I shake my head. “No. Penny should stay. Autumn will want to see her when she wakes up.” It’s bordering on ten at night and Penny looks exhausted. But if I know one thing, sheneeds to be near her daughter. “Just call me if you need anything, okay?” I tell her, cradling her head in my hands and planting a kiss on her forehead.
She nods when I pull away. “I will.”
“Goodnight, you guys,” I say to Alex and Briana and make my way to the front door. I can see Briana follow me out in my peripheral and she stops me with a hand on my wrist before I can make my escape.
“For a man who doesn’t like kids, you sure know a lot about them.” She quirks her brow at me.
I clear my throat in embarrassment. Penny told her what I said on Christmas?Shit.I’m starting to wonder why Briana and Alex would allow me to come to their house after I said those things, let alone throw me a birthday party. This family is too forgiving.
“Get home safe,” she says and gives me an out.
I nod and make my way to my truck.
I never expected the day to end like this, but it wasn’t terrible.
I’m just glad I could help Penny… and Autumn.
Chapter 19
Penny
“How did your date go tonight?” my mom asks a few minutes after Declan leaves through the front door.
Her tone alone gives her away. She’s fishing. It didn’t occur to me until I was hugging Declan that we both have wet hair and look like we came from the same place.
“It wasn’t great,” I tell her. Because it wasn’t. Wade didn’t pay me any attention as soon as the guys showed up.
“Hmm… and what were you doing before you came here?” she asks while putting asheet on the couch.
Autumn sleeps in my old room, and the third bedroom is the designated craft room now, so I sleep on the couch if I ever stay over.
I lie to my mother with ease because I don’t want her to get any ideas. “Just watching TV.”
“Is that what kids are calling it these days?” she asks, and my dad clears his throat a second later.
I internally groan because this is the second time my dad has walked in on a conversation I wish he hadn’t heard.
I turn on my mom and narrow my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re getting at, but Declan is myfriend,” I tell her with conviction.
She smirks and says, “I never said anything about Declan.”
My dad looks away, but my mom and I stare at each other. My cheeks are on fire, but I refuse to give her any more ammo. “I’ll put myself to bed,” I say, “goodnight.” I don’t leave room for argument. It’s none of their business as far as I’m concerned. I’m my own person and can sleep with whomever I choose. They don’t need to know every detail of my sex life. Especially my dad. He’s already heard plenty.
My mom holds back a smile but gives me a brief hug before heading to bed. My dad stays behind as I climb onto the couch and set my phone down on the coffee table.
He brings me a glass of water and hovers for a second. “I probably shouldn’t say this but I’m going to. I know you’re an adult, but whatever you’re doing… just be careful.”
I look down at my hands, avoiding his gaze. This arrangement just started tonight, and there are already two people who know what we’re up to. It was supposed to be a secret for fucks sake.
“Goodnight, sweet pea,” my dad says, using the term of endearment he’s used for me since I was born.
He turns off the lights, and I get settled on the couch, suddenly exhausted from the events of today. I went from being on a date with Wade, to fucking Declan, to ending up at my parents’ house because of a night terror.
I’m about to fall asleep when my phone pings.
Declan: Rest deeply, sleep peacefully, dream sweetly, Penny.
~ ~ ~
