A crease appeared between her brows. "Oh, you don't have to. I can get it tomorrow."
"I'm the one who made a mess, and I'll clean it up."
She bit her lower lip, and my gaze snagged on the movement. "That's— Thank you."
"You're welcome." If she wasn't used to a man cleaning up after himself, then she'd have to get used to it. I didn't want to be a burden. I wanted to make her life easier.
I quickly washed the parts and left them on a towel to dry. Then I carefully placed the machine and the unused cones into the box. I closed it and set it in the pantry for them to use later.
I turned off the light and joined the girls in the living room. Ayla was on the floor in front of the couch, and Angela patted the cushion next to her.
"What are we watching?" I asked, and Ayla hissed, "Shhh."
I sat next to Angela and raised a brow in question. She leaned over and whispered, "Frozen."
"I don't know this one," I whispered to Angela.
She moved close to me and explained what I'd missed. Then we turned our attention to the movie. The music wasn't half bad,and it was kind of cool that the princess shot ice out of her hands. But it was the snowman that stole the show.
At the end, Ayla turned, and asked me, "Did you like it?"
"It was good."
"Can we watch the next one?" Ayla asked Angela.
I stretched my stiff neck. "There's another one?"
Angela sighed. "Yes, but it's someone's bedtime. We can watch it another time."
"Wait for me though. I want to see it."
"We will." Ayla jumped up and took off for the stairs.
"You don't have to stick around and watch princess movies, you know."
She expected me to take the out. I suspected a part of her wanted me to, so she could place me in a box. One I didn't deserve to be in. "I enjoy hanging out with you guys."
She looked at me as if she couldn't quite understand that. "Yeah?"
I nodded, leaning my elbows on my thighs. "Yeah, it's nice spending time with you and Ayla."
Her cheeks flushed. "You seem too good to be true."
"I have a feeling you haven't been with the right guy. And I intend to prove you wrong. I'm not too good to be true. I'm exactly what you deserve."
With that parting shot, I stood, holding my hand out to her. "Now, I have a story to read. Are you coming?"
She placed her hand in mine, and it felt like a step in the right direction. I needed her to trust me, but I knew it wouldn't be easy.
CHAPTER 20
ANGELA
Last night, Hudson left after he read Ayla a bedtime story. I wanted him to stay, but he'd said he couldn't keep his hands off me, and he wanted to wait to be together again when Ayla was with her dad.
I couldn't argue with that. Then he kissed me on the porch. I felt a little like a teenager coming home after a date.
Today, I felt giddy. I didn't think I'd feel better until my shop reopened. But Hudson was in our lives, and I was building my online store. I was excited about the future again. It looked a little different than I'd planned, but that was okay.
