Chapter 19
Daphne
Standingin the middle of the apartment, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought maybe I’d be sad or miss the place I had called home for so long. I didn’t. There wasn’t even a twinge. My house stopped being a home when Dane cheated on me. When Serena took great pleasure in telling me that Dane had fucked her in my bed, it was a betrayal so huge that it was almost like what I’d imagine being physically violated would be like. It was like something was ripped from me forcibly that broke me so deeply that a year later I can still feel the hole it left. I still grieve for the woman I used to be.
I smile as I look around the apartment. It looks remarkably clean and fully furnished. It’s not what I expected it to be. The building had been empty, so I imagined it would be dusty, covered in cobwebs, and in desperate need of cleaning. It’s much smaller than the house but is decorated in a way that makes the place feel roomy. It’s done in earth-tones—which oddly enough is what my house is done in. Dane hated it. His tastes are more vibrant with vivid reds, subdued blacks, with pops of orange. He actually tried to get me to do my kitchen inbrightorange. I ignored him, but did make a concession of putting a large, orange vase in the middle of my white, marbled,waterfall island in my kitchen. When I found out what a lying cheat he was, I slung it at his head. That thought makes me smile.
I look around the room again, concentrating on the here and now. The walls are a soft beige which makes it look lighter in here but calming at the same time. There’s a deep mossy green sectional that is soft to the touch, but microfiber so it’s easily cleaned. There’s a matching oversized chair and they’re situated around a large (very large)screened television. That’s when I start to think there’s something rotten in Denmark. The kitchen is small but has a full-size fridge, a stove, sink, and even a dishwasher. I feel better seeing all of them don’t appear new. There’s a small pantry, which will come in handy since there’s not a lot of cabinetry.
“What do you think, Cammie?” I ask, looking down at my daughter. Her hand is in mine. Dad and Eli are standing by the small breakfast bar—which I assume serves as a table, too. There’s not really room for one in here, which is fine. Honestly, I’d probably be categorized as being a horrible parent, but Cammie and I usually eat in the living room. The men look particularly nervous. I know they both want us to move here. I should let them off the hook and tell them I’ve already decided to, but I kind of like how anxious they are. It’s the first time that I’ve felt wanted by my dad in quite a while. He’s also completely sober again today.
“I want to see the big porch,” she says quietly, looking around.
I smile taking her out on the big deck out back. Cammie practically squeals when we get there. It is huge, big enough to put one of those pergolas on it. There’s a grill cover and a brand-new grill out there, too. I shake my head. Still, if I wasn’t sure that Eli or Dad—maybe both of them—hadn’t added furniture and a television to this place, the grill would have synched it. I’mprobably slow on the uptake, but a new grill, a new couch and television didn’t scream it was specifically for me and Cammie, however. No, that was the swing with the canopy over it and then a small individual swing that is in my daughter’s favorite pink color. There’s also a small outside playhouse in the same pink I look up at my dad and Eli who have followed us out. They grin outright. Dad moves over to Cammie as she checks out her Little Tikes Playhouse. I walk over to Eli with a smile on my face.
“We’re very lucky that the place comes fully furnished,” I murmur as he slides his hands into his pants pocket. I’m mildly disappointed that he doesn’t put his arms around me, but then again, we haven’t talked about what we are to one another—other than that one kiss which somehow branded me. “Plus, the previous owners were really nice to leave their child’s toys here.”
He clears his throat. “Pretty lucky,” he says, and I fight my laugh.
“Verylucky. I mean they look brand new.”
“Nah, if you look closer, I think you can see some dirt on them,” he argues, his eyes sparkling.
“Really? Well, still it’s nice of them. Not many people would do that.”
“They must be amazingly good people,” I add. “I mean, they also left their new barbecue grill.”
“I doubt it’s new,” he argues, his ears kind of pink.
“Hmm … The price tag still on the back of it says you’re wrong,” I supply helpfully.
“Fuck,” he whispers. “I told Apex to make sure he took that off.”
“Apex?”
“One of the members,” he says, scratching his fingers against the scruff on his chin. “And the big screen television?”
“Cammie needed something nice to see her movies on,” he reasons. “Plus, I figured there might be a time when I was here and watching a game or something,” he adds scrubbing his hand over the back of his neck.
His words send a thrill through me. I can’t hold back any longer, so I wrap my arms around him. “Thank you.”
He tenses up at first and then, after I thank him, he softens and hugs me back.
“You like it?”
“Well, I haven’t seen it all yet, but I love it. I especially like the idea of you coming over to watch the game,” I add, tilting my head back to look up at him. The grin that stretches across his face feels like sunshine bathing me in its light.
He leans down so he’s whispering in my ear. “You make it really hard not to kiss you in front of your daughter and father right now.”
“That’s because I really want your kiss,” I confess.
“Damnit,” he groans. Just as he dips down and his lips barely brush mine, Cammie yells out.
“Mama! I wanna see where my room is posta’ be. Papaw said it was pretty!”
I grin up at Eli, while patting my hands flat against his chest. “First thing to know when dating a single mother, Eli, is that kids pipe up at the most inopportune times.”
“Is that what we’re doing? Dating?” he asks.
