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“Can I come?”
“What? Why?”
“Because I want to hang out with you. I know I don’t read books or know all your friends’ names still, but I do care about you, Pen, and I’d do anything you wanted, just to spend time together. Not time where you do your thing and I do mine, but something together. That could be shopping.”
She contemplates a bit, chewing on my words, but soon, a very rare smile crosses her sweet face.
“Ok, pops. If you want to come with, you can.”
“Awesome.” I punch the air, making her laugh, and hurry to the shower with my mug of hot coffee in hand.
Today’s gonna be perfect. My favorite girl is letting me be part of her world, and if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to work Olive into the conversation. I have no idea how Penelope will react to me having a girlfriend, since she’s never wanted me to have one. Once when she was little, her teacher and I hit it off, but she made it very clear I couldn’t ask her out, so I didn’t. This time, I’m introducing her to someone brand new, someone who does share some similar interests, and in my bones, it feels like a real step into the future. That my life is changing, and I’m not spinning the exact same wheels, but growing as a person.
Olive makes me feel like I can do anything, so facing my teenage daughter is slightly easier. The reward will be worth it. I know they’ll get along, and Whitney and Stephanie will be next. As scary as this new adventure feels, it’s going to be the greatest one of my life.
CHAPTERNINE
Olive
Ibroke a rule and didn’t even care. Hell, I am fucking enjoying myself as I sip my Earl Grey tea and listen to the dreaded Christmas music. Waking up in the arms of a man with such an optimistic outlook on life has me living for the moment. I didn’t even look at my morning check list, and instead of Amy Winehouse or my go jazz playlist, I actually put on festive holiday tunes, and I don’t want to yell at any one. Who even am I?
As I laugh quietly to myself, I hear the bell above the door and walk to the front to greet the customers. I even manage to do it with zero sarcasm and a friendly smile. Most of the day goes by much the same, and thanks to the music, it pulls in a lot of holiday shoppers. I made the sales goal by the afternoon, which has literally never happened before. I normally don’t sell any books most days. Today feels so different, like something big is happening, and in my gut, I know it’s because of Leo.
I already miss him. It was so hard to leave his bed this morning, and I would have called in someone to cover me if it weren’t for it being a day I expected Penelope. And as if my thoughts conjured her, my pint-size bestie waltzs through the front door.
“Hey you.”
“Hey.” She waves with an actual smile.
I knew today was a good day. Is it a full moon? I usually know, but I didn’t bother to check.
“So, I did a thing?”
“Oh yeah? Like telling—” My words are cut short when Leo walks into my store behind her. I can’t help the big smile spreading across my face. I completely light up at the sight of him. But he’s not smiling at all. In fact, he looks mad.
“Well, hi.” I wave awkwardly, not sure of the protocol here.
“Um, so, this is my dad.”
“What!” I shout in shock, shaking my head. That can’t be true. Leos daughter is little. Isn’t she?
“You helped my daughter publish a book behind my back?”
“Wait, what? No, Dad—”
Leo holds a hand up to his daughter to stop her argument, and my hackles rise.
“I didn’t do anything behind anyone’s back—”
“You of all people know I’m trying to get closer to her, and you never mentioned this.”
“We had one date. How could I—I didn’t even know Pen was your daughter.”
“Penelope. Her name is Penelope, and she’s my daughter, not yours. You had no right to help a child publish a book. That is for a parent.”
“I know. I’ve told her a million times—”
“We’re leaving, Penelope.”
