CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The days start to go by quickly.
Tanner loves the new school, always telling me about the fun he and Aiden get up to. The daycare says that Lilly is an angel. Apparently she’s yet to drop an F bomb there which is a relief.
I don’t see much of my neighbors but when I do it only leaves me with confusing feelings. I’ve realized that I do in fact find all three men attractive and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.
I’ve seen Nathan more than the others since he’s Tanner’s coach, but other than a couple of chats about Tanner’s baseball skills, we haven’t done much talking. I’d thought maybe the date would get brought up, but it hasn’t, more than him telling me to wear something casual. Yet, there’s something about the way he takes the time to make sure he comes over and speaks to Lilly every time we see him that pulls at my heartstrings.
I typically see Chase when I’m on my way to drop the kids off in the morning and he’s usually coming in from a shift or going on shift. He always waves from across the way and one morning he jogged over to check on how everything was going. He didn’t mention the breakdown but I could tell he was trying to make sure there wasn’t another one. I reassured him that there hadn’t been and with a see you later the conversation was over. I’d cursed myself all day about not trying to make more conversation with him until I told Jamille about it and she picked up my slack wanting to know why in the hell I’m pussyfooting around. I’d reminded her of my date with Nathan that she’d set up and she quickly informed me I wasn’t committed to Nathan because of one date.
Then there’s Emmet… he’d stayed at my house while I finished the lunch he’d brought with the help of him eating my fries. We’d chatted about art, but nothing deeper, and he’d still refused to tell me about why Chase arrested him. However, I enjoyed talking with him and watching the way he’d interacted with Charlie who’d rested by his side the entire visit. When he left, he promised that the next time he brought me food, he’d also bring the story with him. I’ve been waiting every day since.
My doorbell rings and I move through the house to get to the door.
“Damn, girl,” is the first thing I hear from Jamille as the door swings open and she raises a perfectly arched brow.
I let out a laugh and roll my eyes. “It’s nothing but jeans and a tank top,” I tell her.
“And a hell of a push up bra,” she says, eyeing my chest.
I only smirk at her, because yes, the push up bra I’m sporting is my favorite and it does wonders for my boobs. Skinny jeans accent my ass and I chose a plain black tank top. My leather jacket is hanging on the rack by the door and I’ll throw it on, on my way out the door. The outfit is cute while still remaining casual.
“Someone looks like they plan on getting some,” she says softly, even though Lilly and Tanner are in the living room and I can see the silhouette of Aiden’s head moving in the car parked, and still running, in my driveway.
“Not tonight,” I tell her. “I plan on keeping things real casual.”
“What?” She gives me a look of disbelief. “Don’t tell me you’re going to follow that third date rule.”
I let out a snort, my mind going to the encounter with Emmet. Stop thinking about it, you’re supposed to be forgetting about it. I focus on Jamille, pushing thoughts of Emmet’s sexy lips from my mind. “I’m not even sure if there will be a third date yet, but I have to take things slowly either way since he does live next door.”
She rolls her eyes at that. “Whatever you say.”
I laugh at her before gathering the kids out of the living room. I’ve taken all week to warm myself up to the idea of them staying with Jamille while I’m out on the date and I constantly reminded myself that she has more parenting skills than I do, so if the kids are okay with me, they’re definitely going to be okay with her.
“I’ll walk you out to the car, since I need to get Lilly’s car seat,” I tell Jamille.
“Okay, and let me reassure you, since I can already tell you’re nervous, I will take care of them like they’re my own,” she pats me on the shoulder and it helps ease my nerves slightly as we walk out to the car.
I let her hold Lilly while I get the car seat transferred over and she fastens her in. Tanner is already sitting next to Aiden, looking down at the handheld gaming device he has as they laugh.
“Bye Tanner, love you.”
“Love you too,” he says without looking up. I lean in and kiss Lilly on the forehead before closing the door.
“You have my cellphone number if you need anything,” I tell Jamille.
“Everything’s going to go alright, girl, no need to worry,” she reassures me.
“Okay, I’ll call you as soon as I’m on my way to get them okay.”
She waves me off, “No worries, just enjoy yourself.”
“Okay,” I let out a breath and with one more glance at the car, I go back into the house. The nerves aren’t as bad as I anticipated and I relate it to the kids being gone the past week for school and daycare.
A knock sounds at the door not even a few seconds later and that’s when the nerves I expected actually start to kick in. “You’ve been on a thousand dates, Ivy,” I remind myself as I grab my jacket and pull it on. “Hell, you fucked your college professor and you were never this nervous about it.” Yet something about the thought of going on this date makes my heart pound and my knees weak.
There’s another knock on the door and I realize I’ve just been staring at it like an idiot. I take a deep breath and finally open the door.