Rushing the Goal
Page 95

Chancing a look at her, he saw she was smiling and nodding. “Well, you’ve got Angie sold.” He grinned as she shut the dishwasher. “But I need some time.”
“I know.”
“But this was great, really nice,” she said, reaching out and taking his hand with hers. Lacing their fingers together, he moved his thumb along hers as she held his gaze.
“It was.”
“Sorry we can’t stay for a movie.”
“No, it’s fine. She’s got school.”
“Yeah,” she said slowly. “But tomorrow, I’ll have a sleepover bag, if that’s still okay.”
Moving toward her, he gripped her hips, pressing her into the counter. “More than okay.”
Pressing her hand to his chest, she gave him a look. “Down, killer.”
He chuckled, dropping a quick kiss to her nose before moving back. “When are you going to tell her?”
Lucy let out a breath. “I guess now. Shit. Why am I nervous?”
He laughed, suddenly nervous himself. “I don’t know. Why? She’s gonna be fine with it.”
“Obviously, since she was praying for it,” she said, rolling her eyes as Benji laughed, shaking his head. That girl kept him on his toes as much as Lucy did. “Angie, honey, come here.”
Angie ran into the kitchen, coming to a halt, her brows rising. “Wait, am I in trouble?”
“No, crazy. Come sit down.”
Angie looked from Benji to Lucy and then slowly moved to the barstool, climbing up onto it, and leaning on the counter. “Are you sure I’m not in trouble?”
“Did you do something?” Lucy asked and Angie’s eyes widened.
“I-touched-Benji’s-Pop-upstairs-but-it-was-a-pony!” she squealed and then slapped her hands to her mouth. “I couldn’t resist. I’m so sorry.”
Benji shook his head as he held in his laughter. Setting her with a look, he said, “It’s fine. Don’t do it again, though,” he said sternly, and her eyes got even bigger.
Then she cut her gaze to Lucy’s. “Can he ground me?”
“Yeah,” she said and Angie’s eyes widened more. “But really, don’t touch his toys—er, collectibles.” Angie snickered as Benji side-eyed Lucy. “Really, ponies?”
He shrugged. “I have all kinds. They’re cool.”
Shaking her head, she looked back at her daughter. “Anyway, we need to talk to you about something.”
Angie just blinked. “What?”
“Um,” Lucy said, smacking her hands together and then glancing over at Benji before looking back at Angie and clearing her throat. He looked to Lucy, waiting. Her face turned red as she struggled with her words. She was so cute when she was nervous. Finally, she spat out, “Benji and I, well, we’re dating.”
Angie looked from Lucy to Benji and then back to Lucy, her brow furrowed. “So you guys are getting married?”
Benji grinned as Lucy gasped. “No. Well, I don’t know. Maybe. We are dating. That’s it. He is my boyfriend.”
Looking to Benji, she shrugged and he smiled. “We are getting to know each other, but we want you to know so if you see us kiss or hug, you won’t be weirded out.”
Angie made a face. “So you kiss?”
“Oh, Jesus take the wheel,” Lucy muttered before covering her face.
“Sometimes, if she lets me,” he said with a grin and Angie laughed.
“My dad and Heidi kiss all the time. It’s gross, but I don’t think it would be gross if you guys do,” she decided and Benji shrugged.
“That’s a plus,” he said to Lucy, but she still had her face covered.
Bringing her hands down from her face, Lucy looked at Angie. “Like I said, we are dating. Is that okay? You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
Angie shook her head. “I thought you had a girlfriend?”
Benji smiled. “Yeah, your mom.”
Her brow rose as Lucy glared at the side of his face. What? He wasn’t going to lie to the kid.
“So you two have been dating, but no one told me?”
Still glaring, Lucy tore her gaze from Benji’s to look to Angie. “We wanted to wait until we were sure we liked each other.”
Angie nodded and then thought that over for a moment. Pressing her finger to her lip, she looked up at them. Benji smiled, but Lucy looked like she was about to have an anxiety attack. “So are we moving in?”
“Angela, no! We are just dating.”
She squinted her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. “So what do I gain here? From him being your boyfriend?”
Covering her face again, Lucy moaned as Benji laughed. “You get a friend,” he answered, ruffling her hair as she giggled. “Plus, I’ll always make your mom smile.”
She shrugged as Lucy looked over at him, a grin pulling at her lips. Angie smiled and then said, “Cool.”
“Cool?”
“Yeah, cool,” she said with a nod before sliding out of her chair. Lucy looked to Benji with wide eyes.
She’s crazy, she mouthed and he grinned, nodding his head.
The girl was a handful for sure.
“And, Mom?” Lucy looked from Benji to Angie as she held on to the counter, rocking back and forth. “Told you prayer works.”
As she walked away like she had just made the point of the century, Lucy glanced at Benji and shook her head, but he couldn’t take it anymore. Reaching for her hips, he brought her in close and kissed her hard on the lips. Relaxing against him, she laid her fingers against his jaw as he moved his lips with hers. When he pulled back, he kissed her nose then her bottom lip before leaning his head toward hers.