Page 96 of Say Yes to the Hot Mess
“Eh, it’s kind of a long story, but he ended up being my neighbor,” I say with a shrug. “Everything is still very new, and we’ve only just started going on dates, but…I like him a lot,” I confess.
“I need a picture immediately,” Sam says, pinning me with a stern look.
I nod and promise to send one, but my eyes are on Carter. He’s still suspiciously silent, and I’ve got a feeling I know why.
“Relax, Carter,” I say gently. “He’s nothing like Chet—”
“Chad,” Sam and Carter both say at the same time.
I smile a little, shaking my head. “Fine. Chad. He’s nothing like Chad. And in fact, he’s just as unimpressed with Chad as you two are. But he’s very different.”
“How so?” Carter says, narrowing his eyes.
“Well, he has a steady job, for one. Dex is the complex manager for Sunset Horizons. He’s smart and kind and he makes me laugh. And he makes me…I don’t know.” This is suddenly getting very personal, but I go on. “He makes me feel like I can do things, you know? He makes me feel confident.” Then, for Sam’s benefit, I add, “And he’s super easy on the eyes.”
Carter grunts, looking less suspicious but still not completely at ease.
“You’ll meet him, okay?” I say. “If things keep going well, I promise you’ll meet him.”
Carter sighs and says, “Yeah, okay.” He pauses for a second, then goes on, “I’m happy for you, Maya. You seem happy.”
I smile at him. “I am, actually.”
And it hits me then: Iamhappy.
Not that I wasn’t happy in the past, but I feel different, and not just because of Dex. I feel like I’m figuring out my place in the world, figuring out who I am and more importantly, who I can become. I might not be a handyman or an expert tire changer or a great mower of lawns, but…I’m a good mother and a good person. I hope I’m a good friend, and maybe someday I might even be a good girlfriend. I can defend my family and stand up for the people I love.
And that’s worth something to me.
* * *
Later that evening,I go over to Dex’s place.
Archer is in a good mood, due to his full tummy, and so am I—although this is less due to my full tummy and more due to the fact that I don’t have to stress about moving anymore.
It also doesn’t hurt that I’m majorly crushing on this man, and he seems to feel the same way.
“Hey, let’s make cookies,” Dex says as we’re finishing up dinner. He’s not looking at me; he’s trying to coax Archer into smiling, but Archer is having none of it.
Dex sighs and looks over at me. “Do I give up?”
“Never,” I scoff. Then, hesitating first, I add, “But also I’m not even sure Archer is old enough to be smiling socially yet, so…it might be too early to get him to smile. When babies are teeny tiny they don’t know how to smile as a means of interaction.”
Dex nods, looking thoughtful. “Okay. You may not think I’m funny yet,” he says to Archer, “but we’ll get there. Your mom thinks I’m hilarious.”
I laugh at this.
“So, cookies?” Dex says as he stands and begins taking dishes to the sink. “There’s a recipe my nanny used to make when we were kids, and Jude sent it to me. I’m not really a cookie person—”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Whoisn’ta cookie person?”
“But I kind of want to give them a try.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Is this because the cookies I made you were crunchy?”
Dex’s answering grin makes something flip-flop in my stomach. “Not at all,” he says. “They did make me nostalgic, though.”
“All right,” I say, standing. “I’ll never say no to cookies.”
