“Zero plans, Dad.” Everly rolls her eyes and glances at Cassandra like they’re sharing an inside joke about me.
“Not getting bored?” I tilt my head and eye my daughter.
Everly’s brows furrow. “Um…obviously not. Plus, it’s book club week, so Cozy and me have a shar-kootey board to shop for. She’s the cool nanny at my club.”
“Is she?” I turn my eyes to Cassandra, who looks decidedly embarrassed. “Why is that exactly? I mean, other than the obvious?”
“Because she brings the best snacks,” Everly answers and scoops up a big bite of oatmeal. “You should have seen the kids eating the last board we brought. They were savages!”
I laugh and take a sip of my drink. “Well, I don’t want to get in the way. I’ll see you later, kid.”
I walk around the kitchen island to give Everly a kiss on the temple, and when I turn to walk out, the back of my hand brushes the back of Cassandra’s. The urge I have to grip her wrist and plant a goodbye kiss on her lips is a troubling thought that consumes me at the office all day.
“These are going to look so cool, Dakota!” Everly peals as she bags up a soaked and freshly dyed T-shirt into a gallon ziplock baggie. “Thank you for helping me make these for my friends!”
Dakota smiles and zips the baggie closed. “My pleasure, Everly. The Book Sitters Club is a sweet book club name. It belongs on matching T-shirts.”
I smile from the front desk of Dakota’s graphic tee shop as Everly starts on the second T-shirt. “Only thirteen more to go.” I scrunch my nose up, knowing Everly has her work cut out for her.
“I’m good…I got this!” Everly says, turning another squirt bottle of dye upside down to douse the next tee.
“I’ll go grab the other dye bottles in case you run out,” Dakota tells her, pulling her gloves off and making her way to the back of the store.
My phone pings with a notification, so I pull it out and see a message from Max.
Max: New rule. You can no longer step foot in my kitchen.
Me: Say what?
Max: You need to stay on the other side of the kitchen island in the mornings.
Me: How am I supposed to make my coffee?
Max: Make it after I leave or wait until I make it for you. I can’t keep bumping into you in the dark kitchen with your sexy sleepy eyes every morning. It’s becoming a problem.
Me: That is such a caveman thing to say.
Max: I’ve been driving to the office hard every day this week. The new rule stands.
Me: Well then, I get a new rule too.
Max: Hit me.
Me: You need to have your tie tied before you come out of your bedroom.
Max: Seriously?
Me: Yes. I’m two seconds away from grabbing onto it and dragging you into me.
Max: That sounds like a “you” problem.
Me: Tie your tie, and no one gets hurt.
Max: Fine. I’ll have Marcia fax you the updated list of rules.
Me: Nobody faxes anymore, Zaddy.
I’m smiling like a loon when I look up to see Dakota propped on the counter directly across from me, eyeing me with a knowing smirk. I glance past her to see that Everly is humming to herself as she continues her tie-dye work. I snap a quick pic.
“Have something you’d like to share with the class?” I state coyly before shooting the picture off to Max.
Dakota’s voice is low enough Everly can’t hear when she says, “What could I possibly have to say about my best friend bagging a Zaddy?”
I giggle and shake my head, instantly picturing Max when he said Zaddy back to me. God, I love that he wasn’t too cool to say it. “Wonders never cease.”
“Oh, I didn’t wonder,” she corrects. “I knew the minute I picked you up at his house that this wouldn’t be a clean summer.”
“How did you know?”
She sighs. “I’m a Zaddy whisperer.”
“Shut up.” I bark out a laugh and then lower my voice so Everly can’t overhear. “Seriously, this week…he’s come over like five times.”
Dakota’s eyes widen. “That’s a lot of coming.”
“Shhh.” I press my finger to my lips and feel my cheeks burning. “I didn’t expect it to feel so…natural.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, he’s…” I close my eyes and shake my head. “So good.”
“Details, whore.” Dakota eyes me like a seagull on a beach looking for food.
“Not now.” I glance over at Everly whose tongue is sticking out of her mouth as she struggles to seal the ziplock bag. “Drinks this weekend maybe?”