Blocked (11 page)

“Mmm, I think you tasted perfect.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Yep, amazing. Dinner, April, Saturday night. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too,” April agreed once more before waving good-bye.

Chapter Six

My Mother is Babysitting

“EEEP!” RORI CLAPPED her hands together. “I can’t believe my girl is going on a date tomorrow night. I feel like a proud parent.”

“Oh my God, Ror, keep your voice down. The last thing I want is for my personal life to become fodder for the rumor mill here at school.” April peered over her shoulder to see who else was in the staff lounge this early in the morning. “I swear, sometimes I think the teachers are worse than the students when it comes to gossip.”

“Ooo, gossip. What gossip?” Janie floated into the lounge, her usual smile present and accounted for. “Seriously, girlies, what am I missing?”

“Oh, nothing,” Rori said in a singsong voice. “Except that April here has a date tomorrow night with Super-Hot-Gym-Guy.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Janie exclaimed, her eyes wide with interest. “I’m so excited for you that I’m not even gonna be hurt that you didn’t call me as soon as it happened.”

It wasn’t that April was hiding the information from Janie; it was more like she hadn’t been able to process it yet herself, let alone involve anyone else. Sure, she’d told Rori immediately, first because the woman was her best friend, and second because it was the first time she actually needed to find a babysitter for Eli. April had practically felt Rori’s regret through the phone the previous evening when her friend explained why she was unable to help with the little guy, but that unease was nothing compared to what April felt when both of her siblings were also unavailable, leaving her mother as a last resort.

Sighing, April admitted, “It’s true. I’m going on a date. It’s the first date I’ve been on in more than ten years. And it’s with the hottest, sweetest, funniest man I’ve ever met… I should cancel.”

“Stop it,” Janie and Rori said in unison as Janie pulled up a chair and joined the women at the table.

“I want details, all of them.” Janie pointed from April to Rori. “And what she chooses to leave out, can you please fill in? We can’t get her the help she needs if we don’t have all of the details.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Rori said. “But from what I’ve heard about Mr. Six-Pack, he seems to manage our girl just fine. She’s calm around him, not at all like the mess we’ve seen when she talks about him. The only thing I think she needs is a—”

“Umm, hello!” April interjected, waving her hands in front of her friends’ faces. “You guys are talking about me as if I’m not sitting right here at the table.”

“Oh, so you are here.” Rori grinned, winking at a satisfied Janie. “Are you sure you’re part of this conversation? Because the people at this table are getting ready for a date. They are not canceling or thinking about canceling on someone who makes them smile the way this man does you. So knock off your shit and dish the deets.” Seemingly proud of her speech, Rori nodded her head as if to say she was finished speaking and took a large gulp of her coffee.

April looked at the two women who sat beside her. While Rori was her closest friend, Janie was much more than just a co-worker. The truth was, April was lucky to have these women in her life, and she could use some advice regarding her date so… “Okay, Decker made reservations at the new Italian place in Charistown, Amore, for seven o’clock.”

“Ooh, Max, and I love it there. The food is amazing, and the service is great.” Janie’s eyes sparkled with the dreamy look she got every time she mentioned her boyfriend. “We intend to go back there as soon as the Grand Re-Opening for our bar is over and we have spare time. But anyway, back to you.”

April bit her lip, unease filling her belly. “Well, here’s the thing. I’m not sure I want him to come and pick me up. I think I’d rather meet him at the restaurant.” Her comment was met with two pairs of narrowed eyes and pursed lips.

“Chica? It’s a date. The guy is supposed to pick up the girl.”

“Rori’s right, April. What’s the deal?”

April stared down at her hands, as if the state of her un-manicured nails had all of a sudden become fascinating.

“Oh.” Rori placed her hand over April’s and squeezed. “I understand. You don’t want Decker meeting Eli, right?”

Bingo
. “Look,” April answered quietly, “you know how I am with my son. The kid hasn’t even met my hair dresser, and I’ve been going to her for three years. I refuse to have him meet people who are only going to hurt him when they up and leave.” She could feel Rori watching her—hell, she could practically hear the thoughts whipping around in her friend’s mind—but she refused to look up from her hands. “Anyhow, Elijah is only one of the reasons I can’t have Decker come to my door.” April looked up when complete silence met her comment. “Ladies, please, my mother is babysitting. Do you really think it’s a good idea for him to meet her on our first date?”

“Nope,” Janie answered.

“Hell no,” Rori said at the same time.

“So I’ll suggest just meeting at Amore?”

The three women nodded at once as the lounge began to fill.

Chapter Seven

Don’t Test Me

“HERE YOU GO, sweet boy.” April set a plate with triangular cuts of peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Doritos on the table in front of Elijah. “Let me get you a glass of milk.”

“Thanks, Mommy.” Eli plucked a triangle off the plate and took a four-year-old’s equivalent of a huge bite.

April couldn’t hold back her smile—she never could with him. Her son brought her so much joy, even in the beginning when there was nothing but sleepless nights and hormonal breakdowns, even now when she was completely exhausted and he wanted “just one more story” before bed. He was her sweet when life felt ridiculously sour.

She set the cup of milk next to his plate and planted a big, noisy kiss on the crown of his head. “Your head is so delicious, I think I’m gonna eat it like an apple. Nom nom nom.”

“No, Mommy.” Elijah’s high-pitched voice giggled. “If you eat my head, I’ll die.” This was their game, and it made him laugh every single time. “Go get a real apple, Mommy. It keeps the doctor away.”

“Okay.” She stretched out the word, feigning disappointment, and went back to the refrigerator to grab the crunchy fruit.

“Mommy, can we watch
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
again?”

Crunch.
Thank God I took a large bite,
April thought as she used the few seconds to chew and swallow the bit of fruit in her mouth.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
was Eli’s favorite movie, one that they viewed almost daily, and April could recite the lines verbatim. That being said, she’d never say no to a movie with such a nice message behind it, and she did have quite the affection for the talking baby strawberry.

“You finish up, and I’ll go get the movie started.” Since the family room and the kitchen were attached, she could keep an eye on her little guy while cueing up the DVD.

Once he was settled on the sofa, she went back to the kitchen to collect her half-eaten apple and her cell phone. It was nearing three o’clock, and she still hadn’t heard from Decker. In fact, she’d texted him the previous night, and he’d never responded. In the nearly two weeks since they’d been chatting, this was the longest they’d gone without any contact at all. Disappointment zipped through her. Was he getting bored already?

Crunch
. The apple’s crisp flavor pulled April’s attention away from her thoughts just long enough to notice the text indicator blinking on her phone.

Decker:
Hey there, sorry I didn’t get back to you last night. Got held up at work and then had dinner with my mom, Ford and Charlie.

Hmm
, she thought, taking another bite of the dense fruit. She scrolled to the next missed message.

Decker:
By the time I put her to bed and sat my ass on the sofa I fell asleep.

Decker:
<<

His self-deprecating comment had her grinning as she tapped out a response.

April:
No problem. I wanted to talk to you about tonight.

Decker:
Actually, I need to talk to you as well.

April:
?

Decker:
Would you mind if we met at Amore tonight?

April read the question. Twice. “Why would he want to meet me at the restaurant?”

“Mommy, did you say something?” Eli called to her from the sofa.

“Oh, no, baby, I’m just texting with Aunt Ember. I’ll be in with you in a few minutes.”

Eli didn’t respond, already sucked back in to the animated talking food.

April:
Nope

She knew her response was uncharacteristically short and would most likely grab Decker’s attention, but that wasn’t why she’d kept it brief. No, it was more because his request took her by surprise, and frankly, it upset her. The logical part of her brain chastised her for being ridiculous. After all, she had been going to make the same suggestion. However, her irrational side, the side that feared rejection, the side that questioned whether or not Decker had already begun to lose interest, that was the part of her that screamed the loudest.

Decker:
Are you sure it’s okay?

April:
Yep

* * *

DECKER STARED AT the screen on his phone. Two one-word replies? That was not like April at all. The woman texted like most people spoke—in full sentences. Even though he teased her about it, he found it endearing. There was something going on, and he had no idea what it could be. He only had about five more minutes left of the intermission, then he wouldn’t be available for a while. But there wasn’t any way he’d be able to stay focused when he was worried about April, so instead of texting, he called her number.

“Hey,” she answered. Her aloof greeting confirmed the call was exactly the right move.

“Hey to you.” He moved away from the crowded lobby so he could listen not only to her words but her tone. “I only have a couple of minutes, but I wanted to hear your voice. I can’t wait to see you tonight.” Thoughts of being close to her, getting to spend a little time with her without the chaos of the gym, call waiting, work, even their kids getting in the way had been absorbing all his extra brain space since the minute she accepted his invitation.

“Me too,” she responded, her tone lacking all enthusiasm.

Decker’s chest tightened. What the hell had happened to turn her from hot to cold so quickly? He’d done the whole bait-and-switch thing with his first wife, and there was no way he’d tolerate it again. “April”—he heard the edge in his voice but couldn’t smooth it out—“did I do something to offend you? Because I’m lost here.”

A beat of silence hit the air waves, then he heard her pull in a shaky breath.

“No, Deck, it’s not you, it’s me. Fuck, I mean, fudge… shit.” The frustration he felt began to melt as he listened to her fumble with her words. “Okay, first, I can’t believe I just used the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ bullshit. I’m sorry about that.”

He rolled his neck from side to side, relieving tension from his shoulders. “No prob, but what’s the deal?”

He heard her let out a long sigh. “Umm, you don’t want to pick me up for our date tonight and—”

“Wait, no, that’s not it at all.”
Shit
, he thought, slapping himself on the forehead. Of course that puzzled her. He’d dropped that on her without explanation. “I guess I forgot to tell you Charlie’s dance recital is today. She takes two classes. One of the shows was this morning, and the other isn’t until four o’clock. I usually take her for ice cream afterward, then I thought I’d have time to shower and pick you up—” April tried to interrupt, but Decker continued speaking. “However, as with all things
little girl,
the whole show is running behind. It’s not a problem though. I’ll take her for ice cream then come straight to you.”

“Oh my God,” April whined, “Deck, I’m a horrible person. No, absolutely not. Keep your plans as is, and I’ll meet you at the restaurant. I’m so sorry for making you feel bad.”

“Babe, it’s fine.” Hearing her embarrassment through the phone, Decker could practically see her cheeks flaring, and the image sent a burst of excitement through his body.

“No, Decker, it’s not fine. I actually texted you last night to suggest we meet at the restaurant.”

Her words drained his arousal like a cold bath in mid-January. Why wouldn’t she want him to pick her up?

April continued, “And when you didn’t respond, I began to wonder if maybe you were having second thoughts.”

“Ah, so when I asked if we could meet at Amore—”

“Yep,” April finished. “I thought you were trying to let me down easy.”

“April, I told you, that’s not gonna happen, but…” Decker needed to know why she was going to suggest meeting for their date. “Why didn’t you want me to pick you up at your house, babe?” Silence hit his ear long enough that Decker had to look at the screen to make certain the call was still connected.

Finally, April spoke. “Well, there are two reasons, actually.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “The first is that I’m quite protective of Elijah. I don’t let just anyone meet him. I told you I haven’t dated since he was born, and I won’t allow people in his life who aren’t going to stick around. He doesn’t need that kind of pain.”

Decker understood all too well about not introducing random women to his daughter. He’d kept his dating, or should he say sex life, separate from Charlie. But he also knew the value of a passing stranger and a temporary friend, a person who entered one’s life for a moment but impacted it for a lifetime. He kept those thoughts to himself. “So what’s the second reason you didn’t want me on your doorstep?”

“Umm, that one is easy—my mother is babysitting. There is no flipping way I’m letting you meet her unless…”