That’s how we ended up sitting outside on a picnic bench, his hand on my knee as Darla washed off the stickiness and jumped out her remaining energy in the fountain. True to his word, Drew took us for pizza and ice cream—the places he mentioned on our failed date.
Over pink bubblegum ice cream, I gathered my courage and said to Darla, “You know, Dar, Claire is my middle name. My real name is Juliette.”
“Oh, it sounds like a princess, Mommy.Juliette.” My name came out in a reverent hush.
“So when Drew and I knew each other, he called me Jules. I started using Claire when I was a grown-up, but he still wants to call me Jules.”
The irony didn’t escape me. I’d very much been a grown-up when Drew had knocked me up. At least, I’d thought so.
“Maybe Drew’ll call me Katherine? Like my middle name? What’s your middle name, Drew?” She had a million questions about names and middle names. To my relief, she was completely unfazed by the name discrepancy.
Now the library loomed against the skyline, and laid out at the bottom of the steps were those water fountains that shoot up from the ground. Darla was soaked all the way through her clothes, her hair sticking to her cheeks. She was an absolute mess and loving it.
Seeing her made my heart beat faster, and guilt swept up my spine. I wanted this for her; I’d kept this from her.
I was so wrapped up in my own emotional breakdown, I didn’t even bother to move Drew’s hand. I couldn’t be bothered with the spectacle he was creating in front of Darla. I was too concerned with what would happen when he ran—again.
Was Darla’s current state of happiness worth the risk?
“Mom, look!” She hopped on one foot through the water, her shorts absolutely sopping. She smiled and laughed and leaped again, the whole time flirting with her father. She was smitten with the very man who could make all her dreams come true.
Or not.
Drew
“She’s out cold,” Jules whispered as she entered the kitchen, catching me in the middle of opening a cheap bottle of cabernet I’d found in the cabinet. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t offer you a drink when we came back. Glad you made yourself at home.”
“This is for you.” I tipped the bottle in her direction.
She leaned back against the counter and stared at me. “I’m not sure what to make of you being here. This is all new for me.”
“What? Someone taking care of you? You should get used to it.”
I located a wineglass and filled it halfway with the burgundy liquid.
“I don’t need a caretaker,” she said as I handed over the glass.
“I’m not suggesting that. Taking care of you is a want, not a need, when it comes to me.”
“It’s just—”
“No more justs or buts or becauses. Drink your wine. Go sit down, relax.” With my hand on her lower back, I led her to the sofa, then urged her to sit.
“I’m so afraid you’re going to run again,” Jules whispered into her glass.
“I’m not.” I knelt in front of her. “Not. Going. To. This kneeling thing’s becoming a habit. You need to understand, you’re my goddess. The queen to my king.”
“Oh my God, Drew. Be serious. You know I don’t get into that cheese.”
I bent and ran my nose down her thigh, scenting her skin and memorizing her musk.
“We have to be careful. Because Darla—”
“No more becauses, remember?”
My lips found hers and quieted all the reasons about to spill from her mouth. I was done with them, reminding myself she was a grown woman now and could take the heat from me. She wasn’t a scared student. She hadn’t recently been burned by her teammates.
“You’ve taken life by the horns—to borrow a trite expression—and steered yourself in the right direction.” I bit down on her lower lip and sucked in her essence. “You found your way toward me. I don’t think it was luck. It was meant to be, and now it’s my job to keep you here and happy. To help you map out the future.” I whispered the words into her ear and let them sink in while my thumb caressed her cheek.
