“You like cupcakes?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Nick said. “Do you?”
She nodded. “I like vanilla with sprinkles. Mommy and I get them after karate on Saturdays.”
Nick blinked, trying to picture the small, reserved child in front of him doing martial arts. “Do you like karate?”
She nodded again. “And swimming.”
“Wow. I don’t know how to swim.”
Calla’s eyes widened. “You don’t? But you’re big.”
Nick laughed. “I know. No one ever taught me. I can doggy paddle, though.”
“I’ll teach you how to swim,” she said very seriously.
“Really? Thanks, Calla.”
“I have to ask my mom first, though.”
“Right,” Nick said, nodding. “Of course.”
Lily returned, and the three of them sat down to eat Nick’s cupcakes.
“Violet wasn’t lying,” Lily said, chewing. “These are delicious. I didn’t know you could bake like this.”
“My mom worked a lot when I was younger, and my dad . . . wasn’t around all the time, so whenever I had school bake sales and parties, I had to bake stuff myself.”
Lily looked at him, her smile slightly sad. It was the same look she’d given him when he told her about his parents’ marriage.
“It’s a good skill to have,” she said softly. Nick only nodded and watched Lily bite into the cupcakes he’d made, simply because he wanted her and her family to think well of him.
Calla’s mouth was quickly covered in frosting. Her eyes took on the glassy look of a kid who was about to ride a sugar high. And that was how Iris found her when she walked over to their table.
“Grandma wants you to come in the house for pictures,” Iris said, scooping Calla into her arms and grabbing one of Nick’s cupcakes before they walked away.
The backyard started to empty out as it got darker and the lightning bugs and mosquitos made an appearance.
“Thank you for bringing me with you today,” Nick said.
Lily rested her chin in the palm of her hand and yawned. “You’re welcome. I hope we didn’t drive you nuts.”
“Not at all. Your family is great.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you think so.”
He wanted to say more, to tell her that this was one of the best days he’d had in a long time, but Lily’s mom soon called her inside, and Lily quickly stood. “Not sure what she wants, but I’ll be right back.” She jogged away into the house, and Nick picked up their plates to throw them in the trash. As he began to stand, he spotted Iris walking across the backyard in his direction.
“Hi, Nick,” she said, sitting beside him.
“Hi.” He was trying to gauge her mood. Her eyes had an intense and inquisitive quality. It reminded him so much of Calla’s expression.
“My daughter never likes new people, but she likes you,” Iris said. “She just asked me if she could teach you how to swim.”
Nick chuckled. “Your daughter is really sweet.”
“Thank you.”
Their conversation was friendly, but Nick still felt that Iris was assessing him. He rubbed the back of his neck, fighting off nerves.
“I think I like you too, Nick,” she finally said. “Don’t break Lily’s heart.”
“I won’t.” His words tumbled out quickly, sincerely. “The last thing I want to do is hurt her.”
Iris nodded. “Good. I’m going to hold you to that.”
Someone let out a loud squeal and they both startled. They turned to see Violet by the backyard gate, embracing a man in a cream-colored sweatsuit. He dropped his Louis Vuitton duffel bag and wrapped Violet in his arms.
“Looks like Big Time Eddy showed up after all,” Iris said, standing. “I’d better go say hi. Apparently, I’m the mean sister. We can’t all be as lovely as Lily.” She smirked at Nick. “I hope to see you again soon.”
“Me too,” he said.
Iris’s warning weighed heavy on his mind. He’d already broken Lily’s heart once as Strick, and he hated himself for that. But he meant what he said. He’d never hurt her again. That was why it was time to disentangle himself from the Greene family and go home.
He found Lily talking with her parents in the kitchen.
“Hey,” Lily said, turning to face him. “I’m going to stay here tonight since Eddy will be sleeping over at the apartment. Can I drive you back to the train station? I’ll borrow my mom’s car.”