“I’m not looking for anything serious either, if you know what I mean.” She winks.
“What does she mean?” Emma asks. “I don’t know what she means.”
“Nothing you need to worry about, sweetie.”
“How about now?” Carol suggests.
I stop what I’m doing and look at Carol. Doesn’t she see I’m here with my family and Nora?
“I’m sorry, but tonight isn’t going to work. I have my kids with me.”
“Oh.”
I’m sorry, Jessa mouths from across the table. Nick smiles dopily without a clue in the world.
I give Carol an awkward smile. “I’m really sorry.”
“Maybe tomorrow night?”
I don’t want to hurt her feelings. She looks like a nice girl, but the answer is no. “Actually, there’s someone—”
Nora puts a hand on my arm, stopping me. “Why don’t I take the kids home, and you can stay here with Carol, Jessa, and Nick?”
“No.” That’s the opposite of what I want.
“It’s really okay.”
“No, it’s not. I’ll go home with you. I want to go home with you.”
“I’m perfectly capable of getting the kids to bed.”
“I know you are, but—”
“Dad, do I have to take a shower tonight?” Jack asks from across the table.
“Yes. You have to take a shower every night.”
“Why?”
Is he really going to argue with me about this right now, in the middle of a restaurant while I’m getting hit on by one woman and brushed off by another?
“Because I’m your dad and I said so.”
Never thought those words would come out of my mouth, but there they are.
Nora wipes Emma’s face off with a towelette and nods to Jack. “Come on, Jack, I’ll take you guys home. You can be in and out of the shower in minutes.”
Carol skitters around the table and smiles at Nora. “I’m a big fan. I was trying to respect your privacy when I saw you sitting here with Jessa and Nick, but I’d really love it if I could get your autograph before you leave.”
Nora looks at her with a mask of indifference. “Oh, uh, I would, but I don’t have a pen.”
“I’ve got one.” Carol digs around in her oversized purse and pulls out a pen and piece of paper.
Kill me now.
Nora signs the paper and hands it back. “Come on, kids. Let’s go.”
“Thanks again.” Carol leans in a little closer. “And thank you for taking the kids home so Grayson and I can have our date.”