He looks at me and scrunches up his nose in thought. “You mean like making Miss Lane your girlfriend? Because you only kiss girls that are your girlfriend or married, like Nana and Papa.”
I hold my laugh back, wanting him to know I’m taking what he’s saying seriously. “Yeah, like a girlfriend.”
“I think Miss Lane would be happy if she were your girlfriend. She’s always smiling at you and laughs a lot when you are around. I think she likes you, too. You should ask her Dad.”
I do laugh this time. This kid is way smarter than most adults. “I might just do that, buddy. Thanks for the advice.”
He grins at me before a sad look crosses his face. “What if she leaves like Eve did? I don’t want you sad like Uncle Ryder.”
My heart thuds against my chest as he speaks about my biggest fear. Max was only three when she left, but they were close. I know he saw Ryder break down a few times, but I was hoping he wouldn’t remember.
I try to choose my words wisely before I speak. “Sometimes people leave, and we have no control over that. We can’t let being scared of that happening stop us from being happy. We just have to love that person as much as we can and trust they will stay.” I’m not sure who I’m talking to and reassuring more, him or me.
He nods his head slowly as he takes in what I said. “Miss Lane won’t leave. She likes us too much. I trust her.” He smiles at me in the mirror before looking back out the window.
I keep my eyes on the road and will my heart rate to slow down. Trust doesn’t come easily to me, but I have no choice but to trust her at this point.
I pull into her apartment complex a few minutes later, and Max eagerly gets out of his car seat. “Do you think she’ll let me drive the jet ski, Dad?” He takes my hand as we walk across the parking lot.
“I’m sure she will if you ask nicely.” I laugh. All feelings of unease and doubt fall away the minute she opens the door and beams at the two of us.
“Hi,” she says, breathlessly. She’s wearing cut-off shorts and a cropped t-shirt. I can see her black swimsuit peeking out around her neck where she tied it. My hands fist at my side as the urge to grab and kiss her becomes too much. I glance down at Max, and he’s grinning from ear to ear as he looks at us both.
“You should ask her now, Dad, so you can kiss her hello. Nana and Papa always kiss when Papa comes home, and they say hi to each other.” I softly groan and rub my hand over my face. So much for having a private man-to-man talk. We will have to work on that one later.
“What do you want to ask me?” She looks at me with amusement in her eyes as she takes in my uncomfortable body language.
“Can we at least come in first? I feel like it shouldn’t be on the front doorstep.”
She giggles and opens the door wider. We step inside, and Max immediately runs to a bin of Hot Wheels cars sitting on the table.
“You have cars!” Max grins at Sophia before diving into them.
“I had my mom go through some of Maverick’s old things that she kept. I wanted Max to be able to have some toys here when you guys visit.”
Nothing could put my mind at ease more than this simple gesture of thinking of Max and wanting him to be a part of her space. Max trusts her, and it’s about time I did, too. I take her hand and look at Max. “We’ll be in the kitchen, Max. I need to talk to Miss Lane alone for a second.”
He looks up at me with a knowing grin on his face. “Okay, Dad. Just remember, girls like it when you ask nicely.” Where does he come up with this stuff? I shake my head and laugh.
“Thanks, buddy. I’ll make sure to ask nicely.” He goes back to playing with the cars as I pull Sophia into the kitchen with me.
“What do you have to ask me that’s so important?” She laughs but is quickly silenced when my lips find hers. We are just out of sight of Max as I press her up against the wall and urgently take what I need. She weaves her fingers in my hair and brings me closer to her as I gladly make our bodies one.
I can’t stop the stupid grin on my face as I break away to look at her. Her lips are swollen from my kiss, and her eyes have a dreamy, faraway look in them. She couldn’t look more beautiful to me in this moment if she tried.
“I have something to ask you. Max and I had a talk on the way here, and he gave me great advice.”
“He gave you great advice? A five-year-old?” She smiles up at me, making my heart skip a beat.
“He’s very wise for his age.”
“Oh, I know he is. I’m his teacher, remember?”
“I remember. I’m still thinking of the hot teacher fantasy that I want to make happen.” She grins at me and I feel it in my heart like I always do when I see her smile. “I’m wondering, though, if his teacher would like to be my girlfriend as well?” Isoftly ask. Her eyes widen in surprise. “According to Max, when you become my girlfriend, I get to kiss and hug you all the time, and I can’t think of anything I would rather do.” I search her eyes and see my emotions staring back at me. She’s in this with me.
“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do either. Yes,” she says, smiling and nodding. “I’ll be your girlfriend.” She squeals when I pick her up and hold her against me. Max comes running in and grins when he sees us hugging.
“Did she say yes?”
