But the best part? CeCe curled up against Summer. Her teddy bear under one arm and the other resting right against Summer. Chocolate is rimmed around CeCe’s lips and I find the evidence of Oreos and milk on the coffee table beside them. Summer’s chest moves up and down as she lays there, eyelashes fanned over her cheekbones and I just watch both of them for a moment. Soaking in the sight of my daughter with a woman she loves. A woman who loves her just as much, if not more.
Deciding not to wake either one of them, I head to my bathroom and turn on the shower, letting the water warm up while I get undressed only to hear someone clear their throat just before I undo my belt.
“I’ll clean it up, don’t worry.” Summer stands in my doorway, gesturing down the hall, no doubt referring to the fort. Her red shirt hangs off one shoulder, exposing the part of her neck just above her collarbone. Staring at Summer right now has my blood running to one place and as much as I want to keep forcing the thoughts away, I’m too fucking tired of fighting it at this moment.
“It’s a nice fort,” I say, smirking at her.
“We had fun making it. She asked if you could do it with us next time.”
“Count me in.” I pull the belt from the loops and toss it on the floor beside me. I catch Summer’s eyes on my bare chest as she stands there.
“You mind?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow in her direction. It’s definitely a bad idea to get undressed in front of her.
“No, not at all. Continue.” She crosses her arms over her chest, getting comfortable as she leans against the frame.
“Kincaid.” Her name rumbles in my chest.
“I’m joking. Relax. Have a good shower.”
She leaves my room as swiftly as she entered, but my pulse is still pounding.
I thought he would’ve heard me tap on his bedroom door, but maybe the sound of the water in the shower drowned it out. It’s a good thing I spoke before he unbuttoned those jeans, otherwise life as I know it probably would have ended seeing Chase in that state.
CeCe ate dinner and then wanted to build a fort and watch a movie—something I didn’t hesitate to jump on. I remember making forts as a kid and thinking it was the coolest experience ever. She was so excited to start the movie, but I’m pretty sure we both fell asleep within the first ten minutes of it even starting. To be fair, we had a pretty busy day. Chase warned me that it would be a longer one since he was staying for some recovery training after practice, so I fully expected to be the one to get her dinner ready.
“She’s having an early bedtime tonight, I take it,” Chase says, noting the time and CeCe still sleeping in the fort.
“She ate dinner already and we brushed her teeth. She seemed really tired today, we were busy.”
Chase kneels down in front of the opening in the fort and I hear his knees crack as they bend. He lowers himself even further to duck under the blanket and when he reemerges from the floor, he’s already knocked over the two stools on the end and the fitted sheet is being stretched to its limit as he rises with CeCe in his arms.
Her sleepy eyes open and close slowly, and I whisper goodnight to her as Chase carries her down the hall and into her bedroom.
Taking the stools two at a time, I line them back up along the kitchen island and then go back one by one for the dining room chairs. There’s zero percent chance I attempt to fold a fitted sheet so I toss it on the couch and fold up the comforter before grabbing both and putting them back in the closet.
“Thanks for today,” Chase says when he walks out of her bedroom.
His eyes linger on mine for a moment, letting a deep sigh leave his chest. His hair is still damp from the shower and the pair of sweatpants he’s wearing are making my imagination run amuck. The white t-shirt clings to his shoulders, letting every muscle be displayed. I’ve never looked at a man the way I look at Chase. And that sounds… awful to admit, considering I’ve been in relationships before and I’ve loved other men—at least I used the word, even though I don’t think I truly meant it.
“You don’t have to thank me every time I watch her, Chase. I like being with her and I’m happy to help you.”
He nods and reaches into the cabinet above his refrigerator.
“Well then, thanks for the picture today. The one that actually came through.”
I laugh, recalling the mishap from the first photo that apparently got lost in text message land somewhere.
“I saw something in your room, though, when I was in there. I wasn’t snooping, I swear. But it caught my eye.”
“Trust me, Kincaid, I’ve already assumed you’ve been snooping.”
I gasp dramatically. “Rude.”
We exchange smiles and he takes a seat at the island while I’m pulling my phone from the charger.
“You still have the guitar.” I soften my features as he looks at me. I’m sure he didn’t see that coming.
The sun’s already setting and the golden hour is upon us as I can see pinks and oranges, causing the light in the sky to look softer and less harsh than it has all day.
