Tate: Feeling better?
Lexi: A bit, yeah. I’m thinking of having a smoothie... but it’s green.
Tate: ???????
Lexi: I’m wary of green drinks.
He responded after a few seconds.
Tate: I’ve only ever heard Paisley say stuff like that.
Lexi: Probably why I like kids so much. How is she doing?
Tate: She’s with Gran.
Figured. Early on he’d asked me if I could also work on the Fourth because he had clients in town.
Lexi: Is she upset?
Tate: No. Don’t worry about anything. Focus on getting better, okay?
I did worry about disappointing her if I didn’t go back, though. And after what Tate told me about discussing dating with Paisley, I was even more confused than before. What did it mean?
My heart thundered just thinking about him.
I braced myself to take a sip of the smoothie, and to my astonishment, it wasn’t bad. It had a cooling effect on me, and swallowing didn’t hurt my ear like it had before.
I felt much better than the day before, but not enough to leave my apartment, so I settled on the couch with Netflix.
Jenny and Ella texted me a pic of them at camp, with the caption “Happy 4th of July.”
I sent them back a pic of me pouting, and they immediately called. I spent half an hour with them on the phone and then intended to rewatch Reign, but midway through the first episode, I realized I wasn’t paying attention. I was thinking about Tate’s conversation with Paisley again.
Grabbing my phone, I almost texted to ask him about it, but I deleted the message. I wasn’t ready to have that conversation yet. I couldn’t trust myself not to start rambling again. What if he started saying something swoon-worthy again? I’d ramble for sure.
I didn’t know what to do. I needed advice, so I called my mom.
“Hey, sweetheart. How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Much better than yesterday.”
“Do you have any food?” she asked in a crisp voice, making me smile, reminding me of the old version of Mom, when she was younger and stronger, before her heart problems began. I was happy that she sounded more like her old self.
“Yes, I do, actually. Tate stopped by with food yesterday.”
“Tate, your employer?”
“Yes.” I hesitated a bit. “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”
In a rush, I told her about my attraction to Tate, that it was mutual, and I wasn’t sure what to do.
“And I don’t know if it’s even worth thinking about. I mean, I’m a teacher. Going out with a parent feels a bit wrong.” Not to mention he was my employer, but that was temporary and didn’t feel as daunting.
“Darling, I was a teacher too, so I understand where you’re coming from, but Paisley’s not a student at your school. I don’t see why that should be a problem. You’re too hard on yourself. Or is there something more?”
She could always see right through me. “I’m afraid I could fall for him, Mom. He seems a bit closed off. I think it’s because of his divorce.”
“There’s no way of knowing what you can have without taking a risk, honey.”
“I was afraid you might say that,” I said. “Maybe I needed to hear it. How are you feeling? Is Dad spoiling you?”
“Oh, yes he is. He’s been cooking up a storm lately.”
That sounded like Dad.
I spoke a bit longer with Mom before hanging up. Glancing at my phone, I realized I had messages from both Jenny and Ella. They were asking how I was feeling.
I took a picture of myself with my smoothie and fully stocked fridge and sent it in the group chat I had with both of them.
Lexi: I’m feeling better today. My off-limits but irresistible employer stopped by with food.
Jenny: He did what? Girl, I’m liking this guy.
Ella: I second that. I really, really like him.
Oh yeah. So do I.
For the rest of the day, Paisley and Tate were front and center in my mind, along with Mom’s words. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them if I left right now. And deep down, I didn’t really want to. But I had no idea where that left me with Tate, so I worked up the courage to text him that evening... after I received a food delivery. He’d sent me more soup.
Lexi: Hi. Thanks for the soup. I’m feeling much better. I can come back tomorrow morning. I thought about the job, and I’m staying.
Tate: Did you also think about me?
I chuckled. That’s his response?
Lexi: How could I not, what with the soup and the smoothie?
My heart was beating fast.
Tate: You know what I mean.
I bit my lip, hesitating before typing back.
Lexi: Hmm... not really. You said we’ll talk when I’m better. I’m better now.
I added three smiley faces before sending it.
Tate: I know, but I’d rather we talk face-to-face, and I can’t come over now, or even call. I’m reading Paisley her bedtime story.
And just like that, my heart was in swoon mode again imagining him reading to his daughter.
Tate: But tomorrow evening, you and I will talk.
I took a long time before I answered, somehow feeling that if I did, it would turn over a new leaf.
Lexi: Okay.
Mom was right, and I was ready to take this risk.
Chapter Eleven
Lexi
On Tuesday, Paisley and I decided to redecorate her bedroom.
“Are you sure your dad is going to be okay with this?” I asked, looking around her room. I’d shown her a few pictures of my apartment around Christmas, and she was obsessed with decorative strings of lights, especially after I told her that I keep a few all year round.
“Yes, he’ll be okay with it,” Paisley said, looking a bit too innocent.
I’d texted Tate half an hour ago, but he still hadn’t answered. I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries and preferred to check in with him before we started.
“You know what? Why don’t we go and have a second lunch,” I said, “and wait for your dad to answer. Then we can go to Home Depot and buy everything we need.”
“Okay,” Paisley agreed.
We went downstairs, and I made toast with her favorite cheese.
“These are so yummy,” she said.
“Yes, they are, and I’m starving.”
“Why didn’t you come for breakfast today?” Paisley asked.
“I overslept.”
She grinned. “Really? I didn’t know adults oversleep.”
I laughed. “Well, this adult does. Never happens to you or your dad?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s here every morning for breakfast. I’ve never had to go into his bedroom and wake him up.”
Wow. That was one dad who was excelling at adulting. I never overslept during the school year because classes started at eight, but summers were my time to relax, so I usually didn’t even set an alarm, which was exactly what happened last night.
It didn’t help that I was dreaming about a certain sexy guy. This man was having a strange effect on me, but I chalked it up to the fact that I’d been intensely thinking about him.
When my phone buzzed with a message, my heart skipped a beat.
Tate: Sure. How are you feeling?