Page 55 of The Hook Up
“That’s a relief,” Miriam said. “Jason had to help me put them on this morning. I could be wearing soccer cleats for all I know.”
“They’re very cute ballet flats,” Ellie said. “Green ones.”
“To go with my blue skirt,” Miriam muttered. “Leave it to my husband to dress me in Seattle Seahawks colors.”
“You look great.”
Miriam grinned and plucked a carrot stick from a bowl on the counter, pausing to swirl it in a bowl of ranch dip. “So, things are still going well with Ty?”
Ellie had wondered how long it would take for the inquisition to start. “Yeah,” she said, doing her best to sound nonchalant. “Thanks again for keeping Henry the other night.”
“Hey, anything to give you a shot at a sexy sleepover.” Miriam leaned back against the counter and took a sip of grape juice, then made a face.
“He didn’t actually sleep over,” Ellie pointed out. “I was worried about Henry being just down the street and needing to come home early for some reason.”
Miriam rolled her eyes. “Hon. You know I wouldn’t do that to you. I’d have locked the kid in a closet before I’d let him come barging in on your sexytimes.”
“Remind me never to let you watch him again.”
Miriam laughed and grabbed another carrot stick. “I thought it was sweet watching Ty with him,” she said. “Jason’s been the only guy in Henry’s life for so long. It’s good for him to see grown men come in all shapes and sizes and personalities.”
Unease rolled through Ellie. “I’m not looking to Ty to be a father figure,” she said. “I’m not even sure how much I should have them around each other.”
“What do you mean?”
“What if Henry gets attached?”
“It’s not like you’re introducing him to Henry as his future stepdad,” Miriam pointed out.“He’s mommy’s friend. Mommy has plenty of friends, and it’s good for him to see they can be any gender.”
“I guess so.” Ellie focused on making a foil tent over the lasagna to keep the cheese from burning. She didn’t like admitting that she’d pictured the stepfather scenario a time or two in the last week.
Like when she’d opened another shitty letter from her ex. Chuck had gone on for ten pages about all the reasons she should ignore the state-mandated child support requirements and cut him some slack. She’d stared at the words a long time, wondering how he managed a hundred paragraphs about his money woes, but hadn’t managed a birthday card when Henry turned six.
Instead of responding, she’d crumpled the pages and shoved them into the recycling bin. No matter how much it had stung when Chuck decided not to be part of her life, it hurt ten times more knowing he didn’t want to be part of Henry’s.
All the more reason you shouldn’t get too attached to Ty,she reminded herself.No one should have to go through that again.
Miriam grabbed another carrot from the bowl next to Ellie, jarring her back to the moment. “How did dinner go Tuesday?” she asked. “You said Ty was coming over?”
“Yeah,” she admitted, smiling a little as she remembered how sweet he’d been with Henry, bringing him a pair of Batman sunglasses that made the boy whoop and shriek with joy.
“I like spending time with him,” Ellie admitted.
Miriam smiled. “He seems to like you, too.”
Like.Is that all this was? Things had seemed a little muddy lately, and Ellie felt hopelessly out of practice. Did casual hookups bring gifts to your kid? Did friends-with-benefits text you at night to make sure you made it home safely from your Madame Butterfly sales party? She had no idea, but Ty Hendrix was a good guy. A guy she liked a helluva lot more than she’d expected to.
Ellie’s phone rang on the counter beside her, and she glanced at the screen.
Ty Hendrix, the readout said, making Ellie wonder if she’d summoned him with her thoughts. She reached for the phone while Miriam gave her a knowing look and sipped her grape juice.
“Hey, Ty,” Ellie said as breezily as possible. “What’s up?”
“I was just thinking about you,” he said. “You and Henry.”
“Oh?” She picked up the lasagna and headed toward the oven, determined not to read too much into his entrée to conversation. Miriam turned and opened the oven door for her, and Ellie slid the dish inside and pushed the door shut with her hip.
“Yeah,” Ty continued.“Speak Up just got a new RFP for Great Wolf Lodge, so it made me think of you guys.”
