She grinned up at him, the freckles across her nose sparkling in the sun. “Because I like stars.”
Exactly why he’d chosen it. Some of his best memories were of the nights he let her stay up late so they could stare at the stars.
They’d just reached the front of the school when Avery gasped. “Quinn’s here! Okay, see ya, Daddy.”
“Hold on there, kiddo.” He grabbed her wrist before crouching in front of her. “Are you too cool to give your dad a kiss now?”
Her features softened and she threw her arms around his shoulders. “I’m never too old for that. I love you, Daddy.”
A piece of his heart ripped right out of his chest and went straight to her. “I love you too, princess.”
Then she was gone, running over to her friend and grabbing her hand.
God, she was getting big. And he’d missed so much of it already.
Not anymore.
She was about to step through the doors when she paused and turned her head, a grin crossing her face before she waved to him and finally disappeared.
“That kid adores you.”
He turned at the female voice, internally groaning at the sight of Marie Alvaro. A local single mother who was not only a gossip but also flirted with him any chance she got.
“She’s lucky to have such a good father,” she continued.
The way she saidgoodwhile checking out his chest and arms made him take a step back. “I’m the lucky one. I’ll see you around, Marie.”
He started to step away, but she gripped his arm. “Wait. Before you run off, I have something I need to talk to you about.”
“What is it?”
“I think someone’s been lurking around my apartment building.” She inched closer, her gaze once again going to his upper arms. “It’s made me feel a bit unsafe. Maybe you could come check it out?”
“I can have some patrol cars do a few drive-bys. But if you feel unsafe, call the station and we’ll write it up. Excuse me. I’ve got to get going.”
He started toward his car, but she followed close behind. “To see Sadie Sandler?”
He stopped. “Why do you say that?”
“I live in the same building as her. Used to live on the same floor back when she was with that fiancé of hers. I saw you two together out the window last night.”
So she spied on her neighbors too?
Marie cocked her head. “Are you two—”
“I need to get to work.” He cut her off before she could finish her sentence. “Remember, call the station if you feel unsafe.”
He slid into his car, his muscles tense. If there was anyone he didn’t want to know his business, it was Marie. She’d probably spread the news around town by lunchtime that he and Sadie were dating, even though it wasn’t true.
He pushed the woman to the back of his mind as he drove to work. He’d always loved that it was so close to Avery’s school, because it meant if he ever needed to get to her quickly, he could. And today, it meant he didn’t have time to get caught up in his head.
At the station, he took his usual parking spot. What kind of day would it be? Quiet? Chaotic? Busy? He never knew. When he stepped into the office, Daisy was the first person he saw, as usual.
She smiled up at him. “Hey, boss.”
At what point did he stop correcting her? “Just Eastern. Anything happen while I was gone?”
“Well, we gave Denny his fine and let him out. Told him he’d lost his license.”
