AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Then, I guess that means I’m not invited to Sunday dinner,” I note.
She grimaces. “I was thinking I’d skip….”
“Is that because I’m not invited since I’m still your dirty little secret or…?”
Her lips press into mine, effectively shutting me up before she pulls away. “You’re not a dirty little secret. But you are an amazing dad, and I don’t want you to put Grady on hold just because we’ve been a little busy…catching up.”
“Oh, so catching up is better than reconnecting?” I joke.
She laughs. “Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe. We should pick Grady up soon, though. Maybe go grab some breakfast or something?”
“You want to come?”
“Of course. If I’m invited,” she clarifies. “And no pressure if I’m not, since, ya know, I haven’t formally invited you to Sunday dinner tonight.”
“So, you’re saying there’s a possibility?”
“I don’t know?” Her cute button nose scrunches. “I haven’t decided yet. And before you assume it’s because of you, just know that it’s not. It’s more because of Skye being miserable without Liam and the likelihood of my family overreacting and making a big deal out of a very new relationship. You know how they are….”
“I get it.” Threading my fingers in her hair, I pull her closer to me and kiss the tiny ‘v’ between her furrowed brows. “And there’s no pressure from me for an invitation, either. I promised we’d go at your pace, remember?”
With a soft smile, she closes her eyes and presses a gentle kiss to my lips that tastes like honey and sunshine. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“So…what do you say about that brunch with Grady? Technically, you still haven’t invited me, but it also sounds fun, so….”
“Saylor.” I press another kiss to her forehead. “Would you.” Kiss. “Like to go.” Kiss. “To brunch.” Kiss. “With me.” Kiss. “And Grady?”
Those big doe eyes hit me square in the chest as she peeks up at me and pulls the sheets up to cover her shy smile. “I mean…if you insist.”
I tug the sheet away and give her another kiss. “I insist.”
“So tell me, Grady, do you like pancakes, or are you more of a waffles guy?” Saylor asks with her elbows on the table and a breakfast menu spread out in front of her.
“Um…waffles,” Grady decides.
Say grins, then nudges him with her elbow. “Me too!”
They’re both scrunched into one side of the booth while I’m on the opposite. Grady chose to sit next to Saylor when we first got here, and I know it made Say’s day. It made mine too.
“How ‘bout you, Dad?” Grady asks. “Do you like waffles like me and Miss Swenson?”
“You can call me Saylor,” she tells him, her smile patient and kind.
His blue eyes are wide and round as he looks up at her. “Really?”
“Yup. But only when we’re outside of the classroom, okay? If we’re at school, then we gotta stick with my formal name, Miss Swenson, so the other kids don’t get jealous. Deal?”
Grady nods with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Deal.”
“I like French toast, by the way,” I interject. I’d be jealous that Grady and Saylor have such an easy relationship if I weren’t so damn ecstatic about it. I always knew she’d be a great mom, and even though we aren’t there yet in our relationship, I can almost see it play out right in front of me. Like a preview to a movie that I know I’m going to love despite the fact that I haven’t officially seen the whole thing yet.
“How ‘bout bacon or sausage?” Saylor asks, her gaze bouncing between both of us.
“Bacon,” Grady pipes up.
“Bacon,” I agree.
