“I gottem’,” Byron said without thought. “They’re off at twelve-thirty today, right? Early day?”
“Yeah, I dropped them off and Ali was insisting she could pick them up but—”
“No, way,” Byron said before his already relieved sounding brother could finish. “Tell her I got this.”
They discussed a few more details about the girls, and Beast’s schedule for the rest of the day before he got off the phone. Exhaling loudly once off the phone, Byron wondered if it’d be too weird for him to ask Vannah to come with him to pick up the girls at school. They could all go grab something to eat together after. It was either that or cancel their lunch date which had him groaning already. No telling when they’d both be free to meet up again. Especially since her family had pretty much confirmed they’d for sure be in town all weekend.
Glancing at the clock, Byron bit the bullet and called her. It was still a couple of hours before their scheduled meetup. He could at least not cancel last minute if in fact she passed on hanging out with him and his nieces. He knew his Little’s would be full of questions for him after, but he’d be willing to comply if it meant seeing Vannah again.
“Hi,” she answered cheerfully and that alone had Byron smiling immediately.
“Hey, how we doing?”
“Oh, my gosh,” she huffed. “I’m rushing around as usual.”
“Busy, busy, huh?”
“Yes, my family will be here soon and I’m trying to get a few things done before they get here.”
“Ah, so they’re finally making it out.” He frowned in disappointment because he knew what that meant, it’d be even longer until he’d see her again. “No cancelling this time?”
“No. They’re on their way as we speak. Should be here around lunchtime.”
“Speaking of.” Byron cleared his throat a little nervous about suggesting she hang with him and his nieces on this only their second date. “My brother needs me to pick up his girls from school today. Their sitter’s come down with something and they get off early today—half past noon.”
He left it at that for a moment to get her reaction since that’s when they were supposed to meet. She was quiet for a moment before responding. “Oh well, it’s probably for the best. My dad was kind of disappointed about me blowing him off for lunch today. My other siblings are doing their own thing for lunch, so it would’ve been just me and my parents. I lied and said I had a class I couldn’t get out of, so I could see you and then meet up with all of them later.”
“Uh . . .” This was not what the response he was going for, damn it. “I—”
“It sucks that our plans keep getting put off. But after this weekend my schedule should go back to normal.”
Before Byron could respond that he did not want to wait until after the weekend to see her—regardless of sounding pushy or a little too anxious—Vannah added something else that surprised him.
“I miss you.”
It’d been less than a week since he’d last been with her and he’d worried he was getting way ahead of himself by missing her lips, her touch, that bright smile and laugh so much. Hearing her say she missed him, and as genuinely as it sounded had him smiling again.
“I miss you too.” These were not friends-only admissions and it had him smiling even bigger now. “I’m not waiting until next week to see you again, Vannah. You gotta squeeze me in your schedule sometime this weekend.”
Hearing her laugh softy relieved him to no end. As much as he’d attempted to bring it down a notch and make that last request sound playful, he knew it was bordering on the demanding.
“Today and tonight will be out of the question. My dad was pretty adamant that I meet up with them as early as possible. So, since our plans have changed, I can acquiesce him now. He’ll be happy about that. But the one thing I had agreed to do since yesterday was the show in Hollywood, he bought tickets for tonight. Not sure how late we’ll be out, and I didn’t ask about their accommodations, so I have no idea who’ll be coming home with me to my dorm tonight. But I don’t think they have any solid plans for tomorrow. I can figure some way of sneaking away I’m sure.”
Byron cursed himself for not having had the balls to just invite her to lunch with his nieces to begin with. He only had himself to blame for giving her an out. But at least the conversation had taken a turn. Despite their amazing time on the beach last week, all week he’d been careful to not sound too pushy—too needy—too much like already he wanted more than the just-friends relationship, she’d made all too clear is the most she was willing to do. Even his associates and more-than-friends crap, had obviously been an avoided topic all week.
She’d made the first move by admitting she missed him. That couldn’t be something she said to all her friends, right? And as busy as she’d been all week, when else could she have had time to sneak in anything with anyone else? Despite the all day-long texts, phone calls, and video chatting they’d done this past week, she’d pointed out she was doing it on her very limited down time. So, like Byron was doing with her, any available time she had from her busy life, clearly, he’d been her priority as well. Including every night they’d spent talking until lights out.
Ever since their night at the beach, Byron hadn’t so much as considered calling back or even returning any texts from any other girls who’d reached out that week. As much as he was trying to not just make assumptions, it had to be a given that Vannah wasn’t making time for anyone else either, right?
After regrettably confirming he wouldn’t be seeing Vannah again today either, since she had plans with her family all day and night, they were off the phone. But she did promise to try and work something out so they might get together tomorrow.
With a busy morning at the shop, the time to pick up the girls came around before Byron knew it. He washed up and headed out to their school pondering on where he’d take them to lunch. The last couple of times had been Olive Garden and it was getting old. He knew they liked Mexican and decided King Taco it was. Their street tacos were the perfect size for his two Littles. He’d taken them there before and they liked it. Though, like a lot of things they were complete opposites when it came to how they liked their tacos.
You’d think Elsa who was the oldest would be the bravest, and more willing to try new stuff. But she always asked for her tacos plain. Lucy, on the other hand, liked hers with plenty of cilantro, onions, and green sauce. It always made Byron chuckle when he’d watch her eat tortilla chips. She’d dip each one into hot salsa, and after taking a bite, she’d suck air into her puckered little lips, because it was so spicy. Then dip it right back in for more.
Lucy and Byron were at the salsa bar at the busy taco place, while Elsa saved them a booth a few feet away. “I want some of that.” Lucy pointed at the bowl with the pickled carrots and jalapeños.
“The jalapeño escabeche?”
Calling it by its real name had Byron pressing his lips together and breathing in deep. His mother was the only one who ever used the proper name for it. Everyone else he knew just referred to it as his first thought, pickled carrots, and jalapeños. Shaking off any more thoughts of his mother, he glanced back at his niece’s big eyes as she nodded.