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I shake my head. “Listen, could you keep it to yourself about Palmer and me? Like you said, we’re going to take it slow and not tell Adley or anyone else for that matter.”
“Well, you’re already in Buzz Wheel.”
I laugh. “You’re seriously reading that?”
“Yeah. I like it. See you Monday.”
“Later.”
We hang up, and I drop the phone next to the monitor, grabbing an afghan from the back of the couch and laying it over me. Being this tired after the night I had with Palmer is worth it. It feels as if I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this.
An hour later, Adley’s talking through the monitor, so I open my eyes, wishing I had another two hours to catch up on my sleep. I turn off the monitor and climb the stairs, then open her door.
“Daddy!” she says, sitting up in her bed.
Maybe I could’ve let her stir for longer, but she jumps down and runs over to me. God, to be able to wake up in the same house as her every day would be amazing. I hold her tightly, standing and bringing her up in my arms.
“Where’s Mommy?”
“Working.” I walk out of her room and down the stairs. “It’s just you and me, but Mommy said we’re going to have movie night tonight.”
“YAY! Elemental!”
I groan because we’ve watched that movie a thousand times, I swear.
“Maybe. We’ll see what we have.” I lower her to the floor. “Let’s get your coat and go to the grocery store so we can make our own pizzas tonight.”
“OMG!”
I stare at my little girl, knowing she could’ve only learned that phrase from one person. Jesus, Harper. “You want something to drink or eat before we go?”
“Juice, please.”
“Sure thing.” I ruffle her hair that’s a little out of control, but we don’t have time to do it since it usually takes me forever because of my big clumsy fingers. She’ll have to go out looking a tad disheveled.
We head to the grocery store, and I swear everyone in Lake Starlight is shopping today.
A teacher who works with Theresa passes me in the produce aisle and gives me the evil eye. “You should be ashamed of yourself. You embarrassed her enough.”
I blow out a breath. Luckily, Adley is distracted in the cart with my phone.
I say nothing. I probably never should’ve entertained a relationship with Theresa, but I’d given up on anything happening between Palmer and me.
I should’ve gone to Sunrise Bay to do my shopping because the minute I go down the sauce aisle, I stop and try to step back, but Theresa catches me in her peripheral vision.
Fuck.
She doesn’t say anything, placing the jar she was picking up from the shelf and putting it in her cart. It’s like seeing a wild cat at your back door. I’m not sure what to do. How do I react? And seriously, does every teacher shop here after school?
Adley drops my phone, and I scramble to pick it up, hoping Theresa will be gone when I stand, but then Adley says, “Theresa.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Hi, Adley, how are you?” Theresa approaches us like a cat ready to pounce on its dinner.
What is she going to say? No way she’d make a scene in front of Adley.
“Look at my nails.” Adley raises her hands, showing off the color.
