Page 19 of When We Were More

“Knowhim or havemethim?”

Her eyes meet mine for a second, then she quickly looks away as she grabs the tile I’m still holding and focuses her attention on it. She traces her finger across the smooth porcelain.

“I like this one. The color is gorgeous.”

“Distracting me isn’t going to work.” I intentionally use the words she used with me just minutes ago.

She carefully places the tile back in the box, then fixes her gorgeous blue eyes on me and clasps her hands.

“I’m not sure why you’re being such a weirdo because I don’t knowyouvery well. You’ve been coming here for a few weeks, but it’s not like we’ve been meeting for coffee and Danishes and chatting it up. I know very little about you. I didn’t even knowwho you were before today. Not that it’s any of your business, but I met Jake when his grandma and his nosy Aunt Ruthie tried to hook me up with him on a date last?—”

“Did you go?”

“Huh?” Her face implies she’s genuinely confused by my question.

“Did you go on a date with him?” Jesus, I’m being inappropriate in so many ways, but I can’t fucking stop myself. The idea of her out with him makes me almost feral. “He’s twenty-five, Matilda.” Her cheeks and the tips of her ears redden, and her jaw tightens.

Before either of us can say anything else, my phone rings, and it’s my mother. I need Tillie’s answer to my question and why she suddenly looks upset, but I also have to take this call.

“I’m sorry. I need to take this, but I’ll only be a minute.”

I swear she almost looks relieved. She’s probably starting to genuinely worry that I’m the guy she has to avoid being alone with.

I step a few feet away from her and answer my phone.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Daddy!” It’s my sweet Layla.

“Hey, sweetheart, I’m glad you called. I miss you.” I step further away. “Are you having fun with grandma?”

“Yep. She’s feeding Lena now, but I ate all my food. That’s why I got to call you from the cell phone myself. Whatcha doing?”

I smile at the joy in her voice. The resiliency of this kid is amazing.

“I’m finishing up work, and then I’m going to spend some time with your uncles.”

“Ooh, even Uncle Harrison?” The excitement level in her voice rises ten decibels. It makes Holden nuts that he’s not herfavorite, but hey, he can’t be everyone’s first choice. Harrison wins this one.

“Yep, he’ll be there.” I glance back at Tillie and see that Jake is back, and he’s most definitely into her. By the smile on her face, perhaps she’s into him as well.

“Tell Uncle Harrison, I love him most after you and Lena, ‘kay? But don’t let the others hear. I don’t want them to be sad.”

I laugh. “I will. Should I tell Uncle Hayden and Uncle Holden you love them, too?”

She pauses for a second. “Yes, but make sure to tell Uncle Harrison he’s my first favorite.”

“Okay, baby girl. I’ll do that. I love you very much.”

“I love you too, Daddy. Want me to tell Grandma and Lena that you love them?”

“Yes, please. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Kay.” Then I hear the exaggerated sound she learned to make that she insists sends kisses through the phone before she hangs up.

When I walk back over to Tillie and Jake, there’s a mask over her face, hiding the softer, more vulnerable side of her that I’ve seen glimpses of. I suddenly wonder who should leave first, Jake, or me.

Tillie solves the problem for me.