She wants to snuggle... All three of us?
Maise laughs. “Lady, you have it bad.”
I try and fail to tamp down a chuckle as Celeste tickles Maise.
“I’ll have you know, your daddy is one of my favorite people.”
I swallow past the growing stone in my throat.
“And me too?” Maise asks.
“You too, my sweet.”
I leave the two gigglepots in the warmth of my bed and head downstairs to fetch the coffee. When I make it back upstairs with a tray of caffeine and various breakfast foods, they are sitting up on the bed, braiding hair.
“Oh! I need clips!” Maise rushes from the bed and from the room as I set the tray on the bedside.
“I think that went okay?” Celeste gives me a cringy smile, like she’s not sure how to act after almost being busted by my daughter.
“She’ll get used to you being here. Maybe she’ll even knock next time.”
I sink onto the side of the bed.
“You think so?” CC’s face brightens.
“She’s already got a vision board with you on it, baby. You did that.”
“Oh, really. Like we’re BFFs or something?” She smiles.
A choked sound catches in my throat. “More like a... mother.”
Chapter
Twenty-Five
CELESTE
“Oh.” The instant the sound passes my lips, I know it’s the wrong reaction.
It’s not the one I would go with if I had time to think about the sentiment. I’ve just...
His hand tilts my head, forcing my gaze to his. “No one expects that of you—well, besides Maise. But this is whatever you want it to be, Celeste. Whatever we want it to be, but if it’s just a temporary thing, we’ll keep it on the down-low, okay?”
Um. Okay . . . ?
Do I want to sneak around with this man or be his baby mama? What kind of choice is that?
“I think I should go,” I whisper.
“No, CC.” Hurt and panic flood his gaze. “God, can we just rewind like five minutes?”
“It’s fine. I have to get ready for Dad’s arrival today, anyway.”
“No, please stay.” He’s hauling me into his hold. “Fuck, that didn’t come out right.”
“I would, but . . . I-I can’t.”
Extracting myself from his tense embrace, I’m off the bed and out of his bedroom a heartbeat later.
