Make a Wish (Spark House #3)(20)

There’s a brief pause. “Uh, I hate to do this, but I have an emergency meeting with a client and my parents are out tonight. I know it’s really last minute, and you probably already have plans…”

The edge of panic I was feeling disappears. “Do you need me to watch Peyton?”

“It would only be for a couple of hours. Lynn and Ian are busy tonight, otherwise I would have asked them to watch her. I don’t want to drag Peyton along to this if I don’t have to, but I completely understand if you’re busy. I need to find a steady sitter here.”

“I can make it work. I can’t imagine it would be fun for either of you if you have to take her to something like that. Especially at this time of the day. What time is the meeting?”

“At six thirty.”

I check the time. It’s closing in on five. “Should I come to your place? What time does Peyton go to bed?”

“Usually eight thirty, but I let her stay up until nine in the summer. If she came with me, I’d have to let her entertain herself with the iPad, which makes it hard to get her in bed on time.”

“I totally get it. Why don’t you text me your address? I’ll finish up here and head over.”

“Thanks, Harley. I owe you one.”

We end the call and a moment later my phone pings with his address. I give him a thumbs-up and slip my phone back in my pocket.

I glance up to find London folding one of her stars, her lips pressed together.

“What’s that face about?” I arch a brow.

“You’re babysitting for Gavin?”

“He has an emergency meeting and no one else to go to.”

“You’ve been seeing a lot of him lately.” She drops her star in the jar and screws the lid on, side-eyeing me.

“I’ve seen him and Peyton once for lunch.”

“Aren’t you taking her to the zoo tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but I was already planning to go anyway; at least this way I’ll have company.” I asked Chad if he wanted to go when they first opened the panda exhibit, but he’s not a fan of the smell of animal doody, which he seems to think is the predominant odor associated with the zoo. Ironically they often smell better than his dirty socks. “They’re settling in and I’m a familiar face,” I add.

“It just seems awfully convenient that you’re the first person he goes to when he needs a sitter. Doesn’t he have a niece or some teenager he can call on to watch her?” London flips the jar of stars between her fingers before she slips it into her purse.

“Usually he’d ask his parents, but they’re out tonight. Why are you so against me helping him?” I feel like I’m getting a chance to right my wrongs, to fix the thing I felt I’d broken all those years ago. But London doesn’t know about the almost-kiss, and telling her seven years later doesn’t seem like the best idea in the world. I don’t want to relive that again.

“It’s not that I’m against it. I just … don’t want you to get taken advantage of in this situation. I remember what it was like when he and Peyton moved. You were pretty broken up about it.” I start to interrupt her, but she holds up a hand. “And I know it’s been a lot of years, but I saw the way he was looking at you at that birthday party.”

“The way he was looking at me? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh come on, Harley, you can’t tell me you didn’t notice.”

“Notice what?”

“You’re gorgeous. He’s got two working eyeballs.”

“I’m in a relationship.”

“Does he know that?”

I open my mouth and then clamp it shut. I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned Chad to him. “It’s not even relevant. He knows I’m good with Peyton. That’s why he called to ask for help.”

“Okay, if that’s what you want to go with, but be careful, okay? I don’t want him taking advantage of your kindness.”





Six


THE COMFORT OF FAMILIARITY


GAVIN

Thankfully the client meeting doesn’t go past the two-hour mark. I’m grateful that Harley was able to watch Peyton. While I could have brought her along, it would have been tough to keep my daughter entertained and it’s been a rough go getting her used to sleeping in her own bed in the new house.

When I arrive home, it’s closing in on eight thirty. I am not surprised to find Peyton already in her pajamas with one of her frilly tutus around her waist, sitting beside Harley, who is also wearing a tutu—hers is rainbow-colored and the zipper in the back is open, likely because it’s not made to fit an adult woman. They’re focused on the task in front of them, working together to make a healthy bedtime snack of ants on a log: celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins. It’s Peyton’s favorite.

Sitting on the counter are a tray of oatmeal cookies and stuck to the fridge is a freshly painted picture of a blue horse running up the side of a glitter rainbow. Both Harley and Peyton have rainbow stickers stuck to their cheeks.

It takes me back to when Harley used to be Peyton’s nanny. She was always making creative foods, and, even when Peyton was barely walking, they were doing things like finger painting. Harley never cared if Peyton was a mess and needed a bath after every meal or a wipe down after playtime. If Peyton was having fun and trying new things, Harley always thought it was worth it.