Noah, wanting to show he’s the better man, steps up to her and takes her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the top. “Hi, Veronica. I love what you did to your hair,” he says in a flirtatious way with another wink. Ronnie’s hair was electric blue last time, but now it’s a bright orange.
She offers him a seductive smirk and doesn’t pull her hand back right away. She hums as she watches him, then tilts her head to the side before addressing her question to the room. “He’s as bad as pretty boy, isn’t he?”
“Yup,” we all answer as one.
She giggles and pulls her hand away, patting him on the cheek just like Mira had done to me earlier. “Nice try, Casanova. But thank you for the compliment.”
He smiles widely at her and crosses his arms at his chest. “I think she has a soft spot for me. We’ll win her over eventually, bro,” he says to Gabe, who agrees with a nod.
Ronnie throws her head back and laughs. “Oh God! Are all hockey players this delusional?”
“Yes,” the girls all answer in unison, gaining a frown from all male presence in the room.
I walk over to Emma and put my arm around her waist, bringing her to me. “You think I’m delusional?”
“Hmm, maybe a little. But not as much as the rest.” She giggles.
“Are you just trying to win some points with me, Bunny?” I whisper in her ear.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She bites her lip, but her smile still shines through.
I bring my face down to hers and kiss her in front of everyone. Her hand comes to my nape as she sighs against my lips, melting in my hold.
“Wow, a lot has happened over Christmas break,” Morgan says from her seat at the island, where she bounces a giggling Gracie.
I pull away, and Emma wipes my lips with a heart-stopping grin. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about letting our friends in on our situation, but from the look of pure joy on her face, I take it she’s on board.
The doorbell suddenly rings, and after a moment of expecting someone to go, I head over to open it since no one else seems to have heard. When I open the door, I find someone I wasn’t expecting to see standing on the other side.
“Lance?”
“Hi, Greyson. How are you, son?” he asks as I let him inside. He carries two gifts; one wrapped in superheroes and the other in princesses.
“I’m good, thanks for asking.”
“Daddy?” Emma joins us and hugs her father. “What are you doing here?”
“Cecilia invited me for Dante’s birthday party. I hope it’s okay that I’m here?”
“Of course, I know she’s like a daughter to you, too,” Em says, pulling away and smiling up at her father. “How are things with Mom?” she asks cautiously. “I know you said things were really rocky when we talked at Christmas…”
Lance sighs as his shoulders drop. “Your mother and I are getting a divorce.”Well, shit. I know my speech was intense, but I didn’t think it would cause this.
“And before you think it, no, you aren’t the cause of my decision.” He directs his words to me. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. And after what you said at dinner, I realized how much I’ve let her walk all over my life and my daughter’s.” He turns back to Em. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner how your mother’s toxic behavior was affecting you. I know you’re all grown up now, but I hope this can be my first step in making our relationship right.” He smiles affectionately at her.
“I want to be more involved in your life, Sunflower. The way I should have been when you were a little girl. I hope you’ll let us have that.” His voice may be calm, but his eyes are practically pleading for his daughter to give him another chance. “And if you choose to cut your mother out of your life for good, I’ll fully support it. She doesn’t deserve having you in hers.”
“It’s all I want, Daddy.” Emma sniffs, and I instantly pull her into my arms, kissing the top of her head.
Her dad smiles at me, then at his daughter. “I told you he was into you.”
Em laughs and buries her face against my neck.
“By the way, you look absolutely beautiful, Sunflower. Now, where’s my granddaughter and grandson? I have gifts for them.”
“Daddy!”
“What? You take care of the little flower like a mother, and you two are dating. In my eyes, that makes her my granddaughter. If she’s important to you, Sunflower, she’s important to me, too.”
