I was not about to tell him that I was thinking about Octavia.
About the night before and how irresponsible we’d been, yet how fuckingamazingit had been. I was not about to tell him that I woke up with a hard dick and wanted to stroke myself to the thought of her until I came again. I did not do that, of course. I held back—and was glad I did, because it prepared me for what we were about to do in the kitchen ...
Up until Aleesa woke up and reality sank in.
Octavia and I were in a very tricky situation. The sex we’d had was explosive, and I absolutely wanted more ... but wanting more was a risk, and I was not sure if it needed to be taken.
Instead of answering Deke, I ignored him and worked through the line of eager children, signing balls and taking pictures until the area was clear. We were finally given a break when the kids ran to the vendors, getting face paint, popcorn, and cotton candy and shooting hoops at the contest area.
“Let me guess.” Deke popped up at my side again.
I avoided an eye roll and a sigh. He wasnotgoing to let this go.
“You didn’t look mad when you were zoned out, so I assume you were thinking about something good?”
“It was nothing, Deke. Seriously.”
“Come on, Valdez. You can’t lie to me.”
“I am not lying about anything. It was nothing. Just ... things about Aleesa.” Partly true. I was worried about sleeping with my daughter’s nanny. Technically, that situation revolved around her.
A woman approached us, offering two bottles of water. We accepted, and Deke cracked his open and took a few chugs.
I started to open mine, too, until someone across the court caught my eye.
Walking through the doors with my daughter’s hand in hers was Octavia. And, fuck ... What was she thinking? How was any man not going to look at her?
She wore a floral purple sundress that hugged her at the middle and stopped mid-thigh, with open-toed sandals. Her locs were styled in an updo, and of course she had those jewels in them.
She looked like an angel standing there, gazing around the gym, pointing at things as Aleesa bounced on her toes. And call me crazy, but I found it cute that she and Aleesa were matching in color. They did that often. It was almost always Aleesa’s idea. She wanted to wear the same colors as her Tava.
When Octavia carried her eyes to the middle and spotted me, she threw her hand up to wave. I waved back, and Aleesa wasted no time bolting across the gymnasium to reach me.
“Daddy!”
I bent down and held my arms out, then scooped her up and raised her in the air. I nibbled at her belly, and she giggled.
“Sorry we’re a little late.” Octavia met up with us as I placed Aleesa on her feet. “Leesa refused to leave until she found a purple bow to match her jumpsuit.”
I chuckled. “That sounds like her.”
Octavia turned her eyes to her future brother-in-law. “Hey, Deke. No Vina today?”
“No, but thanks for reminding me of how much I miss her.” He laughed as they hugged.
“Deke, is candy here?” Aleesa asked, peering up at him.
Deke gave me a mischievous side-eye before lowering to a squat. “I heard there’s cotton candyandcandy apples. But shh ... I didn’t tell you that.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as he stood again. Aleesa’s eyes were big as a smile spread across her face.
“Maybe some popcorn,” I said, eyeing Octavia.
She nodded as she took Aleesa’s hand. “Popcorn it is.”
Before she could walk away, I said, “And just a little bit of cotton candy. You know how she is with sweets.”
Octavia grinned at that, her pearly teeth catching the light. I almost faltered, seeing that smile in combination with her soft brown eyes. God, why did she have to be so beautiful? Why was I so into her now? Was it because we’d had sex? Had these feelings always been here? I had not felt my heart pump like this in many years.
