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It was like someone doused me in freezing water. I leaned back and said, “You think this is how I want to lose my virginity? In the fucking front seat of your car?” I scrambled to get off him.

“El, stop. I wasn’t thinking.”

“That’s the problem, TJ. You’re never thinking about me. Have a good night.”

Scrambling to grab my bag, I made myself decent before getting out of the car and slamming the door shut. He didn’t follow me. Something else bothered me. While we were making out, I couldn’t get over the smell on him.

When I got up to my apartment, I dropped my purse on the dining table and went to my bedroom, plopping down on the bed. TJ was such an asshole. I scolded myself for not breaking up with him much earlier.

Then, my thoughts went to Dean and Ada again. I was already looking forward to my work days more than my home life. It’d only been one day, but it was a wonderful day.

Chapter 8

Dean

It was Friday, and because I had worked late the night before, and I had the day off. Ada woke me up early, like she usually did and pulled me out of bed to make breakfast. She was wrapped in a blanket on the couch watching her cartoons while she waited for me to finish making it. The doorbell went off so I looked at the time, realizing that I had never told Elly she didn’t need to work that day.

Setting the spatula down, I went to the door. When I opened it, she was all smiles. “Good morning, Dean.”

Wincing, I dragged my hand down my face. She looked incredible. She was wearing tight jeans and an oversized sweater that fell off her shoulder. Her red hair was in a high bun with little pieces hanging down around her face. She was delectable and it was driving me crazy. I spent the better part of the night thinking about her while lying in bed. “Elly…shit. I’m so sorry. Because I worked so late last night, I’m off today.”

The guilt kicked deep when I saw her face drop a little. “Oh! That’s alright, don’t worry about it. Tell Ada I said hello and I hope the two of you have a great day together.”

Ask her to stay, I told myself. “Do you want to come in? I was making us breakfast.”

Her hazel eyes looked hopeful, but she said, “I don’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not, at all. Please, come in. It’s my fault because I didn’t tell you. Join us.” Ada came running to the door, which she knew she wasn’t allowed to do, so she must’ve heard Elly’s voice.

“Ms. Elllyyyyy!”

Elly picked her up and said, “Good morning, Ms. Ada.”

Ada slowly reached for Elly’s cheek. “I knows that color in your eyes, but I forget.”

Elly smiled. “You do know this color. It’s grey.” Ada’s eyes brightened as her smile stretched wider. The interaction between the two of them tugged at something deep in my chest.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Come on, you two. Let’s have some eggs.”

“Scramby eggs, Daddy. Say it.”

My kid was turning me into a chump in front of Elly. “Scramby eggs, baby.”

Ada giggled and so did Elly. She walked inside with Ada and sat her down on the couch before coming into the kitchen to talk to me. “So, long night, huh?”

Pushing the eggs around in the pan, I kept glancing at her. “Mmmm.” It was all I could manage. I didn’t want to stare too long but her red hair and those eyes were catching me off guard.

She continued. “Flora said you’re a logger. I looked it up. That’s demanding work. Do guys get hurt?”

I nodded, and said, “Guys always get hurt. Well, not always but it happens often enough. We take every precaution though to try to avoid it. Freak accidents happen, though, no matter how careful we are.” The eggs were done so I called for Ada. “Ada, come over to the table for your breakfast.”

Ada and Elly talked back and forth during breakfast; I mostly stayed quiet and watched them. It honestly gave me an opportunity to see how Elly was with her during the day while I was at work. Everything Elly did with Ada was a lesson, even if Ada didn’t realize it. From placing her napkin on her lap to cleaning up after herself when they finished eating, Ada was learning. Flora was right. Getting a nanny for Ada was a great idea and it’d only been a day.

To snap myself out of the trance, I decided to ask Elly if she wanted to spend the day with us. I wasn’t sure if it would be a good idea, but I figured we’d have fun, and it would give her more time with Ada, which was what I thought she truly enjoyed. It would make me happy, too. Ada deserved to have great women in her life. I was thankful for Flora and now thankful Elly was around even though I was unsure how to show it.

“What do you think, Ada? Should we ask Elly to spend the day with us?”

Ada wiggled out of her seat and jumped up and down, “Oh yes! Oh yes!”