Page 49 of Hollywood

The kids dashed inside without waiting for a second invitation. Kelly followed. “Sorry for just barging in on you.”

“No worries. Ruby and I don’t have anything major planned today.”

“How’s everything going?” she asked, gazing around my living room.

Shit, we’d left our breakfast dishes on the coffee table. I still hadn’t purchased a proper dining room table, so we either ate there or on boxes yet to be unpacked. There were toys strewn about the living room, too. We’d mostly gotten Ruby to confine her play area to the far side of the couch, but inevitably, she expanded as the day went on and we lost the energy to enforce the boundaries.

Cee-Cee fell on a toy piano, banging away at it, and Kellygrimaced at the noise. Yeah, not my favorite toy either. Ruby picked up her treasured bunny. It was sweet that even once we got some of her things from home, the stuffed animal Aiden gave her was a VIP among toys.

Kelly set her youngest down, handing her a few blocks to keep her occupied, and her six-year-old started lecturing the girls about the best way to play with each toy. He was gonna have a real future as a mansplainer.

Her oldest son kicked a stuffed hippo, sending it rolling away.

“Mark, cut it out,” Kelly snapped. “Play nice or sit your butt on the couch.”

He threw himself down on a cushion with a huff. “It’s all little kid stuff.”

“Ruby’s a little kid,” she pointed out.

I handed him the remote control. “You can watch TV, if you like. We have Disney.”

He powered on the television and started flipping through channels.

“You’re a quick learner,” Kelly said with a chuckle. “TV makes a great babysitter.”

“Oh, I don’t just do that all day.” Should I not have let Ruby watch cartoons over breakfast? “I, uh, just thought since he’s not into the toys…”

“Relax,” Kelly said. “I’m teasing you. We all need a break now and then.”

I scooped up the two empty coffee cups and half-eaten bowl of cereal from the coffee table. “Sorry, it’s a little messy. We’re not fully unpacked yet.”

Kelly eyed the few boxes stacked by the wall. “You made the move in a hurry. Not easy with a toddler.”

She followed me to the kitchen, where I deposited the dirty dishes and turned to make a fresh pot of coffee.

“I hadhelp.”

“Yeah, I noticed there were two coffee cups.”

She left the statement hanging, as if waiting for me to say something. I glanced at her, then did a double take. “Oh, it’s not— My friend Tex has been helping out. That’s all.”

“Ah, the protective one who looked like he wanted to take off my head.” She leaned against my counter. “Are you two dating?”

I nearly dropped the coffee filter. “What? No!”

“Carrie told me you’re bi. You don’t need to sound so shocked that I’d ask.”

I measured out coffee grains, dumped them into the filter, and started the machine. “I’m bi, yes. But Tex is not.”

“Are you sure? He was awfully protective of you. I would have thought…”

I shook my head. It didn’t matter that Tex had kissed me back. That I sensed an attraction from him. Until he acknowledged his sexuality, it wasn’t my place to speculate.

At least, not with Kelly. To myself? I did nothing but speculate. For all the good it did me.

“He’s here as a friend,” I said firmly. “He’s great with Ruby.”

She smiled. “Well, having a partner—of any kind,” she said quickly when I shot her a look, “is really helpful. I’m glad you don’t have to do this alone. It’s a lot of work.”