“What’s her name?” She kneels down to stroke her.
“Caramel.”
“Nice.”
“Because of her colour.”
“How old is she?”
“A year. I bought her when I moved in – and, no, it’s not what you think. I’m not just a sad old lady who needs a cat for company. I’ve always loved cats, but my husband…sorry,ex-husband,” I say, correcting myself, “hated them. So as soon as we broke up, I went out and got one.”
“That was a good move.”
“Well, it’s nice to have someone waiting for you when you come home.”
“I was talking about breaking up with your ex.”
“Oh…”
A knock at the door interrupts our odd conversation, thankfully distracting me from my own embarrassment.
“That must be your dad.”
I scurry over to the door; when I open it, he’s standing there with a brown paper bag in hand.
“Chocolate ice cream.”
He lowers the bag, and flashes me a charming smile.
“I thought you girls might need something sweet.”
“You were right.”
“You’re finally starting to make yourself useful, Kerry,” Skylar says from behind me.
“Everything okay, here?” he asks, lowering his voice.
I wouldn’t quite say it wasokay, Kerry, because I’ve just stumbled across an enormous problem: you. I’ve just discovered that I don’tjustlike you; it’s something more than that. And I don’t want to wait until the end of the tournament. And I’m ready to have my heart broken yet again.
“Yep, all good.”
And, apparently, I’ve just discovered that I’m a damn good liar.
Jordan
Niall joins me in the kitchen as his daughter sits in the living room, cuddling Caramel.
“Do I need to sign an agreement for this, too?”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, his warm words tickling the back of my neck. His hands are leaning either side of me, against the counter.
“Please, Jordan. Tell me there won’t be any more contracts to sign.”
I slowly open my eyes and turn my head a little.
“As long as you tell me there’ll be no need for them.”
“Do you really need me to say it?”
