After giving me a hug and a wink, and the girls a kiss on their heads, Malena followed Vance.
Once the girls had devoured their fruit plate, only leaving a few seeds behind, they disappeared into the playroom.
Vance returned, and I drank my cold tea that tasted like old socks.I still loved it because he’d made it for me.I’d never been a tea drinker, always preferring coffee, but I guessed this situation called for tea.Maybe I should have added some rum.
And after Addy fell off the monkey bars and Elana banged her head going down the slide, we had dinner together that I didn’t have to cook (always a win in my book).So even though I hadn’t had the best day, I went to bed happy.Doing it cuddled up to Vance probably helped.
Chapter twenty-five
“Thepolicecalled.”
Vance slid off the barstool at my announcement and stalked to where I was standing in the hallway.“Did they find out who broke in?”
“They did.And apparently, I wasn’t even the target.They meant to break in next door but confused the apartment numbers.”
I wasn’t going to mention my drug-dealing neighbor.I wasn’t surprised someone had tried breaking into his apartment.If only they’d gotten the number right.
Vance took a deep breath, his fists clenching and unclenching.“There is no way you’re moving back there.If you can’t imagine staying with me, I’ll rent you a house.I want you to be safe.I want the girls to be safe.”
I knew I couldn’t go back to the apartment.I wouldn’t feel safe there anymore.There was only one place that made me feel safe.
“I don’t want you to rent us a house.”
Vance prowled closer, his face pinched in exasperation.“I know you can take care of yourself.But there is nothing that I want more than to be part of your life.To have the honor of taking care of you and the girls.So let me at least do this one thing for you.”He took my hand in his.“Please.”
“You don’t have to rent us a house because it would be a waste of money when we can stay here.”His eyes went molten, and my insides twisted.“I’m still worried we won’t work out.”His eyes narrowed, and I narrowed mine back.“But you show us every day how much we mean to you.”
“Just so we’re clear, you’re not moving out again.”
A burst of laughter erupted from me.“That works for me.And besides, there’s no way you’ll get the girls to ever leave.”
“Good.”He punctuated his statement by pressing his lips to mine.
There was a crash upstairs, and then Addy released a war cry, followed by Elana calling her a poo-poo.
Releasing Vance to break up the fight, I looked at him over my shoulder.“No take-backs.”
He met my grin with one of his own.“Never.”
Once I’d broken up the fight, I dragged them to the living room, which had become our favorite place in the house.
“So, girls, Vance and I have something to tell you.”
Addy jumped up on the couch, eyes shining with excitement.“Am I getting a little brother?”
Well, this escalated quickly.
“Ladybug, no jumping on the couch.”I waited for her to sit down again.“And no, I’m not pregnant.”
Vance chuckled and took my hand.“Your mom agreed to move in with me.”
Addy’s face fell, and Elana began to cry.
Okay, that was definitely not the reaction I envisioned.
Scooting closer, I hugged them.“What’s going on?I thought you loved it here?”
I hadn’t once thought that they wouldn’t want to live here.
