Page 33 of I Think He Knows
“That’s what mommies and daddies do,” Allegra informs me matter-of-factly. “They sleep in the same bed. I know ‘coz I went round to Tara’s for a sleepover and that’s what her parents did.”
“Uh…” I falter, looking at Lana Mae for backup.
I’m surprised when Lan sighs. “Don’t sweat, it’s a new thing she’s on. I’ll talk to her later.”
Allegra runs to the bed, flops down at the foot of it, and says, “Ooh,Gilmore Girls.”
Which is still playing on the TV. We must’ve fallen asleep watching it.
“Oh, shi—I mean,shoot!” I correct hastily. I’m due back in LA later today and Lana Mae and I haven’t yet had the conversation I flew all the way here to have.
Lana looks up. “What’s up?”
“I’m leaving for the airport soon and we still need to have that talk.”
Her brow crinkles. “I told my dad and Constance that Allegra and I would come to church with them this morning, then she has a dance class this afternoon.”
“On a Sunday?”
“Yeah, extra practice for the summer recital.”
With the Freya story about to break, it’s probably not ideal for me to be seen at a public event with another woman and her daughter. Or be seen at that daughter’s dance class, even if that woman is just my best friend…
I have to get this done today, as I promised Elena I would. All of my other commitments can wait. I scramble for my phone. “Okay, give me a minute.”
Carter:Any chance you can push my flight back?
Anthony:To when?
Anthony:And PS, this is your official written warning that I am now requiring that plus-one invite to Zac’s party as payment for making me come to Atlanta with you last minute, then not even showing up at your house, forcing me to hang out alone all Saturday night. And now Sunday too, by the sounds of things.
Carter:Til tomorrow morning, if possible. I’m sorry. For real. There’s just something I have to do. You can go ahead home without me, or if you want to stay in Atlanta, you could go shopping today with the incidentals credit card I gave you.
Anthony:Forget everything I said. I always knew I loved you.
Anthony:FYI, have moved the flight for both of us.
Anthony: And AFYI, I totally know where you were all night. I’m assuming you’re delaying our flight to canoodle a bit more with your “just a friend”?
Welp. I’ll deal with that comment later. For now, I’m just glad I’ve somewhat got a plan.
“Well, the good news is that I get another day in Atlanta,” I tell Lana Mae and Allegra.
“Yay!” Allegra wraps her arms around my leg and looks up at me. And, strange as this situation is (AKA waking up in Lana’s bed and having her daughter pretty much insinuate that I might be her “new dad”), I’m not exactly disappointed to get an extra day with Lana and Legs.
Lana’s cheeks are glowing pink as she looks at me. “Want to come around for dinner later and we can talk then?”
“Sounds good. I’ll pick up groceries and bring them over. And I can make you both pancakes while you get ready for church,” I suggest. Because apparently, I am in full-blown daddy-to-be mode.
The matching sunshine smiles from mother and daughter warm my heart.
Allegra runs out of the room to find Harry Styles the cat, and Lana turns to me with a strange look on her face. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk last night, CJ. I can tell it’s important. We can miss church if we need to?”
“No, it’s fine. Later will work.”
“Can you at least tell me that you’re not sick or dying so I don’t worry all day?”
I smile. “It’s about Freya actually. Kind of a long, embarrassing story.”