Page 84 of Shattered Dreams

“Oh, Maddox…” I shake my head as I grab the box of candy from him. “What would I do without you?” I tease him as we head for the registers.

“I don’t know,” he says seriously as I start scanning our stuff. “Be single forever.”

He’s probably not wrong. As always, Amelia thanks us for her flowers and chocolate, and then Maddox heads inside to play his game. Usually, I have him on the weekends, but he asked if he could spend the weekend with Amelia, and she was fine with it, so of course, I was fine with it, too.

By the time I get home, it’s nearing seven, which means I’ve got at least a half hour before Rylee goes to bed to give her—and Dre—their stuff.

When I get inside, I smell pizza lingering in the air, and the faint melody of music plays in the air.

I set the flowers and candy down as I carefully approach the living room. When I stop near the edge of the room, I see what the commotion is. Rylee is in her pink party dress and sparkly heels, so I know Dre must have lost track of the time. The music settles on my ears, and I recognize the song before I recognize the movie.

Beauty and the Beast.

For a moment, I am transfixed; unable to move as I watch him spin her by the hand, her shoes throwing sparkles across the room.

She really does look like a princess.

When she turns, she sees me and lets go of her father’s hand, squealing with excitement as she runs towards me. I sweep her up off the ground quickly as she hugs me and starts going off about the party, talking a mile a minute.

“Guess what?” I say, as I swing her around and head for the kitchen.

“What?” she asks, kicking her heels against my side.

“Maddox and I got you something.”

She squeals with delight as I carry her into the kitchen, Dre’s footsteps behind me.

She squirms, and I have to put her down so she doesn’t launch herself like a frog out of my arms.

I grab the chocolate and hand it to her.

“This is from Maddox,” I say, and she takes it from me shrieking with happiness.

I grab her small bouquet and kneel before her, offering them to her. “These are from me.” She grins wide. “Thank you for my cinnamon roll this morning.”

Rylee hugs me, smooshing her flowers before she runs off to show them to Dre. I look up to see him, noting the tears in his eyes as he mouths thank you to me silently.

And then I stand and grab the last box and bouquet from the table, my heart in my throat as I head towards him. He watches me steadily, and I stop a few inches away, not wanting to crush Rylee, who’s still squealing with happiness, in front of him.

I give him a smirk as I offer him the flowers first.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Daddy, you got stuff for Valentine’s Day too! Is that because you love him?”

Dre smirks, looking me in the eye.

“Yeah, pumpkin. I do.” He looks down at her. “Is that okay?”

Her little face scrunches up in confusion.

“Why wouldn’t that be okay?”

Dre shrugs. “Just wanted to make sure.” Then he looks at me again. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Paul.”

I am just about to hand him the box of candy when he leans in and kisses me. It’s quick, but it’s warm and bright, and perfect.

He pulls away in a flash, and that’s when I feel small arms around my legs, hugging me, and I think my heart might actually explode out of my chest.