My tone softens as I keep my gaze on the road. “Is… is that what you want?”
She nods immediately, then falters, her lower lip trembling. “Max said that just because you marry Daddy doesn’t make you my mommy.”
My chest cracks wide open.
“Well, that wasn’t very nice of him,” I mutter.
Her eyes fill, tears spilling over as she looks at me. “But I want you to be my mommy.”
Once in the grocery store parking lot, I pull into the first open space I find. My hands tremble as I shift into park. I’m out of the car before the engine fully cuts off, rounding to her side and opening the door. In one smooth motion, I unbuckle her straps and lift her into my arms.
“Hey,” I murmur, pressing my forehead against hers. “I want you to listen to me, okay?”
With a sniffle, her gaze locks on mine.
“I get why that upset you,” I say softly. “And the fact that you want me to be your mommy? That means a lot to me, El.”
Her arms tighten around my neck.
“But boys at school don’t get to decide things like that,” I add gently. “You and I will figure it out. Besides, we’re sock twins. You’re stuck with me.”
She wipes her cheeks with the back of her hand as her lips curve into a small smile. “So… it’s okay to be my mommy?”
My throat tightens. “Yeah. It is.”
She nods, a little steadier now. “Good.”
“Tell you what,” I say, brushing her hair back. “Sounds like you had kind of a rough day. Why don’t you pick out what we have for dinner tonight.”
Her eyes light up. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
She practically vibrates as I set her down and lock the Escalade. Then she slips her hand into mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
As we walk toward the store, an older woman passing by smiles at us. “She looks just like you,” she says.
I wink at Elody, and she grins back.
Even though it hasn’t been long, I know with a startling clarity that I’m already falling in love with this little girl. Which only makes the questions circling around in my head feel even heavier.
If this is only a marriage on paper, I’m not sure my heart will be able to follow the rules.
30
Laiken
It feels like I’ve been staring at the ceiling for hours, the faint glow of the city bleeding through the edges of the curtains. Every time I close my eyes, Kia is standing in my living room, saying yes with a steadiness that surprised me.
What can’t be denied is that the penthouse feels different with her here. It’s fuller. More alive in a way I didn’t realize I was missing, like the world around me has been splashed with vibrant color. My daughter is also happier with her here. And I, for reasons I don’t fully understand, breathe a little easier in her presence.
That alone should scare the hell out of me.
Oddly enough, it doesn’t.
If I’m being completely honest, I liked the feel of her in my arms and her warm weight pressed against me the other night. For the first time in I don’t know how long, my body finally let go of the tension I’ve been carrying around, and sleep came easily.
Out of everything, that should worry me the most.
