“I’ll see you at the sleepover!” London shouted, waving as she and Lance got in their car.
I couldn’t wait. I’d heard about the sleepovers but London and I had yet to attend one. Some of them had been rather scary, but the ladies never let them forget the amazing moments or let the guys talk them out of it.
“Can’t wait, see you soon!” I yelled back.
We got in the car and as I predicted, Stormi was already out within a minute.
Bronson reached over the console and took my hand in his. “Did you have a good time?”
“It was a blast,” I replied. “I can’t believe how fun and wonderful everyone is sometimes.”
“Well believe it, sweetheart.”
I didn’t know what the new year would bring. I wasn’t fooled that the man who had it out for me had suddenly disappeared. His voice and words the night of the accident haunted my dreams. No, he was just biding his time.
While I was being careful and everyone was still looking for the asshole, I wasn’t going to let it ruin my new life.
“Think you can reenact that kiss after we get into bed?” I asked.
The car sped up just a little and I laughed. “In a hurry?”
“Well you said kiss and bed so, yeah,” my husband replied. “But I can’t go too fast, I have precious cargo onboard.” He gave my hand a squeeze. “I would never do anything to put you or Stormi in harm's way.”
With my free hand, I lightly pinched the skin on the top of his hand.
“Me loving you and our daughter is as real as it gets, baby.”
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, a peaceful feeling washing over me.
“We love you too,” I whispered.
Chapter Thirty-Six
BRONSON
“Can I drive?”Stormi asked.
At six, my daughter was itching to try anything. “One day, Muffin, but you’re not quite there yet.”
She let out an exaggerated huff, making me chuckle.
Lake had gone to lunch with the ladies and while I was a bit paranoid not being by her side, I knew she was in good hands. Not only did she have all the ladies surrounding her, but Lyric and Paxton were on guard duty. She also had her necklace on so it felt like added protection if anything should go wrong.
A shiver raced down my spine at the thought but I shook it off. I needed to think positive. I also needed to give my Stormi my undivided attention because she and I were having father-daughter time.
It was a bittersweet moment full of past memories and new ones in the making.
I never really imagined I could bring myself to take the Camaro my dad and I had built out of storage. But my girls changed my life. They made me see things differently and I found myself embracing all my emotions.
I’d brought the car to my childhood home and parked it in the garage a week before. And there Stormi and I were,together, making it sparkle as bright as the smile she had on her face.
“This is the coolest car. I’m just going to pretend to drive,” she said as she slipped behind the wheel into the driver’s seat.
I was taken back in time to when my father and I worked together just as my daughter and I were now. The joy on her face was exactly the way I felt when I was a child. And then I remembered the best part. Him taking me for a drive.
“What do you say we go for a drive?”
She bounced in the seat and her eyes lit up.
