I shook my head as Evie called out.
“Dad?Dad, are you up?”
“Shit.Evie’s home,” I said needlessly.
Reegan was up and grabbing her clothes.“I’m guessing you don’t want her to find me here.”
I shook my head.“Not because of you.Because I’ve never brought a woman here.”
“Ever?”she breathed, staring at me with wide eyes.
I held her gaze.“Ever, Reegan.”
I expected to see panic in her gaze, but instead, there was something softer.Something…
“Dad!Are you still asleep?”Evie knocked on my door.
“I’ll be right out!”
“Do you want me to sneak out the window?”Reegan asked.
“No,” I breathed a laugh.“Let me see where she is.I’ll try to distract her.”
“Okay.”
I kissed Reegan hard, then slipped out of my room, closing the door behind me.Evie was in the kitchen.“What are you doing home so early?”
“Dad.”Evie turned to me with wide, wet eyes.
“What happened?”
“Mom told me about Coach.I can’t believe he’s gone.I wanted to see Aunt Christy.”
I almost forgot about that.Evie was almost as close to him as I was, and I knew it would hit her hard.“She might be up.Why don’t I text her and we can go over there?”
Evie nodded.
“Take your stuff to your room and get cleaned up a little.”
Evie stood and hugged me tight.She grabbed her bag, then headed down the hall toward her room.
A second later, Reegan peeked out of my room.I waved her over.She hurried to me, then toward the door.
I followed her outside, knowing I only had a few seconds before Evie would be back.“I’m sorry our morning got cut short.”
She shook her head.“Your daughter has to come first.Always.”
“Thanks.”I kissed her.“Tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll be in my normal chair,” she said.
I kissed her again, hating that I didn’t get a chance to make her breakfast and have her again.“I’ll see you then.”
She nodded, then turned and walked across the yard to Ashlyn’s.
I sighed and went back inside.
Where Evie was waiting for me.With her arms crossed and a smile on her face.“Were you kissing Ashlyn’s friend, Reegan?”
