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Knowing I needed to exit the room as quickly as possible, I stood. “Well, I’m out of here. Will I see you later tonight?”
Elizabeth stood, shifting her weight with a tinge of worry in her eyes. “I kinda need to get settled and wanted to cook my first meal in his… our home. I promised him home-cooked food.” Her eyes broadened. “Do you want to join us?”
“No, no.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “I actually have plans tonight and should get busy doing some things before then.”
Maddie shot me a curious glance, arching her brows. She was often rather nosy, so I didn’t read into it. Nibbling the inside of her bottom lip, she returned her gaze to my daughter.
“Who is she?” Elizabeth giggled. “It’s still early in the morning.”
“There’s nothing to tell right now.” And there wasn’t. In fact, there was nothing at all. I just wanted to be alone and didn’t want her to assume I was lonely when I wasn’t.
Maddie, holding a trash bag, rolled her bottom lip between her teeth as she stared at me once again.
“Sureee,” Elizabeth teased, picking up her suitcases.
“Here, let me get some of those.” I leaned over, picking up two Louis Vuitton duffle bags and matching suitcases. One in each hand.
Maddie set the trash bag down on the floor before they followed me out of the room and downstairs to the foyer. Elizabeth quieted herself for a few minutes as she took in her surroundings. I glimpsed Maddie, but she averted her gaze. I wondered if she was feeling self-conscious about what had happened.
“Call me tonight and check in at least.” I set one suitcase down to open the front door, then picked it up, sauntering to Elizabeth’s Benz trunk. It was already open, so I arranged the luggage inside. I got ready to close it, but she interjected.
“Dad,” she rolled her eyes, throwing her arms around my neck, “I’m going to be fine.”
Sighing, I nodded. “I still need to get used to this.”
“I know, I know.”
I pulled her close, leaving a peck on the top of her head.
She twisted to Maddie. “You riding with me or following?”
Maddie darted her eyes around. “I’ll be over soon. I have an errand to run first.”
“Cool.” Elizabeth gave me one last smile before she skipped around to the driver’s side and remotely started the engine.
I closed the trunk and took a step back.
“See you guys later.” She slid in and drove out of the long, tar driveway, through the black, wrought-iron gates, leaving me standing alone with Maddie.
She pivoted to me, crossing her arms. “I—”
“Come inside.” I extended my arm toward the house. “I’m not talking about anything out here.”
She took the lead, waltzing back into the house. I closed the door, locking it. Maddie was always confident, carrying herself as if she owned every room she entered. I don’t think I’d ever seen her nervous a day since I’d known her. When she wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself, I knew it was going to be addressed. It was the same posture as someone who was feeling shy or guilty. I’d seen it many times in my clients when I knew they were hiding something from me.
The atmosphere was tense. I wanted her to have the opportunity to speak first since she’d already tried. She pursed her lips in thought.
“Would you like a drink?” I finally broke the silence after a few moments of her stalling.
“Uh,” she surveyed the large foyer as if it were the first time stepping foot into my home, “okay, sure. Is Lucas here?”
“No.” I led her through the marbled hallways toward the back of the house. “He went to see some friends until Monday.”
“Ah, okay.”
As we entered the kitchen, I could tell she was doing her best to put some distance between us. She perched on a black barstool at the island, propping her elbows on the quartz countertop. Silence filled the room, except for the faint sigh she let out.
Sauntering to the upper cabinet next to the refrigerator, I took a tumbler from the middle shelf, filling it with ice and water from the freezer door. “I’ve never known you to be so quiet.” I twisted around, narrowing my gaze on her.
