The woman, whom I refused to say was stunning, because she sure as hell was, watched as my daughter walked over to her, and I watched unabashedly.
Then I lifted a brow as Cole moved closer to and started talking to her.
She didn’t know it, but even though a lot was going on, she never took her gaze away from my kids, and just by doing that small thing, she had earned my respect.
And when I moved in to introduce myself to her, I couldn’t help myself as I glanced down at her left hand and saw that the very important finger was bare when something had snagged her attention for a split second.
I was pulled away by Dominik, Carter, Alec, Garrick, and Ethan, but all through the night, I found myself ending up in their orbit.
Their... meaning Lila, Cole, and Madalyn’s.
And if I said it had been the worst night of my life, I would be lying.
I had just told Madalyn that I couldn’t take her to a store she had been dying to go to when Lila entered the conversation.
And that was how it started.
She took Madalyn shopping.
She took Cole to a few of his football games.
But when Madalyn cheered on the sidelines at the games, and when Cole played, she was always there in the stands, cheering them on.
But for my daughter, I would do this.
Even though I would be fighting a hard-on, the longer she was in my presence.
I tagged my phone and scrolled to our messages.
Me – Hey, can you take Madalyn shopping this weekend?
Just then, Cole came down.
I made them eggs, bacon, and toast.
They gobbled it down, and ten minutes later, we were in my truck as we headed to school.
I had just pulled into the drop-off line as my phone pinged with a text.
Lila – Crap. I already have plans... umm... let me see what I can do. Okay?
I looked at Madalyn’s waiting smile and said, “She already has plans. But she said she would see what she could do, okay?”
Cole nodded, “Yeah, she’s got a banquet type of thing to go to.”
I lifted a brow, then he explained, “Told me about that, because she was sad, she was going to miss my game.”
I nodded.
Normally, Cole’s games were on Thursday nights. But in our small town, we had a rival of sorts. The entire town, as well as the neighboring towns, showed up for it.
It was the biggest game of the year. We played the neighboring team from Clover Valley.
Middle school played, and then high school played.
Then my phone pinged with a text.
Lila – If you promise to treat Madalyn and me to an amazing dinner, and the three of us to ice cream, at Frozen Tree, I can do it.
