Playing with Fire
Page 19
“Oh they do?” I said slowly, processing what she had just said. Could I really go on a date with three kids? Granted the kids wouldn’t be on the date with me, but they would be right there watching.
“I know it wouldn’t be ideal.” Cara bit down on her lower lip and I could tell she looked stressed. “I hate to ask this of you, Sadie and I wouldn’t go in if I thought I could get away with it.” Her voice sounded upset and I reached out to squeeze her hands.
“Hey, it’s not a problem.” I gave her a wide smile and pretended that it sounded like a great idea. “It’s only a first date as well, so we won’t even be out long. I’ll be able to keep an eye on them. Don’t worry about it.” I didn’t want her to feel stressed. Cara was an amazingly positive and upbeat person, but I knew that it wasn’t being a single mother of three at 28. And her kids dad wasn’t in the picture at all. He was such a deadbeat. It made me mad just to think about how he’d just left and didn’t even see his kids. “It’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” Cara’s face still looked concerned. “I really don’t want to ruin your first date in ages.”
“It’ll be fine.” I said to her. “Trust me. I’m sure it will be fine.”
***
“What are you going to do with the drunken sailor? What are you going to do with the drunken sailor? What are you going to do with the drunken sailor? Early in the morning.” Dylan was singing loudly in the backseat, accompanied by Brody and Brandon.
“Pull down his pants and suffocate the ants now. Pull down his pants and suffocate the ants now. Pull down his pants and suffocate the ants now. Early in the morning.” Brody was really getting into it as he wiggled around in the back seat. I peered in the rearview mirror of the car and sighed to myself. The kids were already super hyped-up and I didn’t think that they needed a sugar rush from the icecream to come. It was going to be a long night.
“Come on Aunty Sadie.” Dylan tapped on my shoulder as he began another round of singing and I couldn’t stop myself from joining them. “Pull down his pants and suffocate the ants now, pull down his pants and suffocate the ants now. Pull down his pants and suffocate the ants now early in the morning.” I sang and then stopped as I noticed Dylan pretending to be drinking from a beer bottle and I started to feel guilty. “Hey kids, let’s sing something else. I don't know if this is an appropriate song for you guys to be singing.”
“Why not Auntie Sadie? You're the one that taught us the song.” Dylan said, ever the voice of reason. I swear he should join the FBI when he’s older with all his questions.
“Well, I know I taught you the song,” I paused for a few seconds but I don't know that it's appropriate you guys to be singing. And pretending to be drinking beer.” I looked at them and then just shook my head. “But I guess your mom already knows that I’ve taught it to you. So it's fine.” They just grinned at me and I sighed wondering what sort of example I was to them. “Oh, shit.” I said, as I realized that I’d passed my stop on the highway. “Hold on, guys.” I said as I sped up to take the next exit and turn around. “Man. I'm going to be late.” I muttered as I looked at the time on my dashboard. I pulled up to the next exit. And then turned around so that I could pull off at the right exit. I made it to the parking lot within five minutes and breathed a sigh of release as I realized we were still early. I parked and jumped out of the car and then opened the backdoors to let the boys out. As we walked to the ice cream shop, I was happy to notice that it was a nice day outside, and even though it was a Saturday evening and it wasn’t that busy out. If it had been raining or too crowded, it would have been a hot mess.
“Okay, guys, so we've discussed the plan, right?” I stopped outside of the ice cream store and looked at the three boys sternly. They all had looks of extreme excitement on their face. It wasn’t that often that they gotten taken out for ice cream treats where they got to pick whatever they wanted.
“Yes. Auntie Sadie.” They chorused, looking cherubic, their chubby little faces beaming up at me. The three of them almost looking like triplets as they were so close in age.
“So remember we're going to go into the ice cream shop now. I’m going to be in the coffee shop right next door meeting a friend. I will also be sitting outside, watching you.”
“You mean a date.” Dylan grinned.
“Yes, Dylan.”
“I want a chocolate fudge brownie.” Brody said, not caring to listen to me talk anymore. He just wanted to eat.
“I want pizza.” Brandon said.
“We're going to get pizza when we get home, Brandon. First ice-cream and then pizza. And you guys have to be good. Remember you told your mom, you would be good.”
“We’re always good, Auntie Sadie.” Dylan said with a sweet smile and I just nodded at him, knowing that now was not the time to remind him of all the times that they hadn’t been good.
“Yes, yes.” I nodded and my heart started racing as I looked at the time on my watch. I had 15 minutes before Dante was meant to show up. “Let’s go in and get your icecream guys and then we can get you seated.” I said as I opened the door to the store, wondering if this was a really bad idea. “Also guys, just remember that my friend.” I paused and looked at Dylan. “Well my date, well this is the first time I’m meeting him and he doesn’t know that you guys are going to be there.” “Why not?” Brandon said with a frown.
“Doesn't he like us?” Dylan said and I shook my head quickly.
“He doesn't know you guys and I don’t want you all to meet him until I know if he’s a nice guy. Now come on, choose what you want quickly. It's a first day and I do not want to scare this guy off by introducing him to three kids.”
“Why would you be scaring him off, Auntie Sadie?”
“No reason,” I said and gave Dylan a smile and hug. I didn’t want them to feel like they were unlovable. I was already worried that they were getting to the age where they were starting to ask more and more questions about their dad. Sometimes I spoke to them, well especially, Dylan, as if they were adults, but I knew that they weren’t and I wanted to be careful of their feelings. “Hey guys, you’re going to have your ice-cream and I’m going to grab a coffee and meet with him. I'm going to be really quick and then we're going to go.”
“I thought you said that you wanted to get a free steak out of it.” Dylan said innocently and I frowned. Had he been eavesdropping when I’d been talking to his mom?
“No Dylan.” I shook my head. “I’m just getting a quick coffee.” “Okay,” they all chorused politely. That really should have been my first sign that the night was not going to go as planned. I could even tell from the look on Dylan’s face that he wasn’t just going to sit patiently outside, but I was too preoccupied with other things to allow my instincts to set in and warn me of the impending drama.
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Also by J. S. Cooper
Carry My Heart
Along Came Baby
Crazy Beautiful Love
One Night Stand
Falling For My Best Friends Brother
Everlasting Sin
The Ex Games
The Last Boyfriend
Rhett
Four Week Fiance
Finding My Prince Charming
Scarred
Say You Love Me
The Hookup
Along Came Baby
Playing With Fire
The Boyfriend Plan
Dante
Midnight Note
The Bachelor’s Games
Filthy Little Lies
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