Besides, I’ve been weighing Sarah’s comments about Lily resenting it when she’s older if I keep her from knowing her father.
I set down my cup. “I’ve been thinking about you meeting Lily.”
He leans forward. “And?”
“I’m okay with it, but now is not the time to tell her you’re her father.”
“I’m fine with that.”
I tell him about Sarah’s suggestion for a casual encounter. He grins, showing his dimple. “Where and when would you like to run into me, old friend?”
“How about the Creole Creamery on Prytania Street at three o’clock tomorrow?”
His eyes, so much like Lily’s, light up. It’s hard to ignore how attractive he is, and noticing it disconcerts me.
“Sounds great,” he says. “I’ll see you there.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Zack
Sunday, May 12
I ARRIVE ATthe ice cream shop early, park at the curb about halfway down the block, and wait in my car. I see Quinn drive by in a white Equinox and then parallel park down the street. I get out of my vehicle, pretending to be engrossed in my phone, as Quinn climbs out and opens the back door. She’s wearing jeans and a white shirt, nothing fancy, and her hair is pulled back in a simple ponytail, but I’m sure my friend Ben would give himself whiplash doing a double take. As I watch, she helps a little girl scramble out of a safety seat and onto the sidewalk.
I suddenly feel as if my airways are being throttled—it’s that hard to breathe. Nothing prepared me for the emotional punch of seeing Lily in person. My brain kind of shorts out.That’smy child!I think. My actual flesh and blood! A real live person I helped create!My heart skips. My palms sweat. I try not gawk, but it’s hard.
Lily looks a lot like she did in the Mardi Gras photos, but I think I would have recognized her even if I hadn’t seen them. She’s a doppelgänger of my sister at that age. Hell, if you take away the long hair, she looks just likeme.
I watch as she grabs Quinn’s hand and bounces on her tiptoes as she walks. I can tell she’s talking a blue streak; Quinn is smiling, her head inclined toward her. If I didn’t know otherwise, I’d think they were mother and daughter.
I stroll toward the ice cream shop, pretending to be absorbed in my phone, and we arrive at the door at the same time.
I feign delighted surprise. Well, the surprise part is feigned; the delight is one hundred percent genuine. “Quinn! It’s great to see you.”
She does a slightly better acting job. “Zack! Long time, no see!”
I give her a hug, the way I’d hug a friend I haven’t seen in a while. I can’t help but notice that she smells wonderful—like herbs and flowers and sunshine. Not that I’ve ever noticed that sunshine has a scent, but if it did, it would smell like Quinn.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I’m bringing my goddaughter for some ice cream,” she says.
I pull back and smile down at the little girl beside her. She’s wearing strawberry-printed shorts with a strawberry-themed shirt and holding Quinn’s hand. Her skin is smooth as cream, and her blue eyes have the longest lashes I’ve ever seen. Her blond curls are parted on the side and held with a large red bow. My heart dissolves in a warm puddle.
“This is Lily Adams,” Quinn says.
I bend down and hold out my hand. “Hello, there. I’m Zack.”
Lily puts her hand in mine and gives it a big up-and-down pump. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she says solemnly.
My heart melts a little more. “Wow, you have lovely manners.”
“Thank you. Mommy says manners are important.”
“She’s right. They are.”
“We’re about to go inside,” Quinn says. “Want to join us?”
