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“Really? At theschool?”
I gaped. “That wasn’t ... We weren’t?—”
“Sorry!” Mollie apologized, running over to Nicole. “That was just a little dispute over unlocking the door. One that Cainlost.” She held her hand out. “I’m Mollie.”
Nicole’s glare was disarmed by Mollie stepping between us. For someone so tired, she still brightened wherever she went.
“Nicole. And what do you mean by dispute?”
“Oh, it was nothing. I’m tired. He wanted to take me back to the house to force me to get some rest. But I wanna be here, and he needs to be as well. How else will he see Eric’s first race?”
“Still.” She crossed her arms. “Watch how others perceive you.”
“I didn’t expect the people here to be watching.”
“Someone isalwayswatching.”
Her gaze cut between us before she walked off to get us signed in.
“Did she mean for that to sound creepy?”
“Nicole’s just like that.” I shook my head. “Let’s get this over with.”
Kids were everywhere, wearing shirts with the school name on them. I spotted Eric talking with Tommy.
When he saw me, he jumped up and down and waved. I was taken aback by how excited he was to see me.
“You two will be counting laps,” Nicole said as she handed Mollie a clipboard. “And no, you can’t count your own kid’s?—”
“He’s not my kid.”
I always clarified that with people. I was his guardian, not his parent. And now I didn’t know how much longer I would even be that.
Nicole didn’t like that I’d interrupted her, and shoved another clipboard into my hands.
I looked at Mollie. “What did I do?”
“Maybe she didn’t like you saying Eric isn’t your kid.”
“He’s not.”
“But you watch him. You care about him.”
“Yes, I do. But he’s notmykid.”
“I think it’s less about the fact that you’re not his dad and more about how it sounds. I know this isn’t true, but she might have taken that as you’re saying he’s not your kid because you don’t want him to be.”
“I wouldnever?—”
“Does she know that?”
“Dammit.” I scrubbed my face. “People and their assumptions.”
“You had them about me.”
Fuck.“It’s unfair that you’re this tired and still right.”
“I’m a multitasker,” she said with a wink.