“Why?” Megan’s screwed-up face almost made Lauren laugh.
“I’m not getting into all the gory details, but Wyatt will be living with him for several years.”
“A single dad. Maybe he needs some help...from yours truly.”
Lauren swatted at her arm and laughed. “I’m sure once word gets out he’s back in town, there will be plenty of willing female bodies at his door.”
“He’s single, then?”
“Seems to be.”
“So how do you fit into all this?”
“His schedule,” Lauren said. “Twenty-four hours on. Forty-eight off. He needs someone to stay with Wyatt while he’s at work.”
Megan pressed her index finger to her lips. “Why you?”
“My degree. Experience. His mom recommended me.”
“Please tell me you jumped at the chance?”
She shook her head. “I can’t, Megan. You know I can’t.”
“I know no such thing. You can. And you should.”
“Uh, no. I’m not putting myself through it. No more emotionally damaged kids. My heart can’t take it. I’m finally getting back to normal.” If normal included not sleeping well, avoiding any public event and refusing to date any of the men brave enough to ask her out since she’d moved back...
Her new normal sounded sad. Add a few more felines, and she could be a reclusive cat lady.
“You love kids. And this is only one kid. It would be perfect. You wouldn’t be trying to find him a foster home or visiting him at a crack house. You’d be heating SpaghettiOs and helping with math problems. Easy.” Megan snapped her fingers.
Megan always made things sound easy. Unfortunately, Lauren knew better. There were so many factors making the situation impossible. Like the fact that Drew had been a complete jerk to her for years. Sure, he’d seemed caring with Wyatt and had apologized yesterday, but it didn’t guarantee he was a stand-up guy.
And then there was Wyatt. Withdrawn, emotionally shattered—it was written all over him. She couldn’t be simply a babysitter. She didn’t have it in her. No matter how much she told herself not to grow attached, not to fall in love with the kids, she did. She’d love him. And she’d get hurt. If she took care of Wyatt and made a bad decision, it could send him back to square one.
“You want to say yes,” Megan said. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“He was so skinny and small and withdrawn. He was sweet, too. I felt an instant connection.”
Megan smiled slyly. “And did you feel the connection with his temporary dad?”
Oh, yeah. When she agreed to meet Drew, she’d been sure she wouldn’t find him attractive at all. His personality in high school had made him unattractive to her. But watching him interact with Wyatt? Seeing the way he pushed and pushed for Wyatt’s sake?
Made him enticing.
“Um, I guess a little bit. I mean, I have a pulse, and he looks like...”
“A hot fireman.”
“Yeah.” Lauren glanced up as someone headed her way. Phew. Saved by the shift change. “I’m out of here.”
“I think you should go for it,” Megan said. Lauren grabbed her purse out of the drawer, ignoring her. “If not, consider the tumbling class.”
She gave Megan a backward wave and walked out, soaking in the afternoon sunshine. Why was she still thinking about Drew’s offer? She wasn’t changing her mind. She’d made her choice.
She drove to her apartment over the hardware store on Main Street. Maybe Megan was on to something with the tumbling class. Lake Endwell High used to have an elite cheerleading program, but it had been several years since they had won any competitions. Tumbling classes would help, but not enough to get the program back on top.
What Lake Endwell needed was a boost to its cheerleading program.
Cheer academies had popped up all over Chicago while she lived there. One of the foster moms she knew owned one, and Lauren had visited it several times. The students came from surrounding school districts, and they traveled all over the country for competitions. Most of them went on to cheer in high school.
She parked in the lot behind her building. Years of gymnastics and cheerleading qualified her, but she hadn’t choreographed in a long time. And own a business? She wouldn’t know where to begin. While making her way to the back door, she checked her phone for messages.
Drew stood near the entrance. “I called the fitness place, and Megan Fellows told me you just left. She said I could find you here.”
I’ll get you back for this, Megan. She plastered a smile on, ignoring the way her heartbeat stampeded at the sight of him. “What can I do for you?”
“I feel bad about yesterday. Let me buy you a cup of coffee.”
“No need to feel bad or buy me coffee. We’re good. Your conscience can be clear.” She tried to push past him, but his broad shoulders blocked the door. He wore loose-fitting jeans and a dark gray pullover. By the strained look on his face, she’d say she annoyed him. Good.
“Will you please hear me out?” The words were soft, low. She let out a loud sigh.
“This isn’t necessary. I hold no ill will against you. I hope you have a wonderful life.” Without me in it.
“You were never good at lying.” The side of his mouth quirked up, and challenge glinted from his brown eyes.
“You’re right. I’m not.” Hiking her purse over her shoulder, she tipped her chin up. “I like Wyatt. I’m tempted to help you because of him. But I never worshipped you like the rest of this town did, and I don’t plan on it now. So go ahead and demand your way, but you won’t get it—not from me. All you have to do is walk three steps and you’ll find someone else who’s more than willing to do whatever you ask.”
He scowled. Maybe she’d gone too far. She hadn’t seen him in years, and it wasn’t his fault her life fell apart, so why was she taking her anger out on him?
And why was she so angry, anyhow? She’d been keeping it together reasonably well for months.
“I don’t want anyone to worship me. I’m just a guy. Someone who messed up most of my life.” Drew crossed his arms over his chest. “I admire you for being straight with me. Don’t worry—I’ll leave you alone.”
“Wait.” She caught his arm. His muscle flexed under her hand. She swiftly pulled back. “I guess one cup of coffee wouldn’t kill me. I know you’re trying to help Wyatt.”
“The Daily Donut?”
She shook her head. “Closes at two. Have you been out and about yet since moving back?”
“No, why?”
Tapping her chin, she realized he had no idea what was about to hit him. “Then let’s skip the coffee and go to City Park.”
“Isn’t there another coffeehouse in town?”
“You’re missing the point. When word hits around here you moved back, you’re going to be bombarded.”
He grimaced. Had he paled? “City Park it is.”
Drew Gannon, scared? She’d never thought he could surprise her, but never was a long time. Why wouldn’t Mr. Hometown Hero have made the rounds when he arrived?
“Give