Page 145 of Falling Back to You

“Of course.”

With a final kiss, he bolted back out the door.

Chapter fifty-two

Cal

I shouldn’t have panicked. Khia ran a twenty-four-hour fever and bounced back the next day, asking for cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Cinnamon rolls.

My girl had more faith in my culinary skills than I did.

And Khia was more worried about missing her birthday than being sick.

“Is my birthday canceled?” she’d asked between licking her popsicle as we cuddled on the couch watching Mulan after I came home from practice.

I chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “No, sweetie, you’ll still turn five on Saturday.” How was that even possible?

“Will I get a puppy?” she wheedled, lashes fluttering up at me sleepily as her head sank heavier on my shoulder.

I shifted the melting popsicle to a small bowl so it wouldn’t drip all over the couch. “No puppy—”

“A mommy, then? Can it be Miss Noelle? I love her.”

My chest tightened. Me, too, kiddo. “It’s a surprise, but you’ll like it. I promise.”

“M’kay, Daddy.” She sniffled and gave a little cough before snuggling closer. In a few quick breaths, she was fast asleep.

After all the popsicles, fresh air, and princess movies, she was fine by the weekend, and the day moved forward in full swing. What she didn’t know was that we’d planned a surprise party. Now more than ever I was glad I hadn’t told her about it beforehand.

We spent all day at Noelle’s house, trying to keep her away from the windows while my family snuck into my place and decorated. Team effort at its finest.

So far, we’d had a tea party, made cinnamon rolls, and watched Cinderella. Not a bad start. But now it was time for the surprise party.

“Can you grab her gift from my room?” Noelle whispered, herding Khia down the hall to the bathroom. “I’ll get her in the princess dress and finish her hair.”

“On it.”

Noelle’s room was simple. The furniture was part of the rental agreement, but the colours and decor? All Noelle, with yellows and soft blues. I hadn’t taken a good look at it the night I’d tucked her in after she fell asleep on the couch, but it was her. Peaceful. Organized. Soft. I paused for a moment to breathe it in.

Focus. I grabbed the neatly wrapped present tucked inside the open closet but hesitated when a white-and-blue sleeve dangled off a hanger in front of me.

And look, I wasn’t proud of what I did, but curiosity killed the man.

I tugged on the fabric and a jersey fell into my hand. My old jersey from when we were engaged.

She kept it.

I wasn’t sure why it hit me so hard. Maybe it was knowing I’d still mattered to her, even when we were apart. Then I noticed a very familiar hoodie that always looked better on Noelle than it did on me. Warmth flooded my veins. She’d been wearing it the morning I asked her to nanny Khia, and I hadn’t seen it since. But she’d kept it. Kept a part of me.

We needed to talk. Soon. And preferably follow that up with some kissing.

I think one of the best parts about being a parent was watching the way your kid’s eyes lit up as they experienced the world around them. The joy in Khia’s eyes was an immediate shot of serotonin. It was simple balloons and streamers, but to her? It was a magical world, making her whole face brighten.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I once again breathed a silent prayer of thanks for the blessing of such an incredible family. I couldn’t have done this single-parent thing without them behind me. And here they were, still making my girl’s dreams of a fairy garden party come true. Even Rosie Cotton dressed for the occasion, trussed up in a floral wreath around her collar. The dog had the patience of a saint, I tell you.

My entire living room was transformed with flowers, balloon arches, and streamers.

But it was more than just the decorations or my family’s help. The true magic was really Noelle.