Love Is Messy, Love Is Sweet

Chapter 10

"WHAT!" Naomi's mouth dropped to the floor from the news I told her.

"He has a daughter! WOW! He definitely does NOT have a dad bod!" she said out loud as she seemed lost in her own thoughts.

"God! I'm such an idiot! I have totally messed things up with him in every possible situation!" I slumped my head in my hands, not able to shake the total embarrassment and shame I felt when thinking about him.

"Girl! He told you he liked you! Literally bluntly told you!"

"Yea, and I didn't say I liked him back! I accused him of being a womanizer and a cheater!"

"Aaaand then he invited you over to his apartment!" she reiterated with enticing hopeful eyes.

"To prac-tice! For the comp-e-tition!" I said it slower in a way to prove she was wrong with her thinking this was some sort of date.

"Who am I kidding anyway! He has a kid! I don't do kids, remember! They are messy, and complicate things, and I wouldn't even know what to say or do with one!"

"Look who's all nervous and flustered. I think someone caught feelings." Naomi giggled like a little school girl as I rolled my eyes.

"Just take it one step at a time and see where things go. But I think this is good for you, Sydney."

"Why do you say that?" I probed with sass and my arms folded.

"I don't know...I think you need someone to shake up your life a little! Add some spice to make it nice!" doing a little dance with her eyebrows.

"Are we sad and pathetic that we always make life references to baking?" I scrunch my nose in reaction to her words.

"Yes! Yes, we are! So after you find your happy ever after, can you please find one for me?" the desperation in Naomi's voice made me laugh and she soon joined in.

"You know, there are some cute guys who work in Lucas's shop. Maybe you need a coffee break?" winking an eye at her.

"Oh, so now you're referring people to his place? Wow, what a change in direction!"

"Yeah, yeah, just don't leave me for good! Go enjoy your thirty minutes before I take it back!"

***

"Hello!" Sophie answered all cheery, opening the door to Lucas's apartment.

"O-oh, hi...I-I didn't know you'd be here," sounding flustered in the presence of the little girl who I now know is Sophie, his daughter.

"I live here!" she replied with a large smile.

"Right...th-that was a stup-I mean..a silly thing to say. Ummm, is your dad here?" I asked, feeling like a complete idiot in front of a seven or eight year old.

"Well, yeah, I'm not old enough to be left alone!" Sophie said so matter of factly but not in a snobby way.

"You're right...again!" deciding in my mind it's best if I just don't speak anymore.

"Hi!" Lucas came to the door with a beaming smile and instantly he had this effect on me that just calmed my nerves.

"H-hi."

"I see you've met Sophie, again. Come on in."

We all made our way into his apartment and both Lucas and Sophie were anxiously waiting on my hand and foot, eager to take my coat and purse and hang it in their closet.

"So when Sophie heard we were practicing for a gingerbread house competition she told me she wanted in and that we needed her expert opinion!" Lucas exclaimed with a giggling Sophie next to him.