Ian wasn't embarrassed to play in front of Ainsley. When his fingers touched the keys, he lost himself in the music. After finishing the piece, he looked up. Ainsley clapped from her spot on the sofa. Brooke was busy on her phone and didn't look up.

Ainsley walked over to him. "Your fingers are very talented."

Even if she hadn't brushed against him, her words were enough to wish Brooke wasn't there. It was a huge mistake because his family was like the telephone game. He would hear from his grandmother by eight pm. He couldn't explain what was going on since he didn't know.

Brooke liked Ainsley, and she seemed to like Brooke which wasn't hard. Kids usually ignored him. Oliver's two kids ran to Zach the minute he entered. They were cute kids, but they didn't know him and he didn't bother to change it. He had been a part of Brooke's life from the beginning. Having only two kids in his generation twenty-three years apart, his family made a big deal over it - hold your cousin, look at your cousin, play with your cousin. She grew and began talking. It was hard not to love being with her when she looked up to him. She was his one exception to his apathy for kids, but Ainsley had just met her. What was her excuse? Why did Ian care if she really liked kids? Because she misled him, that was reason enough.

He frowned as his mind worked through thoughts more complicated than coding for leap year. A vibration in his pocket caused him to jump. A text from Rose.

"Hey, your mom says she'll be done in an hour. We should head to my house."

She pouted. "With Ainsley."

He nodded amused. "She lives in my building."

"I know. But will she hang out while we wait? We were supposed to watch a movie."

Ainsley's mouth gaped open. "I. I need to get home."

Brooke's face drooped, but Ian didn't want to meet Ainsley's extended family. He couldn't expect her to want to meet his. Once the car pulled up in front if their building, Ainsley left after accepting a hug from Brooke.

"You better not blow it!" The girl stood with her hand on her hip.

"Blow what?" He tried to sound serious.

"You know. Things with Ainsley. I like her. You could do a lot worse."

"How old are you?" He chuckled.

"I watched Disney Channel. I know about boys and girls dating. You do like girls, right? Because I know about everything. A boy at my school has been wearing dresses since Kindergarten. I don't know whether he likes girls or boys, but I'm pretty sure he wants to be a girl."

Ian's head spun. He considered himself open to free choice, but Brooke took it all in stride. Kids would have bullied a kid like she had described when he was in school. Not him. He was too busy being a piano player, computer geek, and was most likely bullied himself. Olivia was much cooler than him.

"I definitely like girls, but you know that."

Brooke smiled. "I remember." She scrunched up her nose.

The minute Rose stepped in the door. Brooke pounced. "I met Ian's friend. She's really nice."

Rose smiled as her eyes probed Ian's. "She? Don't hold out on me!"

"She's a neighbor. We bumped into her and she hung out with us."

"She hung out with my daughter, she must be special."

He tried to shrug without cracking a smile. "I hardly know her."

"She's pretty."

Ian didn't want to agree. Rose laughed. "We'll go so you can rest after." She cocked her head towards her daughter.

"I should rest my knee."

His aunt kissed his cheek. "If you like her, use your Gillespie charm. I fell for it and Margot..."

"Okay. I get it. Bye, kid. It was fun."

After they left, Ian elevated his leg and felt bored. Felix rubbed against him. The silence was nice, but his mind wandered to Ainsley. What was she doing? Had he blown it? A knock on his door elevated his heart rate. He opened the door to find Mrs. Bernstein on the other side holding a large container.

"I made extra chicken soup. I know you'll enjoy it."

"Thank you." He hadn't thought about dinner.

"Just heat it up, dear."

He nodded as he waited for the older woman to turn away. She told him about how her Sheldon had loved her soup. Some days it didn't feel like a chore to listen to stories of the past, but Ian felt impatient. He shifted his weight off his bad knee.

"Listen to me jabber about bupkis. Go rest. And eat!"

Alone again, he fed his cat before the persistent thing tripped him. Opening the thick Tupperware lid, he knew immediately there was enough for two. An internal debate raged, and he finally settled it, plus he could apologize. A text was a casual invitation. Waiting for a response left him restless. A knock at his door caused him to look up from his phone.

On the other side, Ainsley casually leaned against the door frame. "I should knock on Mrs. B's door and ask her why she never gives me soup."

"Don't!"

Ainsley laughed. "Don't want me moving in on your good deal."

He stepped back, and she followed him into his apartment. He reached around her to shut the door. "I'm more concerned with Mrs. Bernstein spinning your knowledge about the soup into something it isn't."

Ainsley laughed again. "She knows everything that happens in this building."

Ian blinked. It was true first Rose and then Mrs. Bernstein. They knew more than him, because he felt clueless.

"She's more old-fashioned than my date. In her world you need taking care of and I don't."

"I thought women needed a man to take care of them." Ian tried to ruffle her feathers.

She poked his arm. "Don't. Men need women more than the other way around."

"Are you getting dirty?"

"No! My father runs a chain of dealerships but is useless at home. I swear he needs help to use the ice dispenser."

Ian laughed. "My first step father was that way. The current one is better. He's a good cook, but not as self-sufficient as my dad."

"You refer to your current stepfather like there will be others."

Ian's jaw slacked. "Really? I didn't mean it that way. They're a great couple."

"So do I get to try some of this famous soup?"

He smiled. "Are you sure four meals in one weekend isn't too much?"

She waved her hand. "Everyone has to eat."

"Right. It's a necessity. I'm sorry about Brooke."

"Why? She's cute."

"I mean we had plans, and I bumped you for my cousin."

"It's cool. I can tell you are close to your family. I don't see mine often."

Ian had put the soup in the microwave and placed two bowls on the counter.

Ian's phone buzzed. He looked at her. "My father. I don't need to answer, but I bet he's heard about you. If I don't answer, he'll make up his own conclusions."

"Fine." She put her finger over her lip.

"Hi, dad."

"I heard you spent the day with Brooke."

"Yeah, your brother owes me big time."

"Who's the girl? She impressed Brooke."

Ian rolled his eyes. "A neighbor. Brooke hooked her in. You know how she is."

"Too bad. It's nice to have someone to take away the loneliness."

"I'm glad you're happy. I was just about to eat."

After he ended the call, Ainsley said, "You lied."

He shook his head. "Brooke invited you to lunch and to hear her play."

"I wanted to hear you play." Ainsley touched his bicep.

Ian felt a tumble in his gut as he dished out the chicken, vegetables, noodles and broth.

"I didn't lie."

She shook her head. "You told your dad you were glad he's happy."

"I am. It just freaked me out at first. In thirty-three years, the guy never introduced me to any women. I know he hasn't been a monk, but when I lived with him during summers and during college, he never hinted at having relationships. They're serious really fast."

"I guess it would freak me out if my parents split and either started dating."

"I want you to know I would never blow off plans with you or any of my other friends for my family. My uncle trapped me into watching Brooke."

Ainsley put down her spoon. "That sentence had a lot to unpack. First, I would never want your cousin neglected. You are the best guy for the job. We're friends? This soup is delicious."

"I think we are. We have fun together and I don't mean the dirty, wet times."

Ainsley blushed. She looked beautiful. Dirty and wet seemed like an excellent plan for dessert, but it was a work night and neither were interested in something serious.

She spoke first. "If this friendship is going to work, we need to be honest. If one of us wants what the other isn't willing to give we need to speak up. When it stops working for one of us we go our separate ways."

"Okay. Honest. Honestly, I was wondering about sex on a work night."

"I was wondering if two nights in a row sent the wrong message."

Ian smiled. "I can let you know after I experience the message."

"So wet and dirty, it is."

Ian laughed. "Sounds like dessert."

Such fun! ⭐️