He plates up his dinner, jaw ticking slightly as though he’s deciding whether to push it.
“Still,” he says after a beat. “Take one. Preferably mine… It’s big. Roomy.”
My stomach dips at that, because I’m just starting to realize how damn possessive this man is, even when he won’t outwardly admit to it.
Elle looks between us.
“Penny’s going out,” she informs him, in case he might’ve missed that detail.
“I know,” he says.
“Doesn’t she look pretty, Daddy?”
His eyes move back to me, softening as he takes me in. “She’s beautiful, bug.”
A small smile curves my lips. “Thank you.”
We look at each other for a beat, but let it pass.
“So,” he says evenly, grabbing some cutlery. “Girls’ night, huh?”
“Yep,” I say. “Wild behaviour no doubt, but still probably home before midnight.”
His mouth twitches.
“Just at Neverland,” I add.
“I know,” he says quietly, and when I frown, he clarifies. “Colt told me, and Fletch’s been whining about it all afternoon.”
Before I can respond to that, Frankie’s car horn cuts through the moment, sharp and impatient from the curb, and Elle gasps.
“They’re here!”
“Okay, okay,” I laugh, reaching for my bag.
Elle shuffles toward me, wobbling in my heels still.
“Heels, please,” I say gently, crouching to slide them off her feet.
She holds onto my shoulders while I ease them away, her small toes flexing against the rug as I set the heels down in front of me. I hesitate before slipping my own feet into them, and Evan watches the entire exchange from the kitchen counter without saying anything.
Then I straighten, adjusting the strap of my bag and smoothing my top down.
Elle throws her arms around my waist. “Have fun, Penny!”
“I will,” I promise, pressing a kiss into her hair. “You be good.”
“I’m always good.”
“Debatable,” Evan mutters around a mouthful of pasta.
She spins toward him in outrage. “Daddy!”
I laugh, placing my bag back down as I reach for my jacket from the back of the chair.
“Told you,” he says, placing his fork down and nodding at me.
I roll my eyes, but slide it on anyway. “You’re very smug for someone who doesn’t even own a scarf.”
