Adult Supervision Required: A romantic comedy

by Sarah Peis

  The hostess looked up when we walked through the door, and once her gaze hit Sebastian, it stayed there.

  “Welcome to Rosie’s,” she greeted him, her voice perky. “Do you have a reservation?”

  Peter cleared his throat. “We do. But it’s only for two. Is there any chance you could seat us at a table for three instead?”

  “What name is it under?” she asked, clicking away on the computer in front of her.

  “Peter Saunders.”

  She clicked away for a few seconds before turning her attention to Peter. “Ah yes, I see your reservation, Mr. Saunders. We can just add a third chair.”

  “Great, thanks,” Peter said, sounding anything but happy that she was able to accommodate us.

  “Please follow me,” our cheerful hostess said and winked at Sebastian.

  He smiled at her, and this time I did roll my eyes. Guess I just found out what his type was: tall and perky college girls.

  We arrived at our table, and Peter sat down first. Sebastian looked around the restaurant and pulled my seat out of for me before he took his own.

  “So, Sebastian,” Peter said, “are you our Nora’s brother? Cousin? Family friend?”

  “Roommate,” Sebastian responded absently, still looking around the crowded space.

  Peter turned to me with a frown. “You have a roommate?”

  Guess now I have to go with that one. “I sure do. He’s a keeper, this one.”

  Desperate to make the night less awkward, I waded into safer territory and asked him about his daughter. “How’s Lilly?”

  Peter’s eyes lit up at the mention of her. She’d been living with him since his divorce and visited her mother every other weekend. “She’s great. Such a smart kid. Must take after me, because she certainly didn’t get it from her mother.”

  He boomed out a laugh, and I cringed. I really hoped this wasn’t going to turn into a trash-talk-your-ex kind of night. As much as I hated Jim, the only people I complained about him to were Malena and Stella.

  “Did you see the notice about the zoo trip?” I asked, hoping to change the topic again.

  “I don’t know why they keep doing those trips. They cost money, and the kids don’t learn anything when they go to the zoo.”

  “I think it’s a great way for them to learn more about animals they wouldn’t otherwise see. They might not be inside a classroom, but trips like that are invaluable for their development,” I said, swallowing down the rest of my lecture.

  He boomed another laugh. “Of course you’d say that. My wife was the same. Always telling me that kids don’t just get their education at school.”

  Time to change the subject again. “How is your job going?”

  He was a used car salesman and loved to talk about his job. And surely that was a safe topic. And it was. Unfortunately, it was also the only thing we talked about for the rest of the night. Who knew there were so many different ways to sell a car?

  Sebastian sat next to me, his knee brushing mine whenever he moved. I’d moved to the side the first few times it happened but eventually stopped leaning away.

  “You should try the lemon pie. You’ll love it,” Peter suggested when it was time for dessert.

  “She doesn’t like lemon,” Sebastian said, his eyes on me.

  “That’s okay, I’ll try it,” I said, wondering how Sebastian knew I didn’t like lemon.

  Peter nodded and closed his menu. “Great, let’s share one.”

  I also didn’t share unless it was with my kids. When the waitress came back, she leaned close to Sebastian, giving us both a clear view down her top.

  “Are you guys ready to order?” she asked, only looking at Sebastian.

  What was it with that guy? Had he bathed in sugar and slapped on some pheromones to make all the women within a five-foot radius crazy?

  “Chocolate lava cake,” Sebastian ordered, and neither his gruff tone nor lack of manners put a chink in the waitress’s rose-colored glasses.

  “We’ll have the lemon pie,” Peter said, handing the menu back.

  Awkward silence encased the table once the waitress was gone. I was surprised it took that long to reach this stage in our three-person date. Peter had been handling it fairly well, considering the grumpy chaperone he had to put up with.

  “So, Peter, do you still ride your mountain bike?” I asked, remembering he’d mentioned going for a ride when we were waiting to pick up the kids once.

  “Sure do. There’s nothing better than racing down the mountain. You’ll have to come with me,” he said, pulling out his phone.

  “I’d love to,” I said, 100 percent not intending to follow through on my promise. If there was anything I hated more than lemon, it was mountain bikes. I owned one for a brief period when I was trying to find myself; I sold that incarnation of evil a week after I bought it.

  Sebastian snorted and typed on his phone. He’d barely lifted his head all night, his device keeping him occupied.

  “You don’t like riding a bike without a motor,” Sebastian said under his breath.

  How in the world he knew that was a mystery I’d solve another day.

  “I have photos from my last trips to Coldstream,” Peter said, oblivious to our exchange.

  And this was when the longest ten minutes of my life commenced. I didn’t know there were so many angles you could take a photo of your bike. I chugged my wine and signaled for another glass. I’d need it to get through the rest of this date.

  It was a sure bet that I’d not be going on another one. When the waitress came back with my wine and the dessert, I nearly groaned in relief. But I had better manners than that, and instead I only let out a little sigh.

  Sebastian chuckled next to me, and I elbowed him when I turned around. He grunted but didn’t comment.

  Peter pushed the lemon pie to the middle of the table, cutting a piece off with his fork. I crinkled my nose at the smell. I just felt like lemon should stick to what it was good at, like lemonade.

  Sebastian pushed his plate in front of me with one hand, his attention on his phone. Peter didn’t notice I wasn’t eating the tart, too engrossed in scarfing it down himself.

  Never one to pass on anything to do with chocolate, I stuck my fork—or rather Sebastian’s fork—into the cake and took a huge chunk out of it. As soon as the sweet taste of heaven hit my mouth, I groaned. The velvety cake melted on my tongue, and my mouth experienced chocolate overload.

  I chanced a look at Sebastian to see if he would demand the return of his cake, but he was still engrossed in his phone.

  I finished the treat in a few minutes, wishing there was more. I vowed to make a trip to Sweet Dreams soon for their chocolate cupcakes.

  “Did you like the lemon pie?” Peter asked, not realizing he’d finished the whole piece off by himself.

  “It was great,” I said, licking the remnants of chocolate off my fork.

  We’d finished dinner, and I was busy chugging wine when Peter turned back to Sebastian. He’d been trying to engage him in conversation all night, but since my chaperone only gave one-word answers, all his endeavors so far had failed.

  “You gonna follow us home to my place?” Peter asked.

  My head snapped around. “Your place?”

  “Unless you want to go to yours,” he said. “But my house is kid free at the moment.”

  Is he delusional?

  “That’s okay. I’d rather just go home. I’m really tired,” I said.

  I got up and opened my bag, pulling out what I guessed would cover mine and Sebastian’s bill. I put the money on the table.

  “Hopefully this will be enough for dinner,” I said, hoping future run-ins at preschool wouldn’t be awkward.

  Sebastian picked my money up and handed it back to me. I automatically took it and watched him get out a stack of bills and throw them on the table.

  Peter stared at us with a frown. But at least he was smart enough not to say anything. Sebastian put his hand on my lower
back, and we walked out of the restaurant in silence.

  Once I burst through the doors, I took a deep inhale. Sebastian dropped his hand and turned in my direction.

  I put up a hand, not in the mood to talk about what just happened. “Not a word. I just want to go home.”

  For once he didn’t argue and instead nodded before we got on his bike and rode home.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “I didn’t bite him, I only squeezed him with my teeth,” Luca said, his little face scrunched up.

  “We don’t bite other people,” I explained, watching his expressive eyes. He wasn’t sorry at all, and I didn’t know how to make him understand that what he did was wrong.

  “But Karl said you’re a stippster. And I said you’re not. And then he pushed me. He’s stupid.”

  “Don’t call him stupid. And what’s a stippster?”

  Luca looked at me earnestly and folded his hands on his lap. He was sitting next to me on the front step of our house. Lena was playing with her dolls on the porch, giving us a rare moment to talk.

  “A stippster takes off clothes. That’s what Karl said.”

  My heart stopped and my breath hitched.

  While it wasn’t exactly what I did, it wasn’t far off. The clothes I wore at work barely covered all my bits. And my coworkers took their clothes off for money. But I thought I had time left before my job would embarrass my kids.

  I had no hope of finding another job in a town as small as Humptulips. I’d tried. And was still trying. My day job wouldn’t be enough to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.

  I’d been slowly building a cushion, but it wouldn’t last long. And it definitely wouldn’t allow me to quit one of my jobs.

  “I don’t take my clothes off at work. I only serve drinks,” I explained, struggling to get the words out.

  I didn’t want Luca to have to face reality just yet. He was still so little. The thought of him thinking less of me made me want to throw up.

  “He said his dad saw you. And that you’re going to hell. I don’t want you to go to hell. It’s too hot. And you don’t like the heat.”

  I took his hand in mine, making sure he was looking at me. “Well, his dad is a hypocritical pumpernickel. But regardless of what he said, you’re not allowed to bite people, okay?”

  Luca seemed to think about it for a moment and then turned his innocent gaze back to me. “What if I just did it a little bit? Just until he stopped talking?”

  “No, not even a little bit. Just stay away from him. He doesn’t sound like he’s making good choices. And if he keeps listening to his dad, he’s going to end up a middle-aged divorced man with a bald patch and no friends.”

  He got up, clearly done with this conversation. “Can I go play now?”

  “Sure,” I said and pulled him close for a hug. “But stay where I can see you.”

  Luca ran off, and I watched him collect leaves that had fallen off the big oak tree in our backyard. I felt someone behind me and sighed. The last person I wanted to witness this conversation was Sebastian, but since he’d pretty much moved in, it was hard to avoid him.

  He was sleeping on my couch, only going into work when I did and not letting me go anywhere without him. I thought he was taking things a little far. He didn’t agree.

  That was pretty much how all our interactions went. He said left, I went right.

  Since Sebastian wasn’t big on talking either, I was quite certain he wouldn’t start up a conversation. What I didn’t expect was him taking a seat next to me.

  We sat there in companionable silence, watching the kids. His phone pinged a few times, and when it wouldn’t stop going off, he glanced at it and stood up with a sigh.

  A single tear rolled down my cheek, the only one I’d allow. I had to grow thicker skin. And have a chat with Karl’s dad.

  I had to go into work tonight and needed to get myself together before then. Stella was coming over to babysit, and she would immediately know if something was wrong.

  And since the best way to get my mind off my sucky life was to play with my kids, that’s exactly what I did.

  After digging in the sandbox for an hour and pushing the little gremlins on the swing at the playground for almost as long, I declared it was time for dinner. I also had to leave for work soon, whether I wanted to or not.

  Stella arrived just as Lena and Luca were finishing their pasta. She burst into the kitchen as usual and threw her arms around me.

  “I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages,” she declared.

  “You’re here almost every day. And the days you’re not here we talk on the phone.”

  She squeezed me again and let go. “How are my little angels?”

  “Luca bit someone in school today, and Lena decided she doesn’t like the color red anymore. So no more red food or clothes.”

  Stella greeted the kids with a kiss on their heads. “You’re missing out, kiddo. Your mom makes the best Bolognese sauce.”

  “Ready to go?” Sebastian asked, walking into the kitchen while typing on his phone.

  I took a deep breath. “Ready.”

  “Mommy work?” Lena asked, looking at me while she continued shoveling cheesy pasta in her mouth.

  “That’s right, cherub, I have to go to work. And Stella is going to stay with you.”

  She nodded, used to me not being there at night all the time. And it broke my heart that she was so used to it, that this was the norm, that I wasn’t the one putting my kids to bed every night.

  I kissed her chubby cheek, then Luca’s, and reluctantly waved goodbye. We walked to Sebastian’s bike and he got on, then held the purple helmet out for me.

  “Is it a normal thing for you guys to have purple helmets lying around the clubhouse?” I asked, still curious as to where it had come from.

  “Just put it on. We’re going to be late again,” he grumbled.

  I sighed but put it on and took his outstretched hand. He helped me up on the bike, and once my body was flush to his and my arms were wrapped around him, we took off.

  The ride was amazing, and I felt invincible once we pulled up outside the club. But as soon as I took off my helmet and handed it back to Sebastian, reality crashed in around me and my breath hitched.

  “I’ll be right in,” I said when we were almost at the back door.

  Sebastian stopped next to me when I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. Since this had happened every time we’d gone to work together, he knew the drill. And despite me telling him to go ahead without me every time, he never did.

  I did my thing, then took a deep breath and walked past him and inside the club. Sebastian was right behind me, and I could feel the heat coming off his body. Does he have to crowd me like that? It wasn’t busy yet, so there was no need to walk so close.

  I made it to the dressing rooms and looked over my shoulder. “See you later.”

  He grunted a reply and lifted his chin before he stalked off. I turned the other way and went through the door. All the girls were already there, getting ready for their performances.

  “Hey, honey, you need a hand with your hair?” Star asked, looking at me in the mirror.

  “Do you have time? I don’t want to make you late,” I said, pulling out my chair.

  She came over, bringing her makeup with her. “I got here an hour ago. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

  I sat down, looking at her. “Trouble with Mike?”

  She started braiding my hair. “There’s always trouble with that man. But this time I’ve had enough.”

  This was not a new development. She kicked him out every other week. The guy wasn’t the smartest bulb in the pack, but he was sweet. Unfortunately for him, he had a terrible taste in friends, and they regularly got him in trouble.

  “What did he do this time?”

  “He didn’t come home for three days. And when he did, he stank of cheap perfume and bad choices.”

  “Oh no, Star, I’m so sorry.”
>
  Up until now, he’d never cheated. I knew what it felt like when someone you trusted trampled all over you. It sucked hairy balls.

  “It’s okay. We should have broken up years ago. I was just too stuck on what we used to be to cut the cord.”

  I took her hand. “You’re too good for him anyway.”

  “Damn right she is,” Elle called out from two dressing tables away. “And I can finally set you up with my cousin. You’re going to love him. Just remember to name your firstborn after me.”

  Star laughed, and Elle winked at me.

  “Who’s got the bachelor party tonight?” Tia asked, flopping down in the chair beside me.

  Tia was even smaller than me but looked nothing like a little girl. Her surgically enhanced boobs were barely contained by her latex top, and her pouty lips had seen one too many injections. She was as loyal as they came, and we’d gotten along from the moment we met.

  She might be small, but she was freakishly strong. Guess all that pole dancing really gave her a workout.

  Groaning, Star lifted her hand at Tia’s question. “That would be me.”

  “So what’s going on with you and Sebastian?” Elle asked, studying me.

  “Nothing,” I said, studying my chipped manicure. I had to get out my nail polish tonight before I went to bed. Pink would look great.

  “I heard he was living with you. That’s not nothing,” Star chimed in.

  “Did you know he’s the only one of the guys working at Pepper’s who’s never tried touching any of us?” Elle said.

  “He’s just crashing on my couch,” I said, knowing I needed to give them something or they’d hound me all night.

  “Sure he is,” Tia said and then got up. “Showtime, girls.”

  We shuffled out of the room, the girls heading to the stage while I went to the bar.

  I didn’t see Sebastian for the rest of the night, but one of the guys was clearly on Nora duty. He was trying to be inconspicuous, but thanks to my recently acquired paranoia, I spotted him as soon as he took up his post near the entry.

  It also helped that he was wearing clothes that screamed “biker.” I didn’t dwell on it though, since I was busy dodging grabby hands and sleazy offers all night. When the clock hit two, I ran to the dressing room as fast as my abused feet would take me.