“I love baseball. Do you like baseball?”
“I do. Can you grab some paper plates?”
Jack nods and walks to the opposite side of the kitchen. “What’s your favorite team.”
“I like the Cardinals.”
Grayson laughs, and Jack curls his nose. “We can’t be friends.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because the Cardinals suck.”
“Jack,” Grayson warns.
“Sorry.” Jack’s cheeks turn pink, but he manages a smile when he looks at me. “I’m not a fan of the Cardinals.”
“I can tell. What team do you like?”
“The Cubs.”
“Oh my gosh.” I set the oven mitt down and shake my head. “Now we really can’t be friends. Get out!” I point to the front door.
“It’s my house!” Jack says, laughing.
I smile.
“Wouldn’t it be fun if we could go to a Cards-Cubs game together?” he asks.
“That would be fun. Now go get your sister and brother and tell them it’s time to eat.”
“You’re good with him.” Grayson takes the oven mitt from my hand, pulls the first pizza out, and puts it on the stove.
“He’s a good kid.”
“You’re good with all of them,” he says, pulling the second one out.
“So, you don’t mind if I take one home with me? You’ll still have two.”
Grayson laughs. “Depends. Do I get to pick which one you take?”
I open my mouth to tell him I’d take any of them when Jack runs back into the room. “Are you staying to eat with us?” he asks.
“If you don’t mind.”
He shakes his head. “Can you stay after we eat?”
“Oh…Uh…”
“She probably has plans, buddy,” Grayson says.
“I don’t.”
His eyes find mine. A slow smile pulls at the corner of his lips. “Well, okay then. You’ll stay.”
“Come sit down.” Jack takes my hand and drags me to a seat. “I want to tell you all about the birthday party dad is letting me have. You’re going to come, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”