Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 141425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Right now Luna and Parker are focused on their homework. Just as I’m finishing up and draining the noodles, the doorbell rings. I tense. I’ve never liked doorbells—who does? But a glance at the doorbell camera on my phone tells me it’s Tyler’s mom.
“It’s your grandma!” I call. “Does someone want to get the door?”
“I will!” Luna races over and swings it open.
“My little darling! It’s been too long!” Lauren sweeps Luna up into a hug, her usual energy filling the house.
“I saw you two days ago!” Luna says.
“My point exactly,” Lauren replies, hugging her harder.
When they let go, Luna peers at the bags Lauren carries. “It looks like you brought something.”
“What kind of grandmother would I be if I didn’t bring gifts?” she says, making her way to the kitchen with a few small packages.
She turns to me, smiling. “Sabrina! I knew you’d be perfect for the job.” She says it every time she sees me, like she’s still patting herself on the back for setting this up. I can’t tell if it’s because she’s pleased with how well things are working out or if she’s making sure I never leave. Maybe they’re one and the same.
Either way, I’m so grateful for this position—and for her. My coaching business has been growing since I landed this role, and I’ve been saving money. I’m hopeful I can add clinics next year.
“What did you get me, Grandma?” Parker asks, looking up from his math.
“Oh, just a new Lego set,” she says, pulling out a space station kit from her bag.
“Now this is cooler than tofu fractions.”
“But you know what?” I tease. “Fractions will help you understand all the pieces.”
Luna, waiting for her turn, finally reaches into the bag, and pulls out a book. “Ooh, Cool Animal Facts!” Her eyes widen as she flips it open.
“It was inevitable you’d love animals with your last name,” Lauren says to Luna.
Which raises an interesting question. “Did you ever want to take Harvey’s name?” I ask her.
She laughs, shaking her head. “Changing names is such a pain. And really, why do women have to do all the work in that regard?”
“Fair point,” I say.
“Plus, it’s memorable and sometimes being a Falcon terrifies people,” she says in a stage whisper.
“Nothing like a scary name to get someone’s attention,” I say as the kids get absorbed in their gifts.
We chat more as I finish plating dinner. Just as I set the dishes down, she taps her chin thoughtfully.
“You know,” she muses, “my friend Elsie just introduced her granddaughter to this wonderful engineer. Now they’re engaged. It just goes to show how a little push can make all the difference.”
It’s out of the blue, but not entirely surprising. Moms and grandmothers love dispensing dating advice.
Then it hits me. She’s about to dispense dating advice to me.
She taps her polished nails on the kitchen counter, giving me a knowing look. “Do you even have time to date? Or is Tyler being a hard-ass?”
Parker snickers. “Don’t say hard-ass, Grandma.”
She turns, bringing a finger to her lips. “Of course I didn’t say it.”
I laugh awkwardly, caught off guard—then the door swings open again.
Footsteps. A booming voice from the foyer.
“Hey, kiddos!”
Daddy’s home.
The kids race to greet him, and moments later, Tyler strides into the kitchen in a beige suit with a burgundy tie and a thicker beard than he left with. My chest aches, and I dismiss it as best I can.
His mom spins around and immediately says, “Tyler, are you being difficult about Sabrina dating?”
Tyler looks like he’s about to choke on air. “I’m not—”
“Good. You shouldn’t be,” she cuts in smoothly, patting his shoulder. “She should get out there and meet someone, don’t you think?”
I freeze.
Tyler blinks, looking like he’s swallowed something sour, but then—too casually, too easily—he says, “Yeah. She should get out there and meet someone.”
I grip the plates hard. His tone is light. Unbothered. Like the idea means nothing to him.
The lack of hesitation settles wrong in my gut.
He wants me to date. Would that make things easier for him?
A little later, after inviting his mom to stay for dinner, Tyler has shed his suit jacket and changed into jeans and a T-shirt that definitely shows off his arms. His arms, his thick beard, his unruly hair. He makes caveman look so good, even though he’s a gentle giant underneath it all. I wish he weren’t exactly my type.
His mom, still on her matchmaking streak, says, “So I’m going to send her potential matches. I’ve been listening to that matchmaking podcast and talking to your grandmother about it, and I have some great ideas. I just want to make sure you’re being a reasonable employer.”
Tyler’s expression is blank for a moment, but then he turns stoic. “Of course.”
Lauren smiles, like she’s just won something.
I’m so thrown off, I don’t even know what to make of it. Except…the obvious.