Page 29 of Even After This
I scrunch up my nose. Olivia sounds like no walk in the park I want to take.
Harlan crouches down and explains the new plan to Alex.
She glances up at me, and I wink and flash an overenthusiastic smile.
When he finishes, he stands and slides a room key out of his back pocket and hands it to me. My heart stops beating. This feels like a complete lack of judgment on his part. It also feels like the opening to a stalker movie starring myself.
“If you guys come back here, use my suite,” he says. “Rest time will be easier with all her stuff in her own room.” He taps at his phone. “What’s your phone number?”
Numbly, I give it to him. The stalker movie feels more real.
“I just sent you a text with my room number,” he says as if that’s normal.
I turn my attention to the beautiful three-year-old at hand. If I focus on her, I can ignore that Hercules just sent me his number.
A strand of sadness from my past mars the overarching excitement about spending the day with a child. But I push through. I want to see what this day holds.
Harlan leans in and lowers his voice. “I need to tell you one more thing.”
I want to lean into the rumble of his voice. In an effort to focus, I blink.
He smells amazing.
In a second effort to focus, I blink again.
Seriously. I can never date again.
“Her mother is super unpredictable. Olivia was supposed to pick Alex up for the rest of the weekend. She might show up in an hour, she might not show up at all. I’m hoping you don’t haveto interact with her, but I need to communicate to her where you’ll be in case she decides to be a parent today. I want to warn you”—he shifts as if he’s uncomfortable—“she’s not entirely pleasant.”
I give him a slight nod, hoping I’m masking my internal deer-in-the-headlights reaction.
Harlan takes one last unsure glance around and clutches the back of his neck with his hand. “You know what? Never mind. This is too much to ask you to do this. I can’t put you in this position.”
“Harlan, it’s fine.” I bend down to pick up Alex’s backpack and sling it over my shoulder. “Alex and I are about to have a blast. I promise not to let her play with the lions or bring home a pet elephant. We will wash our hands, walk on the sidewalk, and eat healthy foods. And if I run into Olivia, I’m a big girl. I can hold my own.”
Smoldering eyes lock with mine, and he nods once. “I bet you can.”
I order whatever animal jumped in my stomach to cool it. “We’ll head back to your room afterwards for rest time. If Olivia changes her mind or your schedule changes, text me. We’re good. Promise.” I shoo him away with my hand. “Go be a big, famous movie star.”
Harlan levels his eyes at me as if he doesn’t like me calling him that. Then a small smile crosses his lips, and he shakes his head before he bends down to Alex. “Okay, beautiful. Have so much fun at the zoo today. Make sure you obey Miss Meredith.”
Alex captures her daddy’s cheeks, both of her little girl hands splayed across them, and in her earnest child tone adds her goodbye. “I wuv you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, Little Bit.”
My heart squeezes again, this time just a bit more.
Alex grasps my hand. “Let’s go, Miss Merweradith. I want to see the giwaffes!”
Smiling down at her, I feel something new. Different. I am at peace holding a child’s hand. I am at peace holdingherhand. “How would you like tofeedthe giraffes?”
“Yes!” She jumps several big little-girl jumps.
“Meredith.” Harlan grabs my hand and squeezes. “Thank you. This is crazy. So just ... thank you.”
Before I can respond, Harlan turns, scoops Alex up, and gives her one last giant hug.
I’m tempted to ask if I get one too.
