Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Taking a deep breath, I vow that I’ll call him later, or maybe text him, but for now, I want to just be in the moment. This moment, the one that somehow, even though I’m not part of the Rampage world, the games, the travel, the spotlight, I don’t feel like an outsider.
Eden catches my eye as Mia presses a sloppy kiss to her cheek. “She’s perfect,” she mouths.
My throat tightens again, but this time it isn’t from fear. It’s from relief and acceptance. Mia will grow up surrounded by this. By people who show up. By men who aren’t afraid to be gentle. By women who lift each other instead of competing against one another. Maybe she won’t remember the nights I cried in the shower so she wouldn’t hear me. Maybe what will stick instead are evenings like this. Laughter, joy, and love.
“Don’t even think about stealing her back,” Foster says when he catches me watching them. “I told you I need practice.”
I shake my head, surprising myself. “She’s good,” I assure him. “And you’re going to be amazing. Both of you will be,” I tell them.
Eden’s eyes grow misty. Foster kisses her cheek, then Mia’s, which has her crawling back into his lap. He grins down at her and makes funny faces, making her laugh. They share a smile, and my heart clenches inside my chest. I want someone to share those moments with. My kiss with Will flashes in my mind, but I push it back. I can’t allow myself to fall for my best friend’s dad.
Thirteen
Will
* * *
The house is quiet, too quiet. I’ve never minded the silence, but tonight, it’s giving me too much time to think about that kiss. It’s been a week since Amanda pressed her lips to mine, and she’s all I’ve been able to think about.
If I’m not thinking about kissing her again, I’m thinking about how to tell my daughter that I kissed her, which leads to thinking about the kiss. It’s a vicious cycle. Nothing says I have to tell her, but if she finds out, I could lose her again, and that’s out of the question.
I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I don’t know where to go from here.
As if my mind willed it, my phone rings, and I see Amanda’s name. “Hello.”
“Hey,” she greets softly. “Are you home? I’m leaving Bellamy and Reid’s, and I wanted to see if I could stop by and apologize.”
“Apologize?” I ask. I can hear the hesitation in her tone, and if I’m not mistaken, a little bit of worry and regret.
“Yeah.” She sighs. “For my actions last weekend.”
“I don’t need your apology,” I say, my tone coming out rougher than intended. It pisses me off that she wants to apologize, even though I know it never should have happened. It might have been a one-time thing, but it meant something to me.
Did it not to her?
Probably not. I’m just her best friend’s dad. I was there. Convenient.
Anger and disappointment roll through me, but I swallow them both down.
“Please don’t be mad at me,” she says, her voice cracking.
My heart clenches. “How close are you?” I ask her.
“I’m almost to your house now.”
“I’ll open the garage door. Pull in.”
“What? Why?”
“Because everyone lives in this neighborhood, Mandy. Are you okay with them seeing you here?” I have no issue with it. I’ve already decided I need to come clean as soon as I figure out how.
“Oh. Okay,” she replies.
“I’ll meet you out there.” I’m already rushing barefoot out to the garage to open the door. Her SUV slows down, turns into the driveway, and she pulls right in. I quickly hit the button to close the door, and then I’m moving toward her car to greet them.
I tug open Amanda’s door, and the urge to bend my head and kiss her lips is strong, but I fight it. Instead, I move to the back door for Mia. She grins when she sees me, holding her arms out for me to take her. Quickly, I unbuckle her seat and lift her from it.
“Let’s get you ladies inside,” I say. With Mia in my arms and my hand on the small of Amanda’s back, I guide her into my house.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I ask once we’re inside.
“No, thank you,” Amanda answers politely.
“What about this little lady? Does she need anything?” I ask, bouncing Mia in my arms, making her laugh.
I glance at Amanda, and she’s got a soft smile pulling at her lips as she watches us. “No,” she finally answers.
“Let’s sit.” I nod toward the living room, and she turns on her heel and leads us into the room. She sits on the couch, so I do the same, leaving a little space between us. I sit Mia in that small space, and she grins, using my arms to steady herself as she stands.