“I understand, but there’s a lot of ifs in that sentence. What if everything works out?”
I nod, a lump rising in my throat. “You came through your divorce with something good. At least you have your son.”
Seraphina cuts in with a huff, “Mason isn’t that good.” Her mouth snaps shut as if she never meant to voice her opinion out loud. “Sorry, Chief.”
He shoots her a sympathetic look. “It’s all right. You deserve better.” The way his eyes flicker, just for a second, it’s as if he wants to be the one who’s better for her.
The doorbell rings, slicing through the steam in the kitchen. I smooth my dress, suddenly hyper aware of the mascara on my lashes, my pulse sprinting like a trapped rabbit in a dragon’s cave.
He’s here.
Chapter Fourteen
DRAKE
Sienna bounces at my side, her little hand tugging at mine as I reach for the doorbell of Chief’s home.
“Why are we having dinner here? Don’t we usually eat at Nannan and Grandad’s on Sundays?”
I clear my throat, rolling my shoulders as if that’ll loosen the knot in my gut. “Chief invited us. Thought it’d be nice to spend time with… friends.”
Her sharp little eyes narrow. “With Miss Sparks?”
Bloody hell. She doesn’t miss a thing. “She’ll be here, yeah.”
“And she’s your girlfriend now?”
I nearly choke on my tongue. “Who told you that?”
“I heard you and Uncle Phoenix talking at church,” she says sweetly, like she’s delivering gospel truth. “He said, ‘have fun on your date with the teacher.’”
I make a mental note to kill Phoenix. Slowly. “It’s complicated, bug.”
She tilts her head. “Do you like her?”
My finger hovers over the bell. The truth wedges in my throat. Yes. Too much. More than I should.
“She’s… nice,” I mutter.
A smile spreads across her face, revealing her missing front tooth. “I think she’s pretty.”
“Yeah? How would you feel about her hanging out with us more often?” I hold my breath, hoping we’re on the same page, because my daughter’s happiness comes first.
“I’d like that, Daddy. No offence, but you’re no good at girl’s hair.”
“I learnt how to braid.”
She digs a little hand onto her hip, her lips pouting. “You sucked my hair up with the hoover.”
“I saw it on TikTok.” A laugh rumbles out of me at the memory, and Sienna doubles over in giggles.
“All right, bug. Point taken. I guess we’ll ask Miss Sparks if she wants to hang out with us more.” I clear my throat and straighten the collar on my shirt. “Now remember, Chief’s my boss. Good manners at the table.”
Sienna nods, still giggling about the hoover incident.
The door swings open before I can answer. Heat and the smell of roast beef waft out, and there she is—Ember in a green dress, red waves tumbling, dark lashes making her eyes even greener.
My pulse slams like a drum.
