"They have a play area?" Kip asked, looking intrigued by the idea.
Mandy waited until they were heading into the restaurant to answer. "Yeah they have a supervised play area for the kids."
"Shit." He wrinkled his nose. "Sorry."
"I know, I know," Colton said, "it's a bad word. Don't repeat it."
Kip laughed and put his arm around Colton's shoulders. "You really are a good kid. Come on let's figure out what kind of pizza to get."
They were seated and had put in their orders in due course. Colton insisted on sitting beside Kip so he could show his new best friend the pictures of practice. "I'll sit with you, but I have to kiss your mom first so she doesn't feel left out."
Colton averted his gaze while Kip gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "I'll make everything up to you tonight," he whispered. He held her gaze while he moved around the table to sit beside her son.
She leaned on the table and watched them look at the pictures on the tiny screen on the back of the camera. Kip was truly interested in what Colton had to say. She was getting in deeper by the second here.
Their pizza came quickly. Mandy wasn't sure how Kip worked that one, but he seemed a bit like her personal miracle, so she didn't question. She simply started picking off the mushrooms. "Mom hates those," Colton informed Kip when the order was placed.
"I know," Kip replied. Mandy reached over and put them on the edge of Kip's plate. She noticed there was a growing small pile of pineapple on her plate. And then it happened. Her hand brushed Kip's as they passed each other the hated bits of food.
Mandy looked up and met his green eyes. They mirrored her amusement and he covered her hand with his and squeezed it. "Old habits," Mandy said, softly.
"Very old habits," he replied.
Mandy glanced at Colton who was digging into the pizza, not noticing anything else. Mandy decided she should do the same. And she wondered what her chances of getting a nap before the game were.
After the game, Mandy watched as Kip hoisted a sleeping body out of his truck. They had lost the game. She couldn't help but wonder if her presence had thrown him off somehow. But she wasn't going to comment.
Kip was subdued when they left the stadium. Mandy was as well, she had gone another round with a bunch of people she didn't know. All she wanted to was to return to Kip's and have him all to herself.