Read Online Luke's #1 Rule by Cynthia Harrison - Free Book Online

you’re a girl. When boys and girls get big, they get married and go on dates.”
    Chloe laughed. “Usually the other way around.”
    Intuitive Josh. She predicted this wasn’t coming from her mother, who loved the boys enough not to involve them in her crazy schemes if there was any chance on earth they’d be hurt.
    “Sometimes. But sometimes it’s like you and Emma.”
    Josh made a face. “I don’t play with girls anymore.”
    “But you used to. Emma was your best friend. And in a few years, you’ll have more girls who are friends.”
    “Will not!” Josh jumped down off the bed and raced off, the mere thought of a female friend enough to induce a nightmare frenzy.
    ****
    Chloe, Luke, and the boys went to the game in Luke’s big truck. He’d washed it that morning, just for the occasion, which touched Chloe. The extended back seat was as roomy as a sedan. From the rear, both boys kept up a steady stream of conversation.
    “Luke, do you have one of those riding lawnmowers?”
    “I do.”
    “Where is it?”
    “At home. In my box trailer.”
    “What’s a box trailer?”
    “Like that.” Luke pointed to a trailer without windows hitched to a truck. It did look kind of like a box.
    “Do you sleep in there?”
    Chloe smiled. Nice for someone else to answer the questions for a change.
    “Nope. I sleep in a bed in my house, just like you do.”
    “Oh.”
    They’d already been through the favorite player question. Josh liked the only Tiger chosen for the All-Stars so far. Tommy liked Don-O. Josh teased that Tommy hadn’t known any of the players’ names until Luke said he favored Don. Then all Tommy could say was Don-O, Don-O, Don-O.
    Chloe, determined to show her boys that men and women could be just friends, to model behavior for them that would ensure they understood that Luke was not a substitute for their dad, resisted the joy that wanted to break through. Except she enjoyed his company as much as the boys did. She started to add up how long it had been since she’d had sex. So long ago, she couldn’t remember. All this free time might be messing with her mind. Thinking about sex had nothing to do with Luke. Although he was sexy.
    On arrival at the ballpark, the boys wanted to try the batting cages before they even found their seats. They had time before the game started because the kids had been so antsy at home, Luke and Chloe had decided to leave early.
    There was plenty to do at the stadium besides watch baseball. While Luke supervised the batting cages, Chloe went to find a bathroom. On her way she kept seeing people with these neon-colored frozen drinks. The skinny glass had to be at least six inches long. Some were blue, others were a combination of colors. Since Luke drove, she’d treat herself to one. She probably should have worn a short sleeved top, because the day was warmer than she’d expected, and an icy-cold girly drink would taste good.
    She stood in a short line and noticed the carousel with tigers instead of horses. Cute. They had a lot of things here at the park for kids.
    “Mom, can we ride on the baseball?” Josh and Tommy had found her in line.
    “What’s that?”
    “It’s a ride.”
    “Can I have that cup after you’re done?”
    She could already tell that Tommy would insist on drinking his milk out of the funny shaped glass for the entire summer.
    As she sipped her cocktail, yummy but light on the alcohol, they walked around the stadium, checking out the souvenirs, buying a program and a beer for Luke, and foam Tiger paws for the boys.
    Tommy and Josh, still too excited to eat or drink anything, begged to go on the baseball Ferris wheel, so the four of them got inside one of the giant baseballs and off they went. They could see the entire Detroit skyline, including the river and into Canada, from their perch.
    “That’s Windsor,” Chloe told Luke. “Drinking age nineteen.”
    “Sounds like Detroit kids celebrate turning nineteen over there,” Luke