Page 40 of Fake It For Love (Faux Love)
“I agree,” I said. “Eliza thought you walked on water.”
“Eliza!” Her face lit up. “I forgot she was your sister!”
“Because she doesn’t look like me?” I teased.
“Because she looked nothing like you and she was very sweet,” she said. “And Eliza loved everyone. She was a social butterfly.”
“Still is,” I said.
“How is she?” Claire asked. “How old is she now?”
“She’s twenty-seven,” I said.
“No way!” She giggled and took another drink. “Why does that make me feel old?”
“I bet I can make you feel even older,” I said.
“Oh, please don’t,” she groaned.
“She’s married and has two kids,” I announced.
Her eyes widened. “No way. Are you lying? She cannot be old enough to have two kids.”
I pulled out my phone and quickly unlocked it. “These are her girls,” I said.
She took my phone and stared at the screen. “Oh my gosh,” she breathed. “They are precious.”
“Yes, they are,” I said. She handed me the phone. “Those little girls are my whole world. They aren’t mine, but they feel like it sometimes. Eliza gets pissed because I spoil them. I think it’s my right. I’m their only uncle. And I love buying them stuff from all around the world.”
“Do you take them up in your plane?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yep. Not often, but when Eliza will let me, I do.”
“Do they like it?” she asked.
I couldn’t stop my smile. “The oldest one not so much. But the younger one is a daredevil. She’s going to give Eliza fits. I predict that girl is going to try and fly the plane one of these days. She’s always doing stuff to make Eliza crazy. She’s broken her arm twice. She climbs anything she can find and jumps. Eliza blames me. She thinks she should have a healthy fear of heights and I’m teaching her not to be afraid.”
“That sounds very much like the Eliza I remember,” she said. “You guys are still close then?”
“Yes,” I said. “They always complain I don’t spend enough time in New York.”
“Eliza is still there?”
“Yep,” I said again. “They bought a house in the suburbs.”
“Good for her,” she said. “I bet your nieces wish you would stay in New York as well.”
“Maybe,” I said. “I’ve thought about it. I love hanging out with those girls.”
“Do you have kids of your own?” she asked.
“Nope.” I shook my head. “You?”
She laughed. “Definitely not.”
“I don’t have kids now, but every time I hang out with those girls, I think about what it will be like to have my own,” I said.
I realized that was pretty heavy talk. But this wasn’t a date. It was no different than talking to a colleague. I could talk to her about kids and stuff. It wasn’t like I was talking about having kids with her.
