The Bromance Book Club (Bromance Book Club, #1)(50)

Amelia nodded, milk dribbling from the side of her mouth. Thea did the same little dance back over to the counter, another paper towel in hand, and wiped it up. “OK, I gotta get dressed or we’re going to be late.”

She whirled out of the kitchen, and Gavin could’ve sworn he felt an actual breeze as she went by. Thea in the morning was like a well-choreographed dance routine. He fed the dog and cleaned up the wet paper towels.

Then he called up his calendar app, uncapped the pen with his teeth, and started jotting down his various training sessions and other appointments, meetings, and required events through the end of December. When he was done, he saw that Tuesday night was open on the schedule. It also happened to be a night off for Liv. He and Thea hadn’t set a date yet for their first night out, but he wasn’t going to waste an opportunity. He got a different colored pen and wrote DATE NIGHT.

At the sound of her feet on the stairs, he quickly put the pen away as if he’d been caught sniffing pine tar. She walked back into the kitchen in a skirt, cardigan, and tall brown boots he’d never seen before. They must’ve been part of her haul from Friday. She held Amelia’s pink headband in one hand.

“I put stuff on the whiteboard,” he said.

“Thanks.” She looked at it and then did a double-take when she saw what he wrote for tomorrow night.

“Is that OK?” he asked, feeling like he’d just asked her out for the first time all over again.

She avoided his gaze. “I’ll have to make sure Liv will watch the girls.”

“We could get a babysitter, if she can’t.”

She nodded noncommittally, which wasn’t a no. “Here’s your headband, honey. Are you done eating?” she asked the girls. Both nodded. Thea picked up their bowls, carried them to the sink, and rinsed them out. She spoke as she put them in the dishwasher. “Will you get propane for the grill today? We’re out, and I was thinking of steaks for dinner.”

“Sure. Do you need anything else while I’m out?”

“I don’t think so, but I’ll text you if I think of anything. OK,” she said with an exhale, turning to the girls. “Let’s get your coats on.”

Gavin helped them both off their seats. They worked side by side to thread arms into sleeves and tug on backpacks. Butter, sensing their departure, flopped dramatically on the kitchen floor.

“Butter’s sad,” Thea told the girls. “Go give him kisses.”

They wobbled over, crouched down, and gave him gentle kisses before promising they would be back soon.

“Now come kiss Daddy,” she said.

“Geez, I’m second to the dog?” he teased.

“You’re less pathetic-looking than the dog.”

“Wow. High praise.”

Thea laughed quietly. The sound made him want to pump his fist in the air.

Gavin picked up the girls, kissed their cheeks, and carried them to the car. After helping to buckle them into their car seats, Gavin walked around to the driver’s side. Thea’s eyes did a shy dodge to the right as she tossed her purse over to the passenger seat.

“We’ll be home after school,” she said.

Gavin propped an arm on top of her door. This was still a line they hadn’t yet crossed—the casual goodbye kiss.

“So . . .” he said.

“See you later?”

He nodded, glancing at her lips. Her breath caught, and she looked at his.

“Bye,” he murmured, his feet inching forward.

She turned and slid into the car.



* * *



? ? ?

A half hour later, Gavin walked into the diner, once again the last to arrive. The guys had managed to grab a table in the corner this time, farther away from the prying eyes of tourists. Still, Gavin tugged his hat lower on his forehead.

Del shoved a cup of coffee in his direction. “Update.”

“We’re going out tomorrow.”

“Just the two of you?”

“Yep.”

“Where are you taking her?” Malcolm asked.

“I’m not telling you that.”

“Why not?”

“Because knowing him”—he nodded at Mack—“he’ll show up to spy on me.”

“I’ll wear a disguise. You’ll never know I’m there.”

The waitress came back with the coffee and took their orders. Gavin ordered the Big Buckle again and pointed at Mack. “Don’t touch my bacon.”

“The way I hear it, no one is touching your bacon.”

The waitress squeaked out a laugh.

“OK, focus,” Del said. “Where are you taking Thea?”

“Art Supplies Plus.”

Mack choked on his coffee. “What?”

“It’s that huge arts and crafts warehouse place near downtown.”

“I know what it is. You can’t take your wife there for a date!”

Gavin snorted. “You don’t know my wife. It’s like a toy store for her. Our pen drawer at home is organized by color, and she has an entire basket full of washi tape.”

“What’s washi tape?”

“It’s, like, pretty tape for decorating. I don’t know. She loves that shit, though.”