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“Hello, Cupcake Girl,” I called back.
“You’re the man that got me that cupcake,” she said.
I nodded. “Would you like another one?”
She tilted her head and studied me for a few long seconds.
She looked a little like Theo with her curly hair and her bright blue eyes. But that was where the similarities ended. She looked like Rome—and Matias—enough that I would’ve second-guessed everything that I knew had I not already taken that step to ensure that she wasn’t.
“I think I would,” she said. “Uncle Tyson said you were taking me to see my mommy.”
I swallowed hard, my eyes lifting up to see Tyson.
My brows rose as if to say, ‘she knows’ and he nodded.
“Yeah, that’s where I’m taking you. She’s staying at my place. Would you like to stop and get her and you a cupcake on the way?” I questioned.
She was already nodding her head. “Yes, please.”
I looked over at Tyson only to see him walking toward his car.
Before I’d even had Linnie settled in the truck, he was starting his own and accelerating down the street.
When I got Linnie’s seat in—I really had no idea how to do it, she had to show me—and had her sitting in the truck, she stared at me expectantly.
“Chocolate milk, too?” she asked politely. “Please.”
I grinned. “You got a smile just like your momma.”
Her eyes lit with excitement. “I didn’t know that.”
I winked. “Let’s go.”
***
When I walked into the house an hour later, chocolate milk in one hand and a fuckin’ dozen cupcakes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors, it was to find Castiel and Turner on the couch, with Theo nowhere in sight.
Castiel looked up, grinned at me, and then looked back toward the television.
Only, that lasted for all of three seconds before he was standing up and staring at me in horror.
“Castiel,” I said before he could speak. “I would like you to meet Linnie, Theo’s daughter.”
Castiel looked like he was about to throw up.
Turner looked confused.
And Theo, who was now standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looked confused.
“Momma!” Linnie called out, running toward her.
The chocolate milk jug that she was filling her cup with came out faster than intended, causing the cup to overfill. I watched as my white rug got its first stain ever on it.
I couldn’t find it in me to care.
Theo dropped down on one knee and held her hands out for Linnie, who barreled into them. The chocolate milk spilled all down Theo’s side, but she looked like she wasn’t bothered either.
Our eyes met over the top of the little girl’s head, and I winked as I mouthed, ‘later.’
She nodded her head and squeezed Linnie tighter.
“You got me a cupcake?” she asked, pulling back slightly.
“Yes!” Linnie cheered. “We also got Mr. Castiel and Ms. Turner one. Mr. Liner said we couldn’t leave them out since they were staying here with you. Though we got Ms. Turner a special low calorie one seeing as Liner said she had ‘belly’ surgery.”
She actually went as far as to use actual air quotes.
Jesus Christ, the kid was cute.
And talkative for a five, almost six-year-old.
I hadn’t met one that talked as much as that one.
Then again, I wasn’t around kids all that much, either.
I didn’t have any brothers and sisters, which meant no nieces and nephews.
I also wasn’t around the MC’s kids a lot either. Not because I didn’t want to be, but because I worked too goddamn much.
Turner snickered and smiled. Castiel still looked pale.
I gestured for him to follow me outside, and he did.
“What the fuck, Liner?” he asked, looking shaken to the core.
“Before you ask, it’s not his.” I held out my phone, and he looked at the results of the DNA test. “I had them both tested the other day.”
Castiel seemed to deflate before my eyes. “Thank fuckin’ God.”Chapter 14Sometimes I think, screw it. I’ll just be a stripper.
Then I remember that my ass is bony and I have stretch marks galore.
-Text from Theo to Liner
Theo
I waited until he was in the shadows with me before throwing my arms around him and burying my face into his chest.
“Thank you,” I said softly to the man that had just given my world to me.
Liner’s arms went around me, and he pulled me close. “Thank you for what? Doing the right thing?”
I turned and pressed my lips to his neck, causing him to shiver.
That had crossed a line, but I couldn’t find it in myself to stop.
Linnie was now officially in my room, sleeping without a care in the world.
The alarm was set, and Monster was at the foot of her bed, refusing to leave.
Monster and Linnie had hit it off well. Linnie had never had a dog before and Monster had never really been around any kids. Seeing the two together you’d never really think that. They looked like they’d been together forever.
