Millie makes it into the kitchen, dragging a leg the whole way with Avery clinging to it.
“How were the girls?” I ask Gabriella, making them two cups of milk.
“They were good. Weren’t you, girls?” She opens the box of donuts for Eloise and hands her one on a plate. “They helped me bake a cake last night, and then they went to bed easily. They were perfect little angels.”
I ruffle the top of El’s head and kiss her cheek. “I’m glad you guys had fun.” I bend to pry Ave off Millie’s leg. “Are you only excited to see Millie? What about me?” I ask, tickling her sides until she’s laughing and forced to release her grip. Then I swing her over my shoulder and set her on a barstool.
“How was your date?” El asks in a singsong tone, with pink icing smeared across her cheeks.
Grabbing a chocolate donut, I lean against the counter and flash Millie a grin. “It was the best date I’ve ever been on.”
Millie steps next to me, and I offer her a bite. “My favorite partwas the bookstore. I even snuck a few books in the basket for you two,” she tells them.
I shoot her a questioning look. “That was your favorite part?” Leaning in so only she can hear, I ask, “Out of everything we did last night?”
She hip-checks me and lowers her voice to murmur, “My favorite part—”
“Are you getting married now?” Avery wonders.
I choke on my breath, and Gabriella snickers as Millie tries to hold back a laugh behind her hand.
“When two people love each other, they get married. Then they can kiss and have babies,” Eloise chimes in.
Millie splutters, bending at the waist in a coughing fit.
I pat her back as I bite my lips to keep from laughing. “Thank you, Eloise. That’s helpful.”
Once her breathing returns to normal, Millie straightens and pastes on a bright smile. “I have something fun we could make today. Do you girls want to do a craft with me?”
The art of distraction. Perfect.
***
I would be happy to never set foot in another craft store again in my life. As soon as the doors slid open, irritability prickled up my spine. I’d never been to a land ruled by glitter and yarn and stickers, and the longer we were there, the more pressure I felt escalating into a headache.
Who knew there were so many different types of paper? And why do they need five aisles to choose from?
Fortunately, Millie could sense my rising frustration. She simply patted my hand and told me to follow her as she navigated through the aisles of bright colors and patterns without losing me or the actual children. She tossed white T-shirts and socks,tie-dye kits, a package of kids’ gloves, and a bag of five hundred rubber bands into our basket.
Then, to my immense relief, we left the craft store of chaos and went in search of burgers for lunch before turning our backyard into an explosion of tie-dye. All of our shirts and socks are now soaking until tomorrow when we can rinse and wash them.
“How are my girls doing?” I ask as I approach the three of them playing their new card game at the kitchen island.
I don’t miss how Millie’s eyes flare at the words “my girls,” and I make a note to use it more often. Because she damn well is my girl, and maybe if I say it enough times, she’ll believe it.
“We’re great.” Eloise beams at me. “I won the last round, and I’m probably going to win this one too.” She does a little dance of excitement in her seat.
“Remember what we talked about,piccola? Nobody likes a bragging winner.” I narrow my eyes at Millie.
She lifts a shoulder with a smug grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I would never brag about winning.”
“Sure, Miss Victory-Lap-Around-the-Table.”
“Mmm, I likestella miabetter. It’s easier on the tongue.”
Fuck, she’s laid it right there for me. It’s so tempting to make a retort about how easy she is on my tongue, but little ears are present, so I press my lips together and make a mental note to tell her later.
Avery swoops in to win the game, and we all help get the cards back in the box. El and Ave run upstairs, and I slide my arms around Millie, kissing her warm neck. She melts into my body, and we breathe each other in for a stolen moment.
