"Come on, kids. I'm glad you enjoyed the movie but Mommy needs to get home to get dinner started before Daddy gets home."
I tried to guide my kids in the direction of our car but it was like trying to herd cats. A 6 and a 7-year-old cat, that is.
"Mommy, Mace won't leave me alone."
I sighed at the sound of my daughter's whine behind me. "Mace, leave your sister alone."
"But Ari keeps poking me," Mace groaned.
"Ari, keep your hands to yourself. Mace, stop bothering your sister. Now let's go."
We walked outside the theater doors and I had to pause for a moment for my vision to adjust. By the time I could see properly again my kids were already a few yards ahead of me. Sure, I thought, now they more quickly.
"Mom, it's Uncle Evan!" Mace shouted, changing his direction to the left.
I saw him jog toward Mace and Ari and scooped them up in his arms while they both laughed and hugged him. I smiled and crossed the distance between us. Evan set Ari and Mace down and gave me a hug.
"What's up, Chanse?" he greeted me. "Fancy seeing you here."
"I was just taking the kids to see a movie. What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I just got through with dinner and I thought I'd walk around before I drove home."
"Mom, can Uncle Evan come over for dinner?" Mace asked, tapping me on my leg as if he didn't already have my attention.
"Yeah, yeah," Ari chimed in, wrapping her arms around Evan's leg.
"What do you say?" I asked. "I have to fix dinner but Micheal should be home soon after we are, especially at this rate." I gestured to my kids and rolled my eyes.
"Sure, why not?" Evan laughed and lifted Ari and spun her around before setting her back down.
"Yay!" Ari and Mace exclaimed in unison.
"Race you to the car!" Mace challenged as he took off down the pavement. Ari raced after him and I quickly walked to stay with them. I looked back to see Evan still standing where we'd left him.
"You coming?" I asked teasingly.
He smiled and jogged to join my side. "You know I wouldn't miss it."
YOU ARE READING
I̶n̶f̶a̶t̶u̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n
Jugendliteratur"I like you." God, I wish she'd stop saying that. Even I could tell she put me before everyone else. I couldn't do that for her. She was nowhere near most important in mine. "God, shut up. I can't do this. I have friends. I have my dad. I...
