“We’ll see what time it is when I make it home, okay? If we’re going to make it from scratch, we’re going to need to go to the store. I was thinking we’d order it.”
Nikki scrunched her lips to the side. “Okay. I guess that’s fine.”
Vincent had learned that “fine” wasn’t only a codeword for “not fine” in mature women, but in young girls as well. “We’ll have pizza night for sure next week. We can even roast some pepper slices just the way you like.”
“Okay.” Nikki smiled. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Love you, sweet stuff. I’m going to get going, okay?”
“Okay. Love you, too.” Nikki blew him a kiss, then curled her fingers in a wave and turned off the video chat. When she was gone, Vincent dropped his head back so his neck was exposed and let out a long breath that ended once his lungs were flattened and his insides were compressed. Leaving Nikki behind had been hard. When he left town to attend conferences, he had work to distract himself with, and it was easier to cast aside his guilt. This was the first time he’d left on a vacation without her since she’d been born, and while she was handling it just fine, Vincent couldn’t help but feel like, no matter for how short a time, he’d abandoned her.
When he got home, he’d make an effort to get to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients they needed to make pizza. It was worth the effort. Nikki wouldn’t stay little forever, and before he knew it, she wouldn’t be excited to spend time with him anymore. The last five years had already passed by in a flash, and the next five were likely to hit him just as fast, if not faster.
He had to cherish these moments while he still had them.
Before Vincent could put his phone away, it buzzed. KnotMyProblem had woken up.
KnotMyProblem: @xVerity You sly dog, you. Harley and I each had a drink in your honor last night. You better have done us proud and gotten lucky. Didn’t know you were into older guys, but, you know, whatever floats your boat.
xVerity: You must have been out late if you’re only waking up now. It’s going on eleven in the morning.
KnotMyProblem: Nice attempt at deflection there, Mr. Smooth Stuff ;) but you can’t pull the wool over my eyes that easily. You boned him, didn’t you?
xVerity: I didn’t bone anyone.
KnotMyProblem: Sorry. I forgot. You probably whisked him off his feet with a rose between your teeth and made passionate love to him all night long, didn’t you?
Vincent snorted. A smirk crept across his lips.
xVerity: That’s a little closer to the truth.
KnotMyProblem: xV, you’re my HERO.
xVerity: I’m not sure whether to be flattered or offer my condolences
KnotMyProblem: Where are you rn btw? Harley and I were going to go get breakfast or something. I’m going to shower, then I’m going to kick his door until he wakes up. You’re welcome to join us
xVerity: Thanks for the offer, but I’m already at the airport
KnotMyProblem: Bummer
KnotMyProblem: When we come back for TD’s wedding, let’s book some time off so we can vacation together, okay? Because the couple hours we had together wasn’t enough by a long shot. Will your top-secret job let you off for a week?
Vincent held back a laugh.
xVerity: I think I can arrange for that.
KnotMyProblem: Then do!
KnotMyProblem: It’s going to be amazing. All us sort-of-Single Dads, chilling. By that time Gwynn won’t be a newlywed, so he can actually come hang out with us without sneaking off to a bathroom stall with his boy every half hour.
LoveHarley: omg he was all about canoodling yesterday. It was great haha
KnotMyProblem: Well, well, well… look who’s awake. How’s the hangover?
LoveHarley: I’m fresh as a daisy and my mind is crystal clear. You ready to go for round two? ;)
KnotMyProblem: You monster. You’re not really human, are you?
