Ilsa was the first to spot me, and she beamed. “Brandon’s home.”
My heart flipped as she hurried to me, throwing her arms around my legs. “You want to dance with us?”
I smiled. “I think I want to watch you two.”
Ilsa giggled as she broke herself free and danced back into the kitchen. Jade smiled as she paused her knife, her eyes on Ilsa.
“What are you making?” I asked as I walked into the kitchen.
“Beef stew,” Jade said, tossing the last of the vegetables into the pot. She grabbed the pot and placed it onto the stove. “Ilsa requested it.”
“And to watch a movie!” Ilsa chirped up eagerly. “Movie with popcorn.”
“Sounds like fun.”
Ilsa nodded and continued to wiggle as she moved around, dancing to the music. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her. She was so free-spirited. The more time I spent with Ilsa, the more I found myself loving her.
We had dinner half an hour later and started the movie soon after. Jade sat on the left side of the couch while I sat on the right. Ilsa squeezed in between us, holding the popcorn bucket as she grinned at the TV.
I found myself spending most of the movie watching Ilsa and Jade. I soaked in their relaxed expressions and all their reactions to the movie. I watched Ilsa jump when a door opened loudly, and I watched the way Jade smiled when the little girl hugged her mom. I noticed Ilsa got teary-eyed at the dog in the movie, and that they both stared with amazement.
“Are you even watching the movie?” Jade whispered to me. She raised an eyebrow as she noticed I was staring.
“I am,” I said, taking a handful of popcorn.
“Really? Then what was the mother talking about?”
I smirked at her. “I don’t know.”
A smile pulled at her lips, and she shook her head. She reached for some popcorn, popping a few pieces into her mouth. “You should pay attention.”
“I find other things more entertaining.”
Jade blushed.
I reached for another scoop of popcorn just as Jade did. Our hands touched, and I felt the spark go up my arm. I felt a tug deep in my chest wanting her. Jade pulled her hand back, her face red. Ilsa giggled.
“Are you holding hands?”
“No,” Jade said, squeezing Ilsa’s cheek. “We aren’t.”
Ilsa giggled. “It looked like it.”
Jade blushed, deepened, and I grabbed some popcorn, popping it into my mouth. “I think you’re missing the movie.”
Ilsa turned her gaze back to the movie, and I looked at Jade. She glanced at me, and I could see something in her eyes, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
By the time the movie ended, Ilsa was asleep. She leaned against my shoulder, her hand still in the popcorn bucket. I moved, pulling her into my arms and turned, carrying her up the stairs. I took her to her room and tucked her into bed.
I turned and found Jade leaning against the wall outside. She looked into Ilsa’s room and smiled. “She’s such a sweet kid.”
I nodded. “She is. She takes after you.”
Jade’s eyes flicked up to me, and she blushed. She chewed on her lower lip and pushed off the wall. “She’s a lot like her father, too.”
I raised an eyebrow, a smirk pulled at my lips. “You don’t say?”
She nodded. “Yeah, headstrong and independent. A little bit of a terror when you wake her from a nap too soon.”
