Page 17 of The Daddy’s Girl

“No DJs.”

With a tsk, she swipes again.

“Or bartenders,” I add.

Swipe.

“Left.”

“He’s a primary school teacher!” she argues.

“I don’t like his mustache.”

With a giggle, she puts her phone in her lap. “Are you going to let me swipe right on anyone?”

Our eyes meet, and even in this harsh fluorescent lighting, her sweet blue irises shine. I find myself staring a moment too long, caught in the moment.

Just the thought of some other man touching Amelia makes me hate this entire plan. No matter how hard I try to imagine someone worthy of her, I always seem to come up empty.

“No one will ever be good enough for you, Trouble.”

The gentle smile on her lips fades, but she holds my gaze. The air grows thick between us, and I start to worry that was out of line. But she doesn’t berate me for treating her like a child or being too strict on her. Instead, she lets out a sigh, soft and dreamy, as if her heart is exhaling.

“I wish you wouldn’t say things like that to me.”

Confused, I open my mouth to apologize, but before I can get a word out, my phone buzzes in my lap. When I pick it up, I stare dumbly at the notification on the screen.

You have a match!

The feeling that hits my gut isn’t one of elation or excitement. Strangely, it feels more like regret. But this is what I wanted.

“Open it,” Amelia says. I notice the movement of her throat as she swallows. Then her leg starts bouncing again, and she rolls her bottom lip between her teeth.

So I open the app and stare at the same beautiful brunette in the blue dress that I swiped right on earlier.

“You’ve still got it, old man,” she says.

We reach our stop, so Amelia and I stand from our seats and move toward the exit. As we pass by the young men still eyeing her, I imagine the vulgar thoughts floating through their minds, and it takes everything in me not to knock them out.

Waiting for the doors to open, I put myself between her and them, holding her close to my chest. She leans into me, and I notice the way she fits so nicely under my chin.

Fuck, I really need to find someone. I must be pretty fucking lonely if I’m fantasizing about my goddaughter this way.

So I make myself a promise. When I get home, I will message the woman in blue, and I will put in a real effort to make this work. For everyone’s sake, I really need to find a partner.

Rule #5: Never reminisce with your mother when your crush is involved.

Amelia

Matis walks me all the way from the Métro to my front door.

“You coming in?” I ask as I put my key into the lock. This isn’t the first time he’s dropped me off, and it’s not uncommon for him to come in and have a nightcap with my dad before heading home.

“Not tonight,” he replies casually.

“Want me to have Lucien drive you home?”

He smiles in response. “No, thank you. Good night, Amelia.”