“What did you two girls do today?” I ask from across the table.
Jaxi puts down her menu. Her eyes sparkle. “Do you want to know what I did today? Really?”
“I asked so …”
She fake glares at me. “I looked into taking some courses for property management. I think I can get a grant to go back to school if I want to.”
“Property management, huh?”
She nods, picking up the water glass the waitress dropped off a few minutes ago. “I’ve always loved houses and buildings and things like that. But I was scrubbing the bathroom floor after someone decided to color on it with a marker.”
Rosie smiles.
“And I realized that there are a lot of Chucks out there. People shouldn’t have to feel the way I did when I was living in Columbus. So, I thought that since I’m basically starting over, I might as well pick something that I could enjoy, and I think I’d enjoy that.”
“I think you’d be great at it.”
“Thanks,” she says, grinning.
“Can we go to the zoo?” Rosie asks out of nowhere.
I furrow my brow. “The zoo? That’s random.”
Jaxi sighs. “Rosie figured out how to watch YouTube on the kitchen television today. I didn’t know you could even do that. I walk in, and she’s watching some cartoon documentary kind of thing on zoos. We watched it six times. At least.”
I fold my hands on the table. “I thought you wanted a puppy?”
“I do,” Rosie says. “But I want to go to the zoo. There are so many animals at the zoo, Boone. You should see. Can we go?”
“We can go,” I say slowly. “But you have to be a big girl and start sleeping in your big girl bed all night long.”
Jaxi fires me a shit-eating grin.
Everywhere I turn, Rosie is there. I can’t get a second alone with Jaxi to save my damn life.
How do people find time to do anything remotely sexual with a toddler on the prowl? I tried to get up early this morning, and guess who else got up?
Rosie.
She’s the cutest little mood-killer ever.
“I don’t really like sleeping alone,” Rosie says, her eyes glued to her menu. She’s too fucking cute.
“Well, I really think you should try sleeping alone. Don’t you want to be a big girl?” I ask.
“Nope.”
Jaxi giggles. “What do you want to eat, Rosie?”
“Um …” Rosie slides her finger down the menu as if she’s weighing the entrée options that she can’t even read. “I’ll have that,” she says, flicking the plastic with the tip of her finger.
I pull the menu down. She’s pointing at prime rib.
“Chicken tenders?” I ask. “Excellent choice.”
“That’s what I want. And a Prite.”
“And a Sprite,” I note. “Feeling a little cute today, are we?”
As if on cue, our waitress comes to our table and collects our orders. She takes the menus back to the kitchen with her.
Jaxi helps Rosie open the coloring crayons that were given to her by the waitress. I stretch my legs out under the table. I’m just about to ask Jaxi if she’s heard from Libby when my phone buzzes next to me.
I don’t recognize the number.
I pick up the phone and read the text.
Danny: This is Danny Coutcher, a friend of Anjelica Grace. She told me that you were interested in the apartment complexes that I have available. When would be a good time to reach you?
I look up at Jaxi and smile. A bubble of excitement ripples through my veins.
Me: It’s good to hear from you. Let’s meet up early next week. Does that work for you?
Danny: It does. I’m open every evening. I’ll reach back out over the weekend and we can confirm a date and time.
Me: Sounds like a plan.
“So, how was your day?” Jaxi asks after getting Rosie settled with the crayons.
“Busy. We’re trying to figure out how to purchase a couple of blocks of land and it all hinges on one property.” I stretch my legs out again. “Wade and I are going to meet with them on Monday, I think, to see if we can make a deal.”
“I’m pretty sure you could convince anyone to do anything.”
I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table. “Do you think so?”
She nods.
I lower my voice. “Then let’s hope someone sleeps in their own bed so we can find out.”
Jaxi throws her head back and laughs.
It kills me that I haven’t slept with her yet. It eats me alive. I lay awake every night and think about it, but Rosie is always lurking. I figure it’s more important right now to make sure Rosie is adjusted. So I keep adjusting myself.
I can’t do it much longer, though. I’m only human.
“So, that property management stuff …” I try to switch gears. “Did you find anything out that interests you for sure?”
“No,” she says. “But I did see something else that interested me today.”
“What’s that?”
Her eyes glimmer with mischief. “I saw a light on at Ted’s. I don’t think it was him because I didn’t see his car. It came on and then popped off a few minutes later. So …” She grins. “I called the police and reported that my cousin is out of town and no one should be there. You know, just in case Kimmy was over there pawing through Lib’s stuff.”
“Ooh, I like this side of you,” I tease.
She shrugs. “Libby doesn’t deserve what Ted did to her. I’m just glad that we were able to go over there and get most of her stuff.” She cringes. “I’m sorry that your garage is full of Libby’s things.”
That’s an understatement.
I have no idea what all is piled in the spot my car is supposed to go, but it’s a lot. Boxes and trunks and suitcases from Libby’s are lined up. All of the stuff from Rosie’s room is in there too. That’s not to mention the other shit I had in there. There’s not even room for my car anymore.
“I need a bigger garage,” I say. “And maybe a bigger house.”
“Your house is just fine.”
“It’s cramped. Don’t you think?”
She looks at me like she hopes I’m joking.
“What?” I ask. “The living room is full of Rosie’s toys.”
“Your mom’s fault.”
“My closet is full of my clothes, let alone yours.”
“I have like six things. That’s all you.”
I raise my brows. “But you’re going to have to fill your wardrobe again. You need more clothes.”
“I do not.”
I sigh. “Anyway, I think a bigger house might be nice.”
“No. You are not buying a bigger house.”
Rosie scribbles away. “Can we get a puppy at the bigger house?”
Jaxi kisses her on the side of the head. “We are not getting a bigger house, Rosie.”
I start to piece together my pitch to win her over on the idea when a voice calls out to me.
“Well, hey there, Boone.”
I look over my shoulder and see Marcus Van coming toward me.