said with a wince, hoping he hadn’t just made Stella an enemy.
But Stella seemed unconcerned. “What for?” she asked. “She’s had it out for me since I dared show up to career day with a box of the weirdest things I pulled out of people’s plumbing. Apparently, she wanted the kids to aim higher than manual labor,” she added, rolling her eyes.
Aidan scowled at the snobbery. “In that case, I owe my sister a drink.”
Stella laughed. “Me too.”
She smiled up at him, with her hair escaping her hat, and for a moment, Aidan almost forgot himself. It was like they were back on the dark street again; like they were the only two people in the world. Every instinct in his body was telling him to reach out and brush the curls from her eyes; to lean in closer…
To kiss her.
Aidan tried to get a grip. They were in the middle of a crowded museum, he reminded himself, with a hundred people bustling all around – including her son. This wasn’t even their first date, not yet.
Romance would just have to wait.
“Is Matty excited about the trip?” he asked, clearing his throat.
“If by ‘excited’, you mean vaguely less sullen and uncommunicative than usual, then sure.” Stella nodded to where Matty was standing alone on the edge of the crowd, poring over the museum guidebook, as the rest of his classmates all chatted around him. It was clear that he was used to being on the outside, as the teacher finished his instructions, and the kids began to scatter. “Matty,” Stella called him over, before he could leave. Matty slouched closer, looking mortified. “You remember Aidan, right?” Stella prompted.
“Yeah, hi.” Matty barely glanced Aidan’s way, he was too busy turning red, like he wanted the ground to open up. “Mom, you promised.” He hissed. “We made rules!”
“Oh yes, the rules. Not to speak to you, look at you, or acknowledge you as my flesh and blood,” Stella said, looking amused. “OK, go on, pretend like I don’t exist.”
“Thanks.” Matty flashed a brief smile, then disappeared into the museum.
“Sorry for his rudeness,” Stella said, turning back to Aidan.
He grinned. “It’s OK, when I was that age, the last thing I would have wanted was my mom hanging around, either,” he said.
“I’ve half a mind to go ruffle his hair and wipe his face, just to teach him a lesson,” Stella said, looking mischievous. “But… He’d never forgive me.”
“Where do you stand on busting his classmates?” Aidan asked, pointing to where two boys were already trying to sneak a vape.
“Oh, I’m ready.” Stella grinned. “In fact… Want to make a game of it? Two points for smoking, three for illicit bathroom make-outs. Loser buys lunch.”
Her mischief was infectious, and Aidan couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s go chaperone.”
They trailed the kids around the museum for the next couple of hours, chatting together – and keeping a watchful eye out for any misbehavior to increase their points total. Aidan was surprised to find just how much fun he was having. Small-talk had never been his thing, and usually, he’d had his fill long before a date was done, but talking with Stella was the easiest thing in the world. He found himself sharing stories about his family, growing up, and school, and learning how dedicated she’d been to building her plumbing business and raising Matty. By the time they’d done a full loop of the building, Aidan had a new admiration for her hard work – and just what it took to keep a group of teens in check.
“Littering, another two points,” Stella said triumphantly, returning from where a group of girls had just recklessly tossed their snack wrappers. “That puts me in the lead, and just in time, too. They have the rest of the afternoon for free time, to go explore,” she said, as the kids started stampeding towards the lobby.
They made their way back outside to the front steps, where Stella caught Matty, who was looking far more excited now the educational portion of the trip was done. “Now, do you know the subway stops?” she asked.
“Yes, mom,” he said, practically bouncing on his heels.
“And you’re meeting them—”
“At the comic book store on Newbury Street,” he finished, impatient. “And Bryce and Laurie’s mom has your number, and I’ll text you when I get there.”
“OK. Be safe, and be back by four!” she said, and gave him a quick hug before he dashed away.
She turned back to Aidan. “His friends are back from