“He wasn’t my happily ever after.”
“Is Dozer?” she asks.
That’s a huge question. Sure, we’ve known each other for years. The best of friends. Thea’s godfather. We have deep love and affection for each other.
But happily ever after?
I don’t know.
“I guess time will tell,” I say, pushing up off the stool. “I’m going to shower and then I’ll get Thea up.”
“Maybe we can go out for breakfast somewhere,” my mom suggests. “See a bit of Pittsburgh.”
“That sounds like a great idea.” I bet Dozer needs to work, but I’m sure we can borrow his car. I’ll send him a text now so that he can get me the keys after his workout.
?
The knock on our apartment door has my heart racing because I know it’s Dozer. Thea and my mom are on the couch, watching TV.
Funny. Dozer’s visited many times, and I’ve never had that humming awareness of him before. Sure, I’ve always been excited to see him because there’s such ease between us, and he’s more family than not.
But flashes of us, naked and in his bed, run like a movie reel, and I feel flush as I move to answer the door.
Dozer’s tall. I always have to tip my head back slightly to look at him when we’re standing close to each other. He’s straight from the gym, his gray T-shirt stained with sweat. I’d be silly not to notice how the cotton stretches across his broad chest and hugs the muscles of his upper arms just above his biceps.
His expression is unreadable except for a quick ripple of desire when I put my hands on his shoulders and go on tiptoes to press my lips to his.
A flash of surprise is all I see before he accepts the kiss without embarrassment, his hands going to my hips.
“Mommy… why are you kissing Uncle Dozer?” Thea yells from behind us, and we jump apart.
I grin at him, take his hand, and pull him into the apartment. Talking in a low voice, I say, “Clearly, we have some explaining to do. Just follow my lead.”
He squeezes my hand in response.
“Oh, and my mom knows,” I add.
Thea is propped over the back of the couch, looking at us. Her eyes drop to our hands, then to me, the expression on her face curious but not upset in any way.
My mom watches with a knowing smirk.
“Honey,” I say to Thea, not quite sure what to say all of a sudden. It seemed so easy to explain to my mom, but looking at my seven-year-old daughter staring up at me with trust, I’m without words.
Dozer doesn’t hesitate, though. He releases my hand, puts his both on the back of the couch, and bends to look at Thea. “I’ve got a secret. Want to hear it?”
Thea grins at him and nods.
He leans over, puts his mouth near her ear, and whispers—although it’s loud enough for us all to hear, “I really like your mommy.”
“Like boyfriend and girlfriend, since you two kissed?” Thea asks.
“Exactly,” Dozer says with a bright smile as he straightens. “I really like your mommy in that way, and I hope that’s okay with you.”
“And does she like you that way?” Thea asks, but she looks to me for confirmation.
Tipping my head, my smile feels radiant on my face. “I do, honey. I’ve liked him like that for a long time.”
Her eyes stay on me a second, then move to Dozer.
Then she shrugs and flips back around, settling on the couch where she returns her attention to the TV.
I snort, shaking my head while my mom laughs. “That was easy,” she says, then turns to Dozer and shoots him a wink. It says without words, I’m happy for you.
Elbowing Dozer playfully in the ribs, I say, “Piece of cake.”
“Well, she does adore me and all,” he points out.
Without thinking, I step into his side and wrap my arms around his waist. I don’t care if he’s sweaty—I want to hug him. His arm comes around me, pulling me in close.
“Listen,” Dozer says, and the tone of his voice has me pulling away. “I know you texted asking for the keys to my car, but that’s not a good idea.”
I frown. “Why not?”
His eyes move over to Claire, then back to me. “It’s just… this isn’t a good area of town, and I don’t feel safe with you driving out of here on your own.”
“I get that.” I remember how seedy-looking this area was when we drove in. “Kellen isn’t doing anything today. He’d mentioned he was going out to explore. Maybe he can—”
“When did you talk to Kellen about this?” Dozer demands in a low voice, taking me by the hand and pulling me away from the couch.
“Last night at the party.” I try to tug my hand from Dozer’s, but he holds tight. “It was just chitchat.”