I gave her what I hoped to be a friendly wave. “Do you want me to blow some bubbles for you?” When she still didn’t say anything, I added, “When I was little, your dad and I used to try to jump over the bubbles before they hit the ground. We could try it if you wanted.”
Her eyes flitted from me to the ground, back and forth, probably deciding if what I was offering would be worth it, before finally relenting. “Okay.”
I may as well have won the lottery with the way the grin split my face at her words.
Once I had a good stream of bubbles going, it was no time at all before we were both trying to jump over them.
At first, we were quiet, concentration etched across our faces. Until I decided we were too quiet. Too stiff together. Something needed to break the ice. I took a play from Jake’s book, who was always so natural with kids, and took an extra-large leap and pretended to go down, rolling dramatically on the grass and groaning. When I peeked an eye open, Sophie was staring at me incredulously until I exclaimed a very loud, “Yikes!”
One giggle, which showcased a very cute smile full of baby teeth, came bursting free.
A glutton for punishment, but now willing to do anything to keep that infectious giggle going, I attempted to stand before something in the air would violently knock me back down.
More giggles. This time from both of us. I wasn’t sure why someone wouldn’t just do everything in their power to make her laugh all day long. We played like this for a few long moments, me doing crazy movements to keep this going and her laughs getting more raucous as I went.
Eventually, my body resisted any more wild movements, and I sat up but didn’t stand yet. I didn’t want to break our spell.
“I can do a cartwheel,” Sophie exclaimed proudly.
“Really? Can I see?”
That was the right question, and soon she was off, stopping after four cartwheels to ask what my name was.
“I’m Shelby.”
“Shelby, watch this!”
“I’m watching!”
From behind me, the screen door opened, and after a moment, I felt Jake’s shoulder nudge into mine as he sat by me. The scent of his aftershave and the warm press of his armagainst mine caught my breath for a second, though I kept my eyes on his daughter.
“I hope you know what you’ve done,” he said lightly. “You’ll be hearing those words the rest of your time here.”
“She’s adorable.”
“She’s cute, but she was supposed to finish her breakfast before coming outside!” Jake exclaimed loudly enough for Sophie to hear.
They had an exchange, Jake teasing her and telling her she’d have to eat the twins’ scraps at Kelsey's, to which she squealed a very resounding no.
He looked at me, his hair slightly messy up top. “You going to put the moves on Briggs today?”
“I think I’m going to let whatever magic was between us die.”
“Probably for the best. I saw him limping into work a bit ago.”
My head whipped his way. “You did not!”
Jake’s demeanor relaxed into a teasing grin. “I did, but we’ll just imagine he pulled a muscle.”
“Hey! Watch me!” Sophie’s voice rang out between us.
We both turned at the same time and clapped at an attempted cartwheel by Sophie in front of us.
While Jake picked Sophie up and spun her around, I was suddenly struck by how handsome my friend was, with his strong jawline and deep-set eyes. If I looked close enough, I’d see the tiny scar on his chin from accidentally catching himself with a fish hook when he was a teen.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. The number calling me was one I didn’t recognize.
“Is this Shelby Tucker?” a friendly female voice filled the line.