“But I’m your mom.Vance is a guest.”
Vance chuckled.“It’s okay.”He looked across the table.“I don’t mind if you give me the food you don’t like.”
Dinner finished with Addy crying since Elana had more pieces of pineapple on her slice, because of course she counted them.Vance settled the fight by giving her pineapple from what was still left in the box before I could interfere.
Once everyone had finished and Vance and I had cleared the table, I announced that it was bedtime.
Addy went straight up to Vance, tugging on his sleeve.“Can you read me a story?”
“Of course.But do you usually get ready first?”
Once I’d recovered from the surprise of my daughter asking him to read to her, I brushed my hand over her hair.“Pj’s and brush your teeth, then story.”
She didn’t even complain, and I blinked at her retreating back.I felt like I was living in an alternate universe tonight.Seemed like Vance had an effect on everyone, not just me.
“Okay, pumpkin pants, let’s get you ready for bed as well.”
Elana—as expected—ran away.At least one thing was still the same.
Once I’d caught her and dressed her wiggling body, we joined Addy and Vance on the couch.
Addy was pressed up against his side, and I took a seat on the other side, Elana on my lap.In order for her to see the pages, we had to get close.
And that was how I found myself cuddled up on the couch with Vance and my girls.
Chapter thirteen
Imadeanelaboratehandgesture as we walked into the apartment, as if I was revealing a circus trick.Even I saw the irony in my actions.“This is it.”
I studied the pinched expressions on my daughters’ faces.They looked at the apartment with as much enthusiasm as Keely had.Vance was standing behind them, looking grumpy again.Ignoring his glower, I pasted a smile on my face and turned to the girls.“I even got us a moving-in present.”
I forced cheer into my voice, ignoring Vance shooting daggers at the wall.
Small apartment forgotten, Elana whirled around.“Is it a toy?”
Kneeling down in front of her, I shook my head.“It’s not, sorry, pumpkin pants.It’s something useful.”
Addy took her sister’s hand, a sure sign that she didn’t feel comfortable in our new home.“Is it toilet paper?”
“Thatwouldbe useful, but that’s not it either.”
I stood up and pointed at the box sitting on the counter.“Why don’t you open it?”
They scrambled to be the first one there, then pulled the box down.It landed with a loud thump on the floor.Luckily there was nothing breakable in it.
Ripping open the top, they pulled out the new bedsheets I’d bought them.They were identical since I knew they’d fight otherwise.
Elana waved her pillowcase around, the plastic that had covered it flying through the room.“There are dogs on them.”She hugged it to her.“I love it.Can we put them on?”
“Of course.”
I showed them their room and helped them change the sheets.Orange jumped up on the bottom bunk, and Elana, who would be sleeping there, covered him with the blanket.“Can Orange sleep with me tonight?”
“He’d love that.”
Addy leaned over the side of the top bunk.“Then I get Winston.”
The cat loved my girls, so he wouldn’t protest.
