Page 29 of Make-Believe Match

Two minutes later, I had a reply.

Is there really a Sara?

Yes. She says hi.

Because if there isn’t, this is low even for you.

I turned to Sara. “She wants to know if you’re real. Selfie?”

Sara clapped her hands. “Yes!”

I snapped a pic and sent it to Lexi.

Adorable. Look at that smile.

Thank you. But did you see the kid next to me?

YOU KNOW I MEANT HER.

I suppose.

Can we talk later? I’m on a bus coming home from a Camp Lemonade field trip, but I can call you when I’m home.

I have nothing new to say.

Maybe I just like the sound of your voice.

You are despicable.

“Well?” Sara asked. “Does she like you again?”

“No,” I said. “But she’s definitely warming up. Thanks for the help. I promise to take you out for an ice cream cone soon.”

She held up her pinky. “Pinky promise?”

I latched my pinky to hers. “Pinky promise.”

“You can’t break a pinky promise, you know.”

“I would never break a pinky promise.”

She grinned happily and continued sitting next to me on the ride home, kicking the seat in front of her and telling me about each and every one of her friendship bracelets. At one point she dozed off, head tipping onto my shoulder.

Somewhere along my internal wiring, that paternal instinct hummed again, and I thought it would be kind of nice to have a little girl like the one at my side. If I were different.

If everything had been different.

* * *

My brother Xander called while I was getting ready to go out for dinner and drinks with a few friends.

“Hello?”

“Hey, brother. Happy birthday.”

“Thanks. How’s everything going with the bar?”

“Okay. Still on track to open next Friday night.”