“How old are your twins?” Victoria asked.
“They’ll be three in April.” Ellie glanced over at the kids to find Jesse flying French fry airplanes covered with ketchup into Daniel’s mouth.
“They’re adorable.”
Eric shook his head. “Don’t go getting ideas.”
“We agreed to wait for a few years, and I’m not changing that.”
“Yeah?” Eric looked like he didn’t believe his wife. “She and Lexi are best friends. As soon as that baby’s here, I’m afraid Vickie is going to want one of her own.”
Victoria laughed at this. “I will—eventually.”
By now, Daisy had resorted to throwing French fries onto the floor—which meant that it was time to go.
Ellie took two wet wipes out of her handbag and cleaned the ketchup off the kids’ fingers. “I need to get them home, bathed, and in bed. I work tomorrow. Did the server bring our checks?”
“I paid already,” Jesse said.
Ellie stared at him. “You paid—for all three of us?”
“Yes, all three of you. You think I’d make the kids pay for themselves?”
She laughed. “Thank you. That was incredibly kind of you.”
He shrugged it off. “It was nothing.”
She leaned closer. “There’s ketchup on your cheek.”
“Oh. Yeah.” He wiped it off. “Thanks.”
She stood. “Nice to see you all.”
“Nice to see you, too, Ellie,” Hawke said. “Come around more often.”
Ellie put the amount she’d planned to spend in the donation jar. Then Jesse helped her get the kids out to the car and into their car seats. For a moment they stood in the parking lot in awkward silence.
She reached out, took his hand. “Thanks for dinner. That’s the second night you’ve fed the three of us.”
He raised her hand to his lips, kissed it. “You’re welcome.”
“I’d invite you over, but I’m beat. I’m probably going to bed as soon as the kids are asleep.” It was disappointing to have to admit it.
He nodded. “Yeah. I need to hit the sack early, too.”
She stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “See you.”
“Yeah.” He turned and walked away.
She felt the pull of it, this parting, regret tugging at her. She turned toward him again just as he turned to face her, and they spoke at the same time.
“Maybe—”
“We could—”
They laughed.
“You first,” he said.