She loosens our hug and tilts her head toward me. “Can we get the pineapple one?”
“Sure.” I look between my mom and Bryn. “Do you guys want pizza? I can order it and have it delivered here.”
Mom shuts her laptop. “Pizza sounds good.” She lets out a sigh and rubs her eyes.
"Yeah,” Bryn says with her hands on her hips. “I’m starving, too.”
I look over at Bryn standing next to my mom. She’s wearing the trendy mom jeans and a white T-shirt. “Do you remember when we would jump on the trampoline?”
“Yeah.” She giggles. “When did we get the trampoline?”
I glance over at mom, staring at her with the same question. “We got it when Blakely was little. Before you were born, Bryn.” Her shoulders slump and her eyes look heavy. She must be beat from work.
Bryn walks over to the fridge and grabs a bottle of water. “It’s that old?” she asks, taking a drink of her water.
Mom yawns while nodding her head.
“Bryn, let’s go back out and jump while we wait.” Amari says, instantly standing from her chair.
“Okay.” Bryn walks over to the sliding door, following behind Amari’s footsteps.
After calling Domino’s, I decide to text Liam and let him know.
Me: Hey, babe. I’m having pizza at my mom’s. Come by if you’re off in time.
Mom placesa glass of red wine in front of me. As I take a sip, it flows smoothly down my throat, leaving a warm, rich sensation. “How’d you know I needed this?”
“It looked like we both had a long day,” she says, sitting back down and taking a long sip of hers.
I look out the back door and watch Bryn playing crack the egg with Amari—Amari being the egg.
“How long have you and Liam been together now? I don’t know when you guys started dating since it was so hush-hush.”
I chuckle. “There was never really an official date.”
She gazes up at me. “So, how’s it going with the two of you?”
“Really good. Better than I expected.”
“Why is that?”
I grip the stem of the wine glass, gently twisting it between my fingers. “I guess because of my history with men.”
“Yeah, dating is hard.”
My brows furrow as I lean slightly forward. “What?”
“I said dating is hard.”
“I know what you said, I’m just...” I pause for a minute. “Are you dating?”
“I’ve always dated,” she says, surprising me.
“What?!” My mind goes back to all those times my mom would ask me to cook dinner and put Brynlee to bed because she had to work late. She always told me she was out with a friend. Oh, my hell! Thosefriendswere guys she was going on dates with. Why didn’t I see it back then?
“Why are you so surprised?” she questions my shock.
“Because I’ve never seen you with anyone since Dad,” I mumble in disbelief.
