Jake:
Understandable.
Then thirty seconds later:
How are you?
Sophia's smile softened.
Good. You?
Good. Molly wants to know your favorite dinosaur.
Sophia remembered.
Triceratops. Obviously.
Jake sent:
You have been coached.
She laughed.
Her mother smiled across room.
Sophia did not mind being seen.
Their second date happened three days later.
Not restaurant.
Jake invited Sophia to the garage because childcare fell through.
He expected her to decline.
She arrived carrying pizza.
Molly opened door before Jake reached it.
"You came."
Sophia smiled.
"Apparently."
Molly looked at pizza.
"You can stay."
Jake appeared.
"Nice hospitality."
Molly shrugged.
Sophia entered.
Garage was warmer than expected.
Two cars inside.
Tools arranged along walls.
Old radio playing.
Jake wore black T-shirt and jeans.
Cleaner than roadside.
Sophia noticed.
He noticed her noticing.
"Disappointed?"
"In what?"
"No grease."
"Give yourself time."
Molly looked between them.
"Adults are weird."
Correct.
They ate pizza in the office.
Molly asked Sophia twenty-four questions.
Favorite animal.
Favorite movie.
Favorite ice cream.
Whether she could drive stick shift.
Whether she knew how to change tire.
Sophia failed tire question.
Molly looked at Jake.
"Problem."
Jake nodded solemnly.
"Major."
Sophia stared.
"Your car had loose electrical connector, not tire."
"Deflection."
"You're eight."
Molly smiled.
After dinner, Jake showed Sophia garage.
She watched him explain an old Mustang restoration.
His voice changed when talking about mechanical work.
More animated.
Sophia liked seeing competence without performance.
She asked:
"Why cars?"
Jake shrugged.
"My father."
"He taught you?"
"Mostly by yelling."
She laughed.
"He wasn't patient."
"Neither are you."
"I am extremely patient."
"You told your daughter 'Christmas starts at seven.'"
Jake froze.
"Molly."
She grinned.
Sophia laughed.
Molly wandered into office.
Jake moved closer.
"She's dangerous."
"I like her."
"She likes you."
"You already told me."
"No."
"She actually likes you now."
Sophia smiled.
"What changed?"
"Pizza."
"Simple."
"She's eight."
Jake brushed strand of Sophia's hair from her coat collar.
Casual.
Intimate.
Her body responded immediately.
She looked up.
He paused.
"Too much?"
"No."
Sophia touched his wrist.
"Not enough."
Jake kissed her.
Against tool cabinet.
Slow at first.
Then deeper.
Sophia slid one hand around his neck.
Jake pulled her closer by waist.
She smiled against his mouth.
"You clean up well."
"You dress down well."
Sophia wore jeans and sweater.
She laughed.
"Careful."
Jake kissed corner of her mouth.
"What?"
"Keep talking like that and your daughter will need headphones."
He almost choked laughing.
From office Molly shouted:
"I can hear you."
Sophia buried face against Jake's chest.
He groaned.
"See?"
Molly added:
"Gross."
Jake looked toward ceiling.
Sophia whispered: