Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Eventually, he says, “I have to get going. We’re heading over to the arena now.”
“Okay. I love you, Dad.”
“Love and miss you, baby girl.”
My heart swells not just from the words they exchanged but because of the easy affection between them. It’s so legitimately real I can feel the vibe of it surrounding me.
I walk back to the nook and take my phone from Bowie Jane. I bend over and glance at her math workbook, noting the numbers she’s scribbled in the answer blanks. They’re learning decimal placement and math was never my strong suit. It’s a good thing she’s understanding it because I’d be useless to help her.
“What else do you have for homework?” I ask.
“Spelling and I have to read for twenty minutes. Can I play your guitar when I’m done?”
I ruffle her hair. “Of course you can.”
As I head back to the spice rack, my phone chimes.
A text from Foster.
My heart skitters as I read it. Saturday night… next date. Come to the game and we’ll go out with the team or go somewhere by ourselves. Your choice.
I don’t care what we do. I’m just glad we’re doing something. Sounds good.
His next text makes me squirm. But no wine. No alcohol.
That’s a direct statement that we’re going to have sex and we will not be deterred.
I text back, Can’t wait.
After I hit Send, I add, And flowers aren’t necessary, despite what Bowie Jane says.
I get back a smiling emoji.
CHAPTER 22
Foster
“Now, you’re sure you don’t want me to get you after the game?” I ask Bowie Jane as I carry her rolling suitcase down the stairs.
It’s almost noon and nowhere near time to go to Brienne Norcross’s house yet, but she’s so excited she’s already packed and insisted I bring it down. Mazzy will be here any minute to take over kid duty as I have to get to the arena for pregame prep.
“I’m sure I want to stay the night,” Bowie Jane drawls, and I can hear she’s tired of me asking.
“You’re just growing up and getting so independent, you don’t even need me anymore,” I lament in an overly dramatic fashion.
She knows this and to push my buttons, she says, “I don’t need you. I have Mazzy and she’s a far better cook.”
I look momentarily shocked as she grins at me, then I leap at her. “Oh yeah!” I scoop her up, move to the couch and toss her on it before tickling her. “Does Mazzy do this?”
“D-a-a-a-a-d,” Bowie Jane shrieks with laughter as I lightly drum at her rib cage with my fingers. “Stop before I pee.”
“Good. Go ahead and pee,” I taunt, never once letting up. “Mazzy will clean it up. I mean, you prefer her anyway.”
“I don’t,” she yells, kicking her legs. “I don’t prefer her. I prefer you.”
I stop tickling her but hold her by the waist. “Say it without the duress of uncontrollable laughter,” I demand.
She giggles and says, “But Mazzy is a better cook.”
I hold my hands up, fingers arched and poised to tickle again. “Say it,” I say with a warning flex.
“Okay, fine… I prefer you to Mazzy. I mean, you’re my dad and all.”
“Good girl,” I reply, picking her up and giving her a hard smack of a kiss on her cheek.
She wraps her arms around my neck, squeezes tight and whispers in my ear, even though no one is around to hear us. “Want to know a secret?”
I nod.
“You’re my favorite person out of all the persons I know.”
Fuck if that doesn’t make my eyes sting, and I squeeze her back. “You’re my favorite person too.”
I bend over to set her feet back on the ground just as the door from the garage opens and Mazzy steps through.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen her since I returned from New York late Tuesday night. She had breakfast ready for me the next morning and it took everything in my power not to kiss her right there and then when I stepped into the kitchen. Her glorious red hair was in a long braid and she wore workout clothes—leggings and a long-sleeve T-shirt.
But Bowie Jane was at the table and when she saw me, she flew into my arms. “Daddy… I missed you.”
She always reverts to calling me Daddy rather than Dad when she feels high emotion. Mazzy smiled at me as I hugged my kid, and then we all sat down and ate breakfast together.
Our alone time has been limited this week between practices and the home game Thursday night. Mazzy has had some of the watch of Bowie Jane, but I arranged babysitters to give her time off since she was on full duty during my road trip. She’ll be on a full five days next week when we head west.
I’m not sure what it means, but for some reason, I was disappointed not to have Mazzy and Bowie Jane at my game Thursday night. Bowie Jane was a given… it was a school night and I don’t want her out that late. But Mazzy had the night off and two tickets, and I told her to come. I even told her to bring a guest.