Page 58
He nods. “Okay, you win.”
“Finally. Y’all sit down and I’ll be right back with the pizza. Quinn, I hope you like pepperoni.”
“Sounds good,” I tell her and she flashes me a smile before disappearing into the kitchen as Lucas and I sit down at the table. I turn to him and hold my hands out. “Here. You want me to take her?”
“Naw, baby. You relax; I’ve got her.” He places her in his lap, facing the table and wraps his arm around her belly to keep her secure and my heart warms at how good he is with her. I reach into my bag and pull out the little container of fruit, crackers, and cheese I brought with me for Brooklyn’s dinner and set it out in front of her. As soon as the food hits the table, she leans forward and snatches up a quartered grape before popping the piece into her mouth.
“Mmm,” she hums and I smile as Lucas laughs.
“Is that good, pretty girl?” he asks her as she shoves another piece of grape into her mouth. I glance up and notice Iris watching us from the opening to the kitchen with a soft smile on her face and tears in her eyes. She dashes them away before motioning for me to be quiet as she steps into the room.
“Here we go,” she calls and sets a box of pizza down in the middle of the table. I grab a slice of pizza and slip it onto a plate before setting it in front of Lucas.
He smiles and leans over to kiss my cheek. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
“You’re welcome.” A blush creeps up my cheeks and when I glance across the table again, Iris is watching us with a wide smile on her face.
“You know, when Lucas told me he was bringing a girl home, I knew you must be special but seeing the two of you together is something else. You’re so good for him,” Iris says.
I peek over at Lucas as I fight back a smile. “You didn’t like his other girlfriends?”
“Honey, he’s never brought another girl home. You’re the first and that alone earns you some major brownie points.”
“Told you, Quinn,” he whispers in my ear. “I’m all in.”
I pull back enough for our eyes to meet as I try to discern what that means. Does he mean that he’s all in for the long haul with not only me but my daughter, too? Or is he just trying to say that he’s ready to kick things up a notch? Am I ready for that? He offers me a reassuring smile as my head swirls with questions.
“Mamamamama,” Brooklyn babbles, drawing my attention down to her.
“How old is she?” Iris asks and I push back all my questions as I look up at her and smile.
“Thirteen months.”
Iris smiles at Brooklyn, who watches her carefully. “She is just adorable and so sweet.”
“Thank you.”
“Excuse me if this is too bold, but I wanted to tell you how brave I think you are for raising her on your own. I know how hard it can be,” she says, glancing over at Lucas with a fond smile. I nod, darker memories threatening to resurface.
“Thank you. She makes it all worth it.”
She nods. “I hear you there. I never thought I’d end up with two young boys but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“All right, y’all. Enough mushy stuff. I’m starving,” Lucas says, grabbing his slice of pizza and biting it in half as Iris laughs at him and grabs her own slice of pizza. The conversation flows easily as we eat and we sit around talking and laughing until Brooklyn falls asleep in Lucas’s arms. As I watch her snoring on his broad chest, I know that he’s stolen another little piece of my heart.
