“Good.And check out a Stewart’s Shops for batteries.If you still need them.”
She laughed.“I think I’m good for right now.Maybe later, though.”
I nodded and accepted her empty coffee cup.I kissed her, unable to touch her with both my hands full, then walked back to my house before I could ask her to have dinner with us again later.Evie and I already had a father-daughter date planned.
The house was quiet, so I took a minute to put the mugs in the dishwasher and calm my raging erection before I went to wake Evie up.I started breakfast while she got moving.
Evie sat at the island and stared at her phone like something confused her.“Mom wants to go with us tonight.”
“What?”
“Mom texted me last night after I went to sleep.Well, earlier, she asked how my day was, and I told her how tired I was, then I told her we had dinner with Ashlyn and Reegan.She said she would have joined us if we told her we were doing something.She asked what we were doing tonight, and I told her we planned to go to The Dragon, then play mini-golf.She said it sounds like fun, and she’ll be in touch today to find out when.”Evie lifted worried eyes to mine.“I’m sorry, Dad.I know this was supposed to be a father-daughter thing.I didn’t tell Mom that because I never thought she’d want to go.She hates mini-golf.”
“But she loves you, Evie,” I forced out.Hannah was only coming for one reason.She wanted to fuck me over in some way.
“What should I say?”
“That is up to you, but I’m not going to tell you she can’t come.If you want her to come, I’m okay with it.”
“Are you sure?I don’t want her to feel like we’re leaving her out.”
“It’s totally fine, Eves.I promise.”
Her face morphed into a bright grin.If I did nothing else right with raising her, at least I kept her from hating her mother.Whatever happened between me and Hannah was not for Evie to get involved in.I never wanted her to feel like she had to pick sides.
Evie tapped out a text to her mother while I finished breakfast for us.When Evie’s phone rang, I knew our plans were going to change before Evie was able to start eating.
“Hi, Mom!”
I turned and smiled at her as I set her breakfast sandwich in front of her.
“Yeah, Dad’s okay with you coming.”She took a bite.A small one.“Oh, um, yeah.We can do that instead.”
“Change of plans?”I whispered.
Evie nodded.“Hold on, Mom.”Evie muted the phone and lifted regretful eyes to mine.“She wants to go to Alfredo’s instead.Is that okay?”
I forced a smile for my kid.“Of course.”
“I’m sorry.It’s not what we talked about.”
I shook my head.“It’s all good.We have plenty of time to go to The Dragon.”
“You’re the best, Dad.”
I chuckled as she unmuted her phone and told her mother the change was fine.They talked a few more minutes while I swallowed another cup of coffee wishing I could add something a lot stronger to it.
Or better yet, wishing I could get out of dinner with my ex-wife.
When Evie finished her call with Hannah, she ate her breakfast, then hurried to get to work on time.I was right behind her out the door, wondering what other changes Hannah was going to spring on me at dinner.
I knew Hannah was sly,but I underestimated her skills.All through dinner, I waited for the other shoe to drop.It was a nice dinner.The kind of dinner I imagined we would have shared if Hannah and I had stayed together.There was no fighting, no underhanded comments.Just attention focused on Evie.
As dessert arrived, Hannah asked Evie about a movie that came out that day.Evie had been talking about it for weeks, excited for the release.I didn’t think anything of the conversation until Hannah said, “I was going to watch it tonight.Why don’t you come over and watch with me?”
Evie smiled brightly before she slid a look at me.“We were going to play mini-golf.”
“Oh, that’s right.I forgot all about it,” Hannah said, pretending it was the truth.
