“Do you sell your paintings?” Emily asks Corey.
“No. I’m not that good.”
I snort. “Youarethat good.”
Blushing, Corey dips his chin.
Lexi gasps. “Daddy! Could you paint my bedroom? I want fairies and unicorns and—” She stops abruptly as Corey shakes his head.
“No, pudding, sorry. The house won’t belong to us, so we can’t do whatever we want to it.”
“Oh.Boring. Can we buy it?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Lexi stuffs a huge spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. “I still love it,” she says around the ice cream.
Corey could paint a wall in the spare bedroom at my place. Is it too soon to suggest it? Probably. Would Lexi even want to sleep over at my place rather than in her own bedroom?
We talk about inconsequential things until all the ice cream is gone, and then we say goodbye. I go home with Corey and Lexi, partly because my bag of clothes and toys is still there.
“I was thinking,” I say once we’re back at their house. “Would you and Lexi like to stay at mine one night? I have bunk beds in my spare room,” I add. “For when Tabitha and Robbie come to stay.”
“Bunk beds?” Lexi asks. “Can I sleep on the top bunk?”
“If that’s okay with your dad.”
Lexi stares at Corey with wide, pleading eyes.
“There’s a guard rail on the side,” I say. “Robbie sleeps up there.”
“Okay,” Corey says. “When?”
I shrug. “Any time you want.”
“Tonight?” Lexi asks.
“If that’s okay with Spence,” Corey says.
“Tonight sounds great.”
“Aren’t you working tomorrow?”
“Yes, but it’s the night shift. I’ll need to try to nap after lunch, but I’m all yours until then.”
“Then we’d love to,” Corey says. “Thank you.”
* * *
Later that evening, after we’ve eaten and Lexi is tucked up in the top bunk in my spare room, Corey and I cuddle on the sofa with a couple of beers while watching a film.
“Daddy…” Corey picks up the remote and pauses the film. He twists onto his back so he’s lying on my lap, staring up at me. “I love you.”
I chuckle and lean down to kiss him. “I know. I love you too.”
“When we were looking at the house earlier, you asked me if there was something I wanted to say.”
“Was there?”
