Reckless(35)

It’s funny to see how laid-back Tori is around Kat. How much she teases her sister. Makes me realize she’s still a bit buttoned up around me.

“Daddy?” Mila scrunches her nose. “What’s ‘the deed?’”

Tori grimaces and mouths that she’s sorry.

I chuckle and tug on my daughter’s pigtail. “Nothing you need to worry about for, oh, about forty years.”

Everyone laughs.

After we chat, Brady and Kat meander over to the dessert window by the cash register, and Mila and Tori run to the bathroom in the back because my daughter realizes she “really, really needs to tinkle.”

Logan watches the girls go, glances down at his phone, and then turns to the front of the diner.

Cody squirms in his high chair, so I clean him off and settle him on my lap.

“So what’s the surprise?” I can’t deny that I’m curious. Logan went on and on about it this afternoon.

I expect him to tell me he got us a new client or something work-related, but instead of being excited, he sighs. “I didn’t think this through, having everyone here.” He motions toward the bathrooms. “Just don’t be mad.”

Nothing good ever happens when he says that to me.

“How did this go from ‘hey, I have a surprise for you’ to ‘don’t be mad’?”

He shifts and looks over his shoulder again. I follow his line of vision as two blondes strut through the front door. They see Logan and wave.

“You got a date with, what, sisters? Let me guess. You’re taking off for the weekend and want me to do everything we bulleted here.” I tap on the mile-long to-do list we jotted down during dinner.

The blondes stop at our table, and the younger one leans down to hug Logan, while the other one smiles at me. Now that she’s close, I realize she looks familiar.

“Hi, Ethan.”

And she knows my name.

Logan breaks away from the woman wrapped around him to motion to the other. “Bro, this is Sandra. Remember, she has a son about Mila’s age? And this is her sister Sage.”

Shifting uncomfortably, I realize where this is headed. Logan, don’t do this.

“Ladies.” I’m wondering how quickly I can pack up Cody’s diaper bag and toys, which are strewn across the table. “You know what? We’d better get going.” I look at my brother, hoping he understands why I’m doing this. “If you want to stay, that’s fine, but it’s getting late.”

Sandra puts her hand on my shoulder. “Your son is getting so big!”

“He eats like a horse,” I joke, trying to not be a total asshole. With one hand, I hold Cody, who squirms like he has ants in his pants, while I gather his toys with the other.

Logan leans across the table and murmurs, “Let’s just do this fast, okay? Before the girls get back. It’ll be fine.”

I’m not sure I know exactly what he’s talking about, but I’m one hundred percent I don’t want to find out.

Sandra leans closer. “Logan told me the good news!” She squeezes my shoulder again.

“And what would that be?”

“That your divorce is almost final, and that you wanted to go on a date with me!”

I give her an awkward smile and then shoot Logan a look. What the fuck are you doing? He shrugs and pats the other sister on the ass.

Sage plays with his hair. “We were thinking we could do something tomorrow night, if Sandra can find a babysitter.”

There’s my out. I don’t want to hurt Sandra’s feelings. I remember her situation with her ex, and I don’t want to be an ass, but I’m not interested. “Actually, ladies, I don’t have a babysitter.”

“I got you covered. Joey said she could babysit.” Logan waggles his eyebrows.

Sandra squeals and scares Cody. “Yay! It’s a date.” She turns to me and bats her eyelashes. “I have to confess I’ve been dying to go out with you. I’m so glad we’re doing this. I’m so glad you asked me out!”

Fucking Logan.

“Daddy.” Mila’s voice is a record scratch that cuts through the noise of the diner.

I close my eyes for a second before I turn to the left and see my daughter and Tori standing there. I swallow, afraid of how much they just heard.

Can this get any worse?

“Tori!” Sandra goes around our table to hug her. Jesus, they know each other?

Tori gives Sandra a weak smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Hey.”

“I haven’t seen you since last fall. Thanks again for taking care of my son that one time.”

“No worries,” Tori says quietly as she helps Mila back into her chair. “How are you?”

“Better now that Ethan and I are going on a date this weekend. He asked me out!” Sandra trots back around to my side of the table. No, no, no.

I try to get Tori’s attention, but she’s making a concerted effort to not look at me.

“That’s cool. Ethan’s a good guy.” Tori tugs her purse over her shoulder and turns toward the front of the diner where Brady and Kat are waving bye. “You know what? I think I’m going to head home with my sister. You guys don’t need me, right?”

Yes, I fucking need you.

Logan waves at her like a dipshit. “Nope, go on. Have a good weekend.”