AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You about ready, kiddo? It’s been a long day for you,” I say, pushing her hair back from her eyes.
“Can East come too?” she asks.
He looks at me, hope brewing in his eyes.
“Maybe another time. We need to get you a bath and into bed.”
“You promise?” she asks, pulling at my heartstrings.
Easton reaches out and grabs my hand. “I’ll call your mom, and we’ll figure out when I can see you again, okay, princess?”
“Okay,” she readily agrees with him.
“I’ll take her.” I hold my arms out.
“I got her. I paid the check, so we should be good to go. Do you have what you need?” he asks me.
“Yes.”
He laces his fingers through mine, and that’s how we leave the restaurant. At my car, I unlock the door and hold my arms out for P.
“I’ve got her,” he says, setting her in her seat. “Princess, how do you work this thing?” I hear him ask, and she giggles.
“Not like that, East. It goes like this,” she explains.
“Are you sure?” His tone is playful.
“Y-yes.” She giggles again.
“Thank you for hanging out with me today.”
“Thank you too,” she says with a yawn.
They mumble a few more words before he stands and shuts the door. He reaches for my hand, and I don’t have it in me to pull away. “She’s a great kid,” he says, his voice low.
“Thank you.” I push the words past my lips.
“Can I see the two of you again?” he asks. I must not hide the shocked expression very well, because he continues. “I like you, Larissa. I want to explore that, and she’s a part of you, a package deal, the icing on the cake so to speak.”
“Not a deal breaker?” I ask him, holding my breath.
“No.” His answer is short and firm. “Can I have your number? I’ll call you tomorrow, and we can make plans.”
I nod, taking his offered phone and typing in my number before handing it back to him. Quickly, his fingers fly across the screen, and I feel my phone vibrate in my purse. “Now you have my number, you know, in case you tossed it in the trash the last time. I want you to use it, Larissa. Call me anytime for any reason.”
“Thank you for today. For being so great with her.” I don’t tell him that the piece of paper that fell out of the menu is tucked away in my wallet. I couldn’t seem to make myself throw it away.
“The pleasure was all mine.” He steps into me until there is barely any space between us. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he says, leaning in and pressing his lips to my forehead. I trample down the disappointment that his lips didn’t press to mine. Stepping back, he opens the door for me and waits until I’m inside and driving away before he makes his way to his truck. I watch him in the mirror, sneaking glances until I can no longer see him.
Paisley is asleep by the time we get home, so I carry her in and put her straight to bed. She needs a bath, but tomorrow is Sunday and I don’t work until the afternoon. We’ll sleep in, make breakfast, and worry about a bath before I drop her off to Mom.
As I’m climbing into bed, my phone pings on the nightstand. Grabbing it, I see an unknown number.
Unknown: You girls make it home okay?
Easton.
Me: We did. Miss P fell asleep on the way home, and barely moved a muscle when I carried her to bed.
