Read Online Popcorn Love by KL Hughes - Free Book Online

answer, because he yelled his excitement, jumped
to his feet, and tugged on Allison’s arm before she ever finished
speaking.
    “No, it’s fine,” Elena said. “Vivian is meeting us
there anyway.”
    “Oh, well okay.” The blanket and book were quickly
shoved back into Allison’s backpack. “Let’s go then.”
    “Are you sure you don’t mind, Allison?” Elena placed
a hand on Allison’s arm to hold her back. “I noticed you were
reading. I would hate to interrupt your day simply because my son
is overeager. You are more than welcome to decline his demanding
invitation.”
    Nudging Elena’s shoulder, she shook her head. “It’s
fine, really. I’d take you guys over books any day, and hey, that
is seriously saying something. I love books.”
    A faint hint of pink painted Elena’s cheeks as she
nodded. “Very well.”
    Lucas hopped up and down beside them. “You have to
hold hands!” he shouted.
    Without really thinking about it, Allison slipped her
hand into Elena’s, only to see Lucas’s face immediately scrunch in
confusion. Elena cleared her throat, the pink tint of her cheeks
now a deep crimson. She laughed as Lucas loudly explained, “No,
Alson, you have to hold hands WITH ME!”
    “Oh, uh, right.” Allison released Elena’s hand and
swiped her own through her hair. “Um, yeah, because that makes so much more sense. Duh, Allison.”
    Lucas squished himself between the two women. One of
his tiny hands slipped into one of Elena’s and the other into one
of Allison’s, and they walked together like that all the way to the
museum.
     
    * * *
     
    Elena met Vivian at the main entrance of the museum
while Allison and Lucas remained with the fossil exhibits.
    “Where’s Lucas?”
    “Well, hello to you, too.” Elena pecked her on the
cheek. “He’s with Allison.” They linked arms and made their way
inside.
    Blonde brows knitted together. “Who the hell is
Allison?”
    “That would be the young woman that you found
to be my babysitter for Lucas.”
    “Oh!” Vivian clucked her tongue and nodded. “Right. I
remember now. Wait, you’re paying your babysitter to go to the
museum with you? Babe, that’s just sad.”
    A manicured hand swatted her arm. “No, of course not.
She was reading in the park, and Lucas saw her and invited her
along. I think he may idolize her a bit. He went on and on about
her during breakfast and in the car.”
    “So you like her?”
    “What?” Elena asked. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean exactly what I asked. Do you like her? As a
babysitter? What else would I have meant?”
    “Oh!” Elena nodded. “Oh, yes. Yes, she is a wonderful
babysitter. You know how shy Lucas can be, but he took right to
her.”
    “See? I am good at picking people.”
    “For babysitting, perhaps. You should apply that
skill to your choices in dates. I would rather not end up with
another Brice.”
    “Hey!” Vivian nudged Elena’s side with her elbow.
“Give me a chance. You have only gone on one date, and the guy had
excellent potential. How was I supposed to know he was a jerk?”
    “Douche.”
    Vivian cackled. “Come again?”
    “Allison called him a douche.” Elena shot her a wry
grin.
    “College kids.”
    “You do realize that we are only five years
older than her, yes?” Elena bumped her side. “You forget that it
hasn’t been long since you and I were those college kids.”
    A wistful sigh escaped Vivian’s lips. “Yeah, those
were the days. Though, even in college, you never would have used
the word ‘douche’.”
    Elena squeezed her friend’s arm and pointed across
the room where a woman with long blonde hair and her back to them
stood in front of a massive dinosaur skeleton. Lucas was tucked
against her side as she held him and pointed up at the bones.
    Scanning over Allison’s body, Vivian raised a brow at
the ribbed tee, skin-tight jeans, and scuffed black boots.
“Christ,” she muttered. “ That’s the babysitter I chose?”
    “You didn’t meet