a complete kid.”

I lean back on the bench behind me, propping my arms up as I eye him. He looks to be about six feet tall, defined muscles can’t be hidden by the black t-shirt he has on, and his beard gives him a bit of a mature air, but he still doesn’t seem that old. “And how old are you?” I question, bringing my eyes to his.

He shifts his stance, folding his arms over his chest. “32.”

“Not that much older,” I tell him.

His smile returns. “Old enough to realize you were owed an apology which is why I’d like it if you allowed me to take you to dinner.”

What?

I eye the handsome man in front of me, surprised by his offer. God, he’s hot and if this was pre-kids he wouldn’t have had to ask me out for dinner because I’d already have him in the backseat of my car for a quickie.

But I do have kids…

I shake my head. “No, I can’t,” I tell him. “The kids and I are still getting settled in and I… I can’t.” I don’t know how to explain the situation, the fact that I have a horrible reputation with men and that they bring out the worst in me when right now I need the best of me. The kids need the best of me.

His smile drops slightly but he nods. “I understand, but know that the offer stands.”

“Thank you,” I tell him, even though I know I won’t be taking him up on it.

“Well, I’ve got to head in, but I’m sure I’ll see you around.” He offers me another smile before leaving.

Three hot neighbors, I realize as I think of his earlier words. Even though that Emmet character was an asshole, I can’t deny how good he looked. Then there’s the cop and now Nathan.

You’re on a man cleanse until Lilly graduates from high school,I remind myself.

Fuck.

I grab a blueberry sucker from out of my purse, as my fingers begin to itch again.

I need a cigarette.