I glare at Zach.
“Oh, I wasn’t supposed to say anything? Oops, I’m sorry.”
My brother crosses his arms. “I never got the message.”
“He didn’t give me one,” I say, almost squeaking. I feel guilty, and I’m not sure why. “I’ve been too busy with finals and work to gossip with you. If you have time this Wednesday, we can have a slumber party and talk about it.”
Aiden gives me an unamused glance.
“I’ll bring the nail polish,” Zach volunteers.
Miranda laughs.
Aiden remains silent.
Okay, if that’s not enough, we can turn things around. “It was the day I came to mutilate you and your wife for signing a release so my daughter could talk to a podcaster—without my permission. You might be her guardian in my absence, but that doesn’t allow you to meddle in my personal life.”
“She was trying to help,” Miranda says defensively.
Okay, so she just confirmed my suspicions. It was them. We have to have a serious talk. That guardianship is for emergencies, not life meddling.
Since I don’t plan on having that discussion during my child’s party, I wave a hand. “Water under the bridge. The recordings are gone, and you can thank your friend. He saved your life.”
“Wait, they’re gone?” Miranda asks with such concern that you’d think I just told her that all the stores ran out of cleaning products. “But why?”
“Technically, they’re still up,” Zach interferes. “You haven’t called Nyx or Persy to discuss the issue as you said you would.”
I don’t have time to worry about those details I want to say, but I don’t. He is right, but I don’t answer because Miranda’s concern sends a few alarms. “Why are you worried that they are gone?”
“I’m not.”
I cock an eyebrow and cross my arms. “Miranda?”
“We were hoping someone would answer and sweep you off your feet,” she confesses. “You know, as Meg Ryan did with Tom Hanks. In this case, you’re Tom, and the guy will be Meg.”
“They got mail, you know,” Aiden adds, wiggling his eyebrows.
“This isn’t a rom-com. It’s real life. I doubt anyone responded to those calls.”
The way Zach begins to fidget around makes me a little nervous. “Is there something you’d like to share?”
“No. I’m just here for the cake.” He looks around but doesn’t meet my gaze.
The room is spinning out of control as I have a bad feeling about this. “Did anyone respond to those calls?”
He shoves his hands inside his pockets and stares at the ground.
“Zachary St. James.”
After exhaling loudly, he nods. “Persy received some emails asking for your information. I read one where the sister said you’d be perfect for her brother.”
Miranda claps excitedly. “I knew it’d work.”
“I’m about to maim your wife,” I warn my brother.
“It’s not like she’s going to forward them to you or give them your information.” Zach finally lifts his gaze.
I stare at him for a couple of seconds. He knows more than he told me last Saturday or what he’s saying right now.
Do I even want to know about those emails?
How would he feel if Burke, Teddy, or any of his brothers tried to fix him up with a bunch of strangers? He’d hate it. I hope he doesn’t help my crazy brother and my ex-best friend, or he’ll end up sharing their fate.
“But we can ask for them, yes?” Miranda’s excitement makes me want to puke.
“Probably,” Zach answers, scrunching his nose. I want to take that as I don’t like this one bit.
“We should do it,” she says enthusiastically.
“I don’t know how to respond to that.” She might not see the light of day because I’m murdering her after the party.
“Mommy!” Matilda rushes over. “We need a big house, a playground, and a dog.”
Oh God, where did she get that idea? I hope that by a “big house,” she means something like her grandma’s condo. We can go to any park around the house. I don’t know how I’m going to handle the dog thing.
All I can say is, “We do?”
She gives me a sharp nod and then turns to look at Zach.
“You’re new.”
His cheek twitches, but he doesn’t laugh at her statement. Instead, he asks, “New?” After studying his arms, hands, and feet, he shakes his head. “No. I’m pretty old. Thirty.”
“That’s not old. Is it, Mom?”
“It’s not,” I agree. “I don’t think he understood what you meant.”
Oh, she mouths.
“I haven’t seen you before.” Her proper voice makes her sound a lot older than she is. “I’m Matilda. Who are you?”
Zach bends down, so they’re at eye level. “It’s nice to meet you, Matilda. I’m Zachary St. James. My friends call me Zach. I used to go to school with your uncle Aiden.”
She grins. “So, you know embarrassing stories about Mom?”
“No, he doesn’t,” I say defensively.
He gives her a conspiratorial smirk. “I probably know a few. We can exchange notes.”
“I like you,” she says as if he just passed a test.
“I like you too. Happy Birthday.”
Matilda walks away with a wide grin, and for some reason I can’t explain, I clutch a hand over my heart. He put a smile on my child’s face that I had never seen before. I like it, but I snap out of the trance quickly. Soon he’s going to leave, and it’ll be back to just the two of us.
Chapter Seventeen
Autumn
I’m thankful Aiden doesn’t say anything to Zach during the party. It might have to do with the fact that Zach helped him with all the activities he planned for the kids. He acted while Aiden read them a book. He found a place where we could hang the piñata that Miranda bought at the party store. He ran to the store for a set of candles since I forgot to buy them when I picked up the cake.
While opening gifts, he took pictures. He emailed them to me so I could print them and make personalized thank-you notes. Though we opened all the presents, he requested we waited until the guests were gone before giving Matilda the ones he brought.
Once the last child leaves the house, he walks toward the dining room to grab the gifts.
“There’s more?” Matilda’s eyes grow wide along with her smile.
“These two are from me,” he says, giving her a small box that I’m pretty sure holds jewelry. I bite my lip as she opens it carefully.
“Wow!” Her eyes crinkle and the emotion on her face is priceless. “This is the best present ever.”
She holds up a purple bracelet—her favorite color—that has an elephant charm. “Mom, can I wear it to school on Monday?”
I don’t know if I should be upset at Zach or kiss him for being so thoughtful.
I’m grateful that he suggested opening those presents later. I’d hate it if anyone’s feelings got hurt because of Matilda’s enthusiasm.