for getting them from their classes.”
“No problem,” he says, opening the door for the kids to get in the car and then opening the passenger-side door for me.
“Umm, thanks,” I mumble, sliding into the car and wondering how we went from hating the sight of each other to him opening doors for me.
“You want to stop anywhere on the way?” he asks as he pulls onto the main road.
I look into the backseat at the two eager faces staring at me with hopeful eyes. “What do you guys want?”
“Ice cream!” Cara shouts, while Rhett says, “Burgers!”
“Okay.” I grin, turning around and facing Rake. “Maybe we could stop somewhere that has burgers and ice cream. That diner maybe?”
“Okay.”
“So,” I start. “Just how long is this going to go on for?”
“As long as it takes,” he replies simply.
“You don’t think this is a little . . . awkward?” I ask, checking to see if the kids are listening, but they’re engrossed in Rhett’s tablet.
“I don’t think it’s awkward at all.”
“It’s just weird how things have turned out, you know? At first, with what happened at Rift that first night, then . . . ? I don’t know. . . .” I trail off, looking straight ahead.
“Stop overthinking everything, Bailey, and just go with it,” he says, turning up the radio a little bit. “I didn’t think you’d ever be back in my life, but you are, so now we deal. Whatever happens, happens.”
It isn’t as simple as he’s making it out to be, but I don’t bother pointing that out.
I guess I’ll just have to “go with it.”
Living with my high school sweetheart.
Who broke my heart.
Wonderful.
* * *
“Every time I start thinking highly of you, you keep talking,” I hear Tia tell Rake in the kitchen.
Rake chuckles, opening the oven and peering inside. “I’m just honest. It’s a trait that’s hard to find nowadays.”
“You told me that the guy I’m going on another date with isn’t into me,” she says, hands on her hips. “You don’t even know him!”
Rake closes the oven and leans back against the countertop. “One, he didn’t bother coming to the door when he picked you up, nor did he open the car door for you. I was watching. Two, you yourself say that he hardly messages you, and three, you haven’t seen him in a few days, so has he even called you? You fucked him on the first night, didn’t you?”
There was no judgment in his voice, just curiosity.
Tia groans and covers her face with her hands. “I didn’t fuck him. I might have given him . . . a little something though.”
Rake raises an eyebrow. “Head on the first date?”
“No,” Tia snaps. “I kind of liked this one, so I was hoping we’d go on a few more dates before we slept together. I was trying a new approach.”
Rake tries to keep his face straight, but he fails, and starts laughing, holding his stomach. “A blow job on the first date is a new approach? Fuckin’ hell woman, make the guy work for it or he won’t value it.”
“I said I didn’t give him head! We just kissed! Okay, Dr. Phil,” she says, her tone more sarcastic than I’ve ever heard it. “You’ve fucked half the female population. But what do you know about keeping a woman?”
I don’t miss the way Rake’s eyes flash at that comment before he masks it. “I don’t want to keep a woman. But they all want to keep me, so I must be doing something right.”
Tia sighs and gives in. “Okay, what do I do?”
I walk into the room and sit down at the dining table. “I’d like to hear this advice too.”
Rake’s mouth tightens. “I’ll have to tell you some other time.”
“I’m just going to tell Bailey anyway,” Tia mutters. “What? Afraid she’ll use your advice to land a new man?”
Rake scowls at my best friend. “I take it back, no man will put up with a woman with your mouth.”
Smirking, I go to the oven to check on my brownies.
“Are they ready?” Rake asks from behind me.
I nod and pull the tray out with the oven mitts on. “Yeah, they look good.”
“They smell fuckin’ good.” He groans, the sound making me want to do the same.
“I’ll go tell the kids dessert is ready,” Tia says, exiting the room with haste.
“You had to pick her for your best friend, didn’t you?” Rake says, sighing dramatically.
I hide my grin. “She’s my neighbor. Fate chose her for me.”
I take the