Callie’s still waiting for us at the back door, and I bend down and kiss her forehead as I pass to go in. “Guess what? Uncle Andrew ate all the snacks I keep in my desk.”
“All of them?” She looks appropriately appalled.
“All of them.”
“I earned those snacks.” He shuts the back door firmly behind us. “Your dad has strange friends. Even stranger than me.”
Ha! Andrew referred to her as a “friend” in front of my kid.
It occurs to me that he never asked if Maggie had a reason to be jealous, or if I actually have feelings for Rosalie. He makes an excellent best friend. I never have to reveal anything I don’t want to.
Chapter 13 – We Came to Eat
Rosalie
“Sit by me, Dad.” Wyatt has saved him a seat right between us. Liam glances at me for just a second with that team-meeting look, and I have a feeling it has nothing to do with my job and everything to do with what he and Andrew were talking about that made them late for dinner.
If he knows I overheard Andrew’s question, he’ll want to explain and clear the air, for which I’m eternally grateful. I’m dying to know why Maggie would mention me at all.
“Of course, Wy.” He sits down and leans toward Wyatt, asking him about the video game he’d been playing. Paxton leans in from the other side, not able to sit out on a video game conversation when he’s the expert.
Marisol has a round table so everyone can see each other, but to make it fit in her rectangular kitchen, it’s tucked into her breakfast nook, leaving little space to walk around. I know sheand Andrew have talked about remodeling, but it’s always something they’ll decide on next year. Having lived through my family’s kitchen remodel, I understand the hesitation. We ate out of a crockpot for six months.
Our first course is a salad. Marisol warns Callie and Paxton not to try the salad dressing on top unless they plan to take a bite of lettuce. Paxton immediately dips his fork in and thoughtfully tries the dressing. He’ll show her. Marisol hides a smile. It’s tangy and sweet with a hint of heat but, knowing her, also full of healthy ingredients they’ll never know about.
My salad is gone within a few bites. The portions are kept tiny so that nobody feels pressured. It’s a kind gesture for the picky-picks, but sad for those who came to EAT, like me and Wyatt. His plate’s empty too, and he’s already craning his neck around looking for more food.
Liam catches me taking an indelicate swipe at my plate. “You gonna lick the plate, next?” he asks with one eyebrow raised.
“Maybe.”
When our eyes meet, he quickly looks away. “Sorry, I shouldn’t tease you.”
Yes, what a crime. I hate it when he’s funny and interested in what I’m doing.
He goes back to politely eating, and it makes me so irritated that I reach out and steal a curly piece of carrot from his plate and pop it into my mouth.
He ignores me, but we’ve caught the attention of Callie from across the table.
“Ro’s eating with her fingers and stealing food,” she announces.
Bea, sitting next to her, pounds the table. “Off with her head!”
“Bea,” Marisol warns.
“What? We deserve justice.”
I put my hands up in surrender. “They caught me. I’ll wash my hands and use my fork from now on. When I steal.” I wink at Bea.
I’m sitting on the far side by the window, and Liam has to scoot in to let me by. On my way back to my seat, I don’t botherasking him to move in again since he’s talking. Instead, I brush up against him in order to fit and apologize with a hand on his shoulder. Except, he loses his train of thought mid-sentence.
In that moment of awkward silence, I feel Marisol’s gaze on me, but I studiously avoid looking at her or anyone. Real embarrassment settles in, the kind that makes my face and neck hot. I quickly sit back down.
Marisol told me years ago that when Liam first looked for a nanny, a couple of the applicants were totally inappropriate with him, knowing he was freshly divorced.And hot, my mind adds.
I was different. I was focused on the kids and earning money to pay off my student loans, and he needed that. It’s a big part of why he hired me.
We might be friends now, but friends don’t make each other uncomfortable if they accidentally touch. I don’t want to think about it too much. I just won’t do that again. Even if it was unintentional, I should have been more careful.