Page 43 of Crossed Lines

“You know what look.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gem.”

She laughs. “Beck, are you falling for the babysitter?”

“What? No. Don’t be insane.”

She doesn’t believe me. “She is very pretty,” Gemma says, like I don’t already know that. “But it wouldn’t be a good idea, Beck.”

I sigh, attempting to show her that there’s nothing to worry about. “Gem, it’s not like that, ok? Don’t worry about me.”

“I will always worry about you, Beck. You’re the father of my child and my friend. I don’t want you doing anything to get yourself in trouble or that would end up hurting you.”

“I appreciate your concern, but there’s nothing going on between me and Willow other than us being friends.”

“Alright, Beck. Whatever you say.”

“I’m gonna let you go because we’re in the middle of dinner,” I tell her.

“Right. Give Jadey a kiss for me.”

“I will.”

We hang up, and I take one more look out the window. Gemma telling me to stay away from Willow makes me not want to. It grates on my nerves that anyone feels like they have the right to tell me what I can and can’t do. I know crossing any romantic line with Willow would cause trouble. I’m not an idiot. But I also didn’t plan to feel this way about her. It hit me out of nowhere and has turned my life upside down.

I look at her talking with Jade while they grab chips straight from the bag. I can tell she genuinely loves Jade, which is a huge deal to me. It’s ironic that the one woman who seems absolutely perfect for me is the one woman I can’t be with.

But I shake the thought from my head. I can’t keep rehashing this, or I’m going to go crazy. She’s leaving soon, and I don’t even want a girlfriend. I’ve had no desire for a partner since Gemma and I split. It always seemed so complicated to add someone to my already complicated life. But Willow has fit herself in perfectly.

I tear my gaze away from her and walk back outside. “Sorry about that,” I say, taking my seat.

“No problem. Everything ok?” Willow asks.

I look up at her and see her smiling at me. One look from her makes all my worries slip away. My shoulders instantly relax, and the tension in my forehead releases. My body is comfortable with her. Why does it have to be her?

“Everything’s great. How’s your burger?” I ask.

“So good. I could eat your burgers every day.”

“Me too!” Jade adds.

The three of us finish dinner, and I clean up while Willow gets Jade into the bath. There’s lots of giggling coming from the bathroom by the time I finish in the kitchen and walk in. I peek around the doorframe to see Willow gathering all of Jade’s soapy hair on top of her head and making it stand straight up. Jade thinks it’s hilarious.

“What are you two up to?” I ask, coming around the corner.

“Daddy! Do you like my new hairdo?” Jade asks.

“It’s very… Cindy Lou Who.”

“Are you the Grinch then?” Willow asks, making Jade laugh again.

After they finish in the bath, I get Jade’s pajamas out for her and brush the tangles out of her hair. Willow watches me brush Jade’s hair with a soft smile. I can tell she’s getting tired. I can’t blame her after spending all day chasing my kid around. But she hasn’t said she needs to go, and I’m not ready for her to leave yet.

The three of us head into Jade’s room, where she picks out a book for me to read. Willow starts to say goodnight to Jade, who stops her. “No! Sit next to me while Daddy reads.”

Willow looks to me for permission, which I readily give, and we sit on either side of Jade while I read the story. By the time I’m done, both girls have heavy eyes. It feels very domestic for Willow to be sitting in bed with my daughter and me. I thought it would be weird to have another woman in Jade’s life, but I think that maybe I thought it would be weird because I wasn’t picturing the right woman intertwined with us. Willow has changed that.

I kiss Jade’s head and tuck her in gently before Willow and I head back to the living room.