Page 38 of Falling Together

I nod. “Hopefully I’ll get there soon. Me and Luke.”

“I don’t think I met him.”

“If you did, I’m sorry.” I laugh.

“Why sorry?”

“Because if he was one of the kids that ruined your dress, I’ll feel bad.”

“We at least know one thing we won’t let our kid do.”

“Play baseball or spill spaghetti on people?”

“The spaghetti one. Although, I’m sure he’ll make a mess of himself trying to eat it.” She laughs.

“And in turn, you. The joys of parenthood,” I say. “I’m hoping they’ll want to at least try baseball.”

“I take it Luke isn’t interested?”

“God, no.” I wince. “He’s been buried in his phone or video games since we got to town.”

“I don’t think I was a lot of fun at fourteen either.”

“Really? I can’t imagine that.”

“I mean, are any teenagers fun? Too many hormones and pimples to deal with. He’ll come around,” Georgia says.

Two heaping plates of food are dropped off. My mouth waters at the stack of pancakes, oozing with chocolate. “Damn. This looks delicious.”

Georgia is already cutting into her pancakes and stuffing her mouth. The moan that escapes is borderline indecent. It shouldn’t have my dick perking up and taking notice, but it does.

“I know I said I’d share, but I don’t know if I can.”

I shovel a piece in my mouth and fuck, I agree. These are just as good as she said they would be.

“Maybe we should make this place a weekly date.”

“I thought we decided on being friends,” Georgia says.

“Like a get to know each other kind of thing,” I clarify. “I don’t think we can learn everything about each other in one night.”

She grabs the napkin and wipes her mouth. “I have my first appointment next week. Why don’t we start there?”

“Okay. Send me the details. I’ll make it work.”

Georgia smiles. “I will.”

“Tell me something you’re scared of,” I say, going back to our earlier conversation.

“Again with the hard questions.” She shakes her head. “Failing my students. I never want them to leave feeling worse than when they came. Their life is already hard enough, and I don’t want to add to it.”

Smiling at her, I lean back in the booth and cross my arms. “You already sound like you’ll be a good mom. Worried about kids that aren’t even yours.”

“What about you? What are you scared of?”

“Same as you, except my own kid. Some days I’m worried he hates me and will end up resenting me and the move and never want to talk to me again.”

Georgia gives me a sympathetic look. “Seems like we’re in the same boat.”