I shook my head, still smiling. “But isn’t it weird that I’m eight years older than her?”
“Seven and a half,” Lucy corrected. “Her birthday is in September. Yours is in February. You really don’t have to round up.”
“So… seven years and seven months.” I gave her a look that said that it was still a big age gap.
“Okay, Mr. Precise,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Butseriously. You’re both adults.” She leaned over and nudged my knee. “If you like her, you should do something about it.”
“Like what?” I asked, still feeling so out of my element.
“Well,” she said. “You’re both going to be in the Hamptons this weekend, right?”
“Yes…” I said, still not sure where this was going.
“And you’re not going to have to worry about Charlotte while you’re there…”
“Yes…”
“So you should… I don’t know… just let loose. Have fun. Flirt. And if she seems to reciprocate, make a move.”
“But what if it doesn’t work?” I asked. “What if I put myself out there and it just blows everything up?”
The image of Nora’s wary expression from not even an hour ago flashed through my mind. I really didn’t want to see that again.
“I don’t have a crystal ball to tell me what will happen but…” Lucy shrugged. “Sometimes you have to take a risk to get something really good.” She paused, then added, “But… remember how I was a bad friend and told you about Nora’s crush? I really don’t think she’ll turn you down if you try something. If anything, she’s probably just wondering if you’re ever going to see her like that.”
My chest filled with warmth at the thought of that actually being true.
Until the more logical part of my brain stepped back in.
“That doesn’t mean she’d actually want to be in a relationship with me,” I said, knowing having a crush on someone and actually building a life with them were two very different things. “I have a three-year-old. I’m not exactly someone you casually date.”
“True,” she said. “And I can’t say how everything will panout. But I do know that she loves Charlotte. So you’re already halfway there.”
And with those words, my mind flashed back to Sunday. To when Nora had said that very thing herself.
I love that little girl.
I exhaled slowly. “Okay…” Then I nodded once. “Well… you’ve definitely given me some things to think about.”
“Good.” Lucy smiled, like she knew that me even considering putting myself out there in any sort of way was a big step. “Just think about it.”
“I will.” I stood, pushing my hands into my pockets. “Thanks for letting me stop by.” Then I added, “And for the pep talk. I needed it.”
“Anytime,” she said, standing as well.
I pulled her into a quick hug.
“Enjoy your girls’ night with Nora,” I said as I headed toward the door.
Lucy laughed. “Oh, I will.”
42
THEO
By the timeI got home on Saturday night, Charlotte was already half-asleep in my arms.
After leaving Lucy and Owen’s place, I’d gone to my parents’ house and ended up spending most of the day there with Charlotte. Which had been really nice—exactly what I’d needed with so many new thoughts running through my mind.