Page 19 of Sweet Surrender
“Oh really? How would you put jumping to conclusions and assuming I’m irresponsible because of mycarefree attitude to life?”
Eliza had the grace to look sheepish at hearing her words uttered back to her.
“I do want to apologize. I should have asked you what was going on instead of making assumptions. I knew you hadn’t agreed with me about the homework and so I—”
Rowyn held up a hand to cut her off.
“See, you’re still making assumptions. Why do you think I didn’t agree with you?”
Eliza finished the bite of pizza in her mouth and frowned.
“You said so. You told me you wanted them to enjoy the time they had left in the sun.”
Rowyn nodded.
“Yes, and then you explained to me why the homework being done was important. You gave me information you rightly pointed out that I didn’t have in advance,” Rowyn said.
“You seemed unhappy about it and nodded, I figured you were just going along with it because I didn’t leave room for arguments.”
Rowyn chuckled and Eliza stared at her quizzically.
“One thing you’ll learn about me is I can always find roomto argue what I know is best. I nodded because I was processing what you said, and yes, a little annoyed with myself formaking assumptionsinstead of approaching the conversation with you to understand why homework being done this way mattered so much first. What you said made sense. The kids need routine and structure, and I was looking to change because of what I felt was best, not because of what they needed. I understood that when you explained. However, I did compromise by taking homework outside in the sun with us and making it a little more fun. A fact I would’ve explained if you had asked.”
Rowyn spoke the last sentence in a teasing tone, not wanting to drive the point home too much but wanting to be sure they understood each other.
“Noted. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. I’m sorry that I upset you with what I said.”
They ate in silence for a while, but there was no awkwardness to it. Rowyn was glad to have cleared the air and appreciated the time to gather herself without filling up the space with words.
“So, what dessert do you want since you saw what’s on offer?”
Rowyn’s eyes widened at the rapid speed at which her brain took Eliza’s words and interpreted them. She recalled in vivid detail exactly what Eliza had to offer, and her face flushed at the memory.
“Ice cream. What ice cream do you want?”
Eliza’s voice was a cross between alarmed and amused, whether it was at her innuendo or Rowyn’s reaction was unclear.
“Mint chocolate chip and bubble-gum, please,” Rowyn said.
“Both, together?” Eliza said with a look of disgust.
“Don’t yuck other people’s yums, Eliza. Did nobody ever teach you that?”
“I got bubble-gum for the kids because it’s their favourite. Since they’re eight,” Eliza said as she moved to the freezer.
“Eight with great taste. Are your taste buds supposed toignore the awesomeness of bubble-gum flavour when you turn eighteen or something?” Rowyn scoffed.
“I think they call it maturing. Something you seem unfamiliar with,” Eliza deadpanned.
“Ah, yes, because I’m a child that likes frolicking in the sun with my carefree abandon. Guess that makes you a cradle snatcher, then.”
The words were out before Rowyn could stop them, and she physically clamped a hand over her mouth as if she could push them back in. Her damn loose tongue was going to have her face beetroot for the night at this stage. Rowyn’s heart pounded as she looked at an unmoving Eliza and wondered how the hell she’d backtrack on this one.
“Touché,” Eliza said with a flourish of her hand before she turned and busied herself gathering ice cream.
That was it?
Rowyn’s heart rate slowed a bit as Eliza set the bowl of ice cream in front of her and sat across from her with her own bowl. Rowyn almost burst into laughter at the single scoop of ice cream in Eliza’s bowl.
