on with you and Hank?” A woman who I’d seen at the grocery store but had never spoken to before tonight asked as she leaned over the bar and winked at me.
“It’s last call. Did you want to close out your tab?” I asked.
If I had a dollar for every time someone had asked me that question or a version of it, I’d be walking away with hundreds of dollars in tips tonight.
There were about fifty people at the party which accounted for one percent of the population of Firefly Island. Yet, somehow, the entire town seemed to know that Hank had thrown Luna a baby shower-themed birthday party over the weekend, and they were all sure that something was going on between us.
The problem was, they weren’t wrong.
After our night together, I had to admit, if only to myself and Ashley, that something was definitely going on. I just had no idea what to do about it. And I definitely wasn’t ready to comment about it.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out secretly hoping it was a message from Hank. It turned out to be from Ashley. There was a photo attached of her feet standing on the black and white checkered tile on her kitchen floor and her cat Mr. Purrfect cuddling up to her legs.
Home. Both safe and sound. Going to sleep. Love you.
She’d texted about an hour ago letting me know that her plane had landed at SFO. I told her to text me when she made it back to her place. I wondered if she would ever be at an age that I would stop worrying about her. I doubted it.
I messaged her back telling her I loved her and put the phone back in my pocket. After finishing up all of my closing duties, I handed in my receipts, credit card slips, and money to Cash and tipped Ray before making the short drive to Mrs. Birch’s house.
It was a little after two a.m. and I should be exhausted. I’d been up since five a.m. The past two nights had been spent tossing and turning in my bed. Sexual frustration was a real thing.
Ashley had joked for years saying that she had lady blue balls, but I’d thought she was just being her normal shocking self. I hadn’t actually thought that they were real. Just like I’d never thought I could have an orgasm from regular intercourse, I’d never thought that my groin could ache from being too turned on. Turns out, I was wrong on both counts.
Every single time I thought about being with Hank, a throbbing began in my core and it only increased if I let my mind dwell on the memories of our night together. I’d tried to handle things myself but the relief was short-lived. So my next line of defense was to try and put the encounter out of my mind completely.
That was proving to be a challenge.
Before I got to the door, Mrs. Birch opened it and quietly ushered me in. I hated that she had to stay up so late on the nights I worked but she assured me it was no bother. She insisted that she was a night owl and that she’d be up anyway.
“How was she tonight?” I whispered as I grabbed her backpack and gazed down at Luna who was sleeping peacefully on Mrs. Birch’s couch.
“Perfect. As always,” she mouthed.
I grinned. I doubted that, but it was always nice to hear that your child was perfect.
“You look tired, dear.” Mrs. Birch’s brows drew together as she studied my face, most likely noticing the dark circles and large bags I was currently rocking beneath my eyes. “Why don’t you just leave her here tonight?”
“Oh no, I couldn’t.” I shook my head. Luna had never had a sleepover before. She’d never spent the night at another’s person’s home. Not even Milly’s.
“Why not? We’re going to the theater in the morning for that art class. I have a change of clothes for her. I’ll sleep on the hideaway, to be here if she wakes up. And you can check on her anytime on the app.” Mrs. Birch continued listing reasons, keeping her voice hushed. “You need a good night’s sleep and I can bring her home right after the class. Well, unless she wants to join me for brunch and my hair appointment. If it’s okay with you, that is.”
These were the moments that no one told you about parenting, the