Pulling it over her head, she moved to her shoes and socks while I worked on getting myself dressed. In less than a minute, we were heading for the door. I grabbed my cowboy hat and keys, locked the door behind us, then followed Sage to my truck. Opening the passenger door for her, I waited until she was all the way in before shutting it and coming around the front.
Double checking that she was buckled, I started the truck and headed for my parents’ house.
Within a few minutes, we were pulling up to the ranch. As I approached the house, I could see Avery on the swing out front with my mom. With the sight of her daughter, a smile lit up Sage’s face, and if I wasn’t driving, I would’ve photographed it. A mother should see those raw moments with her kid.
“She looks…happy,” Sage stated.
“She does,” I replied, shifting the truck into park. “Is that surprising?”
She unbuckled. “It’s her first sleepover like this, so I wasn’t sure how she’d be.”
“Like this?” I questioned.
Sage reached for the door, setting her hand on it. “She usually only has sleepovers with kids her age.”
She didn’t see her grandparents?
Now wasn’t the time to ask, but before I could even think of forming the question, Sage was out of the truck and meeting Avery halfway. Avery wrapped her arms around her mom as Sage peppered kisses to the top of her head.
I could watch them all day.
Getting out, I approached the two of them. “How was your night, Aves?” I asked.
Avery let go of her mom, the biggest grin on her face. “It was so much fun. And Mama, look!” Avery fished around in the pocket of her jeans, then pulled out something white and tiny in a clear plastic bag. “I lost a tooth!”
Sage kneeled to get a better look at it. “Wow, that’s very cool. Was it wiggly?”
Avery nodded. “All night. I kept playing with it, and then it just fell out. It didn’t hurt at all.”
I wondered if Sage felt bad for missing a moment like that, but from the looks of it, she was more happy for her than anything. Regardless, she shouldn’t feel guilty for it. She needed a night out to herself, and this was good for her.
"Did Pudding come home last night?" Avery asked, looking up at her mother with hope shining bright in her eyes.
Guilt visibly slammed into Sage like a train, so I stepped in, ruffling Avery's hair. "She will soon. Don't worry."
Avery nodded, quickly moving onto explaining the other activities she did with my mother last night.
Leaving the two of them to talk about the tooth, I headed up the porch steps to my mom. “Good morning.”
“Have a good night?” she asked, a mischievous hint to her tone.
“It was fine, Mom,” I replied. “Where’s her booster seat?”
“Right inside the door,” she said, moving to grab it.
“I’ll get it,” I told her, motioning for her to sit back down on the swing.
Opening the front door, I found the seat propped right next to it. I grabbed it, coming back out.
“She’s a sweet girl,” my mom said, pausing me in my tracks.
“She is,” I agreed, watching them talk in the driveway.
“I was talking about Avery.”
“So was I.”
She made a humming noise and I rolled my eyes, continuing down the porch steps to the truck.
I looked up a quick video on my phone on how to install the booster and got to work. After I finished securing the seat, I walked back over to Sage and Avery. Avery was still talking her ear off, going on about the painting she made last night.
“Ready when you two are,” I said.
“Ready!” Avery exclaimed, then skipped over to the truck. I helped her in, then watched as she buckled herself to be sure she was set. Closing her door, I waved goodbye to my mom before hopping in the driver's seat. Sage was already buckled in on the passenger side with a small smile on her lips.
“What?” I asked as I started the truck.
“Nothing,” she said with a shake of her head.
I shifted into reverse, putting a hand on the back of Sage’s headrest to look behind me. These newer trucks had reverse cameras, but I liked it better this way. After making it down the drive, I looked both ways, then continued onto the road. I shot Avery a wink, and she returned it with a smile and a small kick of her feet.
Facing forward, I put the truck in drive and headed down the main road, but I didn’t miss the way Sage watched me.
“Okay, really, what?”
“You’re really cute, Callan,” she said.
I glanced over at her to find a slight blush staining her cheeks. Reaching over, I set a hand on her thigh, keeping my other gripped firmly on the wheel. “Right back at you.”
