Page 6 of Backup Plan

“Hot date?”

I glance up at him, and suddenly, it’s like the axis shifts a little. His dark hair is a little too long, a little shaggy, and it’s sort of falling into his eyes a little. He pushes it back as he slides in beside me, his knee bumping mine, and when his hair isn’t in his eyes, they seem to glow a dark brown at me.

I’m imagining things. I’m assigning a different emotion to him being nice. That’s all this is. Transference.

“Hm?” I ask.

He nods at my phone. “I asked if that was a hot date.”

“Oh! Yeah.” I’m doing my best here to pull it together. It’s not working. “I mean, no. It was my mom. I was texting my mom. She’s…something else. And then I called to talk to my kids, and my little one wanted a song.” I decide not to heed her advice of getting horizontal. “I should probably get going.”

His face falls a little. “You sure? Do you need to get your kids?”

I shake my head. “No. Actually, my mom said they could stay over and she’d get them to school in the morning.”

His eyes light at my words. I must be imagining things.

“Then let’s have another round.”

“You want to have another round with me, the thirty-something mom going through a divorce?” I ask, doubt in my tone.

He tilts his head. “Is that how you see yourself?”

I raise my brows. “It’s literally the definition of who I am.”

I’m about to be a single mom, and I feel like I gave all my good years to the wrong man.

I empty my wine, and Liam signals to Izzy to bring us more. He must be on his fifth or sixth by now…I’ve lost count.

He shakes his head as he stares at me, those eyes so intense they’re nearly staring through me. “You’re as tough as they come, Pen. You’re more than just the mother of your kids. You’re more than just the ex of that clown you married. You’re smart. You’re strong. You’re independent and courageous. You’re sexy as hell.”

My cheeks heat as something I haven’t felt in years darts down my spine. No one has described me as sexy in…well, maybe ever, but it’s been at least eight years, back before Sammy and Benji destroyed my body.

“Are you flirting with me?” I tease, and I realize it’s me using humor as a way to minimize what he just said, but I feel suddenly awkward, like he’s staring at me stripped bare in a way few others have ever taken the time to look at me.

This is intense for a few drinks with a friend’s younger brother.

“What would you say if I said I was?” he challenges.

“I’d say you’re drunk.”

He laughs and glances away. “Yeah, maybe. But even if I wasn’t, I’d still flirt with you.”

“Because you’re flirty by nature?”

“Because you’re—”

“Can I get you two anything else?” Izzy interrupts him mid-sentence, setting down a fresh glass of wine for me and another beer for him.

His eyes flick to mine. “Just the check.”

“Put mine on my own,” I say, tearing my gaze from Liam’s.

He shakes his head. “Don’t be ridiculous. Put it on one.”

Izzy seems annoyed by our argument, and I’m pretty sure she rolls her eyes and mutters something under her breath, but she scampers off.

Liam holds up his beer. “To new beginnings.”