Page 127 of One Night with Number Nineteen

“Can Saw-yur read to me tonight?”

I still.

So does Lainey.

“Honey,” she begins, slanting a look in my direction. “I’m sure Sawyer’s tired and⁠—”

“I don’t mind.” I set my beer down, stroke my fingers along the back of her knee. “You go finish up what you need to and I’ll read some awesome books to an awesome kid.”

“I’m awesome!” Ollie says.

“You sure are,” I say, scooping him up and tossing him over my shoulder. His giggles ring out as I say, “Now let’s go pick out some awesome books.”

“’Kay!”

I lean down and kiss her.

“I’ll be quick,” she whispers.

“Take your time, Pages.”

Her face…well, I’ll remember the way she’s looking at me forever.

“Books!” Ollie cries.

“Books,” I cry back, rushing toward the stairs, his laughter filling the air.

“Wait!” Lainey calls and I look over my shoulder.

“Holly,” she says moving over to us, tucking the stuffed toy into the circle of Ollie’s arms.

“Books!” Ollie cries again.

“Books!” I cry a second time, this time pounding up the stairs, Ollie giggling the whole way.

“Brush your teeth first!” Lainey hollers.

“On it!” I detour to the bathroom and we spend the next few minutes doing just that.

Then we’re in his bedroom, negotiating the number of books (and the removal of suspenders).

“Lay down,” Ollie commands as he crawls under the blankets. “Mom always lays down when she reads to me.”

“Aye, aye, Captain Ollie.”

More giggles, but they’re softer now, the day catching up with him. “Are you still coming to my performance tomorrow?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Does that mean yes?”

I chuckle. “Yes. It means I’ll be there.” I hold up the books he picked out. “Ready?”

A wide smile. “Ready ready.”

“Here goes,” I say, clearing my throat before I read about a little blue truck and its adventures, then a book about hopping on pop, then one final one about a moon saying goodnight.

He’s out before I get to the last page, but I finish it anyway.