Page 175 of Pucking Daddy

“Something fun,” she says, like that explains everything. Then she looks between us, hopeful. “All together.”

Something in my chest softens immediately.

Jaxon glances at me, then back at her. “What did you have in mind?”

She thinks hard for a second, her brows furrowing. “We could… go get ice cream. Or go to the park. Or have a movie night. Or build a blanket fort. Or—” she gasps, like she’s just had the best idea ever, “—we could do all of it!”

I laugh softly. “That sounds like a full schedule.”

Jaxon leans back slightly, watching her, that same softened look in his eyes. “Let’s start with the park and ice cream. What do you think?”

“Oh yes, Daddy,” Lily agrees. “But we also have to build a blanket fort.”

He considers her for a second. “Okay. You’ve got some time before school. Maybe you can draw a plan for the fort, and we’ll build it together when we get back home.”

Lily pumps her fist in the air. “Yes! I’m going to design the best blanket fort ever.”

She slides off the chair, already buzzing with energy again. “I’m going to get paper.”

She’s halfway to the hallway when she suddenly stops.

Slowly, very slowly, she turns back around, a sly look creeping into her eyes.

Uh oh.

Lily walks back into the kitchen, paper completely forgotten, studying us with narrowed eyes.

“What?” I ask carefully.

She tilts her head.

“Now that you’re, like… married-married,” she says, gesturing vaguely between us, “can I get a baby brother or sister?”

Okay. Where did that come from?

Jaxon and I just stand there, staring at each other, each silently hoping the other will answer.

When he doesn’t, I try.

“Wow,” I say faintly. “Okay.”

Jaxon clears his throat. “That’s—uh—that’s a big question, bug.”

Lily shrugs. “Not really. Maria has two. And Noah has a baby brother and a sister and a dog, which is kind of too much, but still.”

“Too much,” Jaxon echoes.

“Yeah.” She nods seriously. “I don’t need a dog.”

“Good to know,” I murmur.

She looks between us again, waiting, expectant.

Lily leans forward on the counter. “So?”

I glance at Jaxon, and he looks right back at me.

I turn to Lily.