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I wince. “Sorry. That was my bad. Got a little carried away.”
“I was right there with you. It’s not your fault.”
She reaches for her phone and her face breaks out into a smile. “Brooklyn. She noticed through our Ring camera app that I never came home last night. And reminded me Kevin is probably hungry.”
“Who’s Kevin?”
“Our cat. He’s a temperamental little shit, but he loves Brooklyn and me.”
“Aren’t all cats temperamental?”
Her cute little nose scrunches up. “Maybe, but he’s on the next level.”
I chuckle. “Better go feed him then. Care if I tag along?”
“I’d love that.”
She types away on her phone, replying to Brooklyn.
“Will it bother her to know you were with me all night?”
Hadley’s eyes meet mine. “No. She understands. With the way her father and I were together, how he is with Logan, she gets that adults have adult nights. And she approves, too, in case you were wondering.”
I blow out a breath. “That’s a relief.”
“Yeah,” she agrees quietly in a way I can tell there’s more on her mind.
“What is it?” I prod, nudging her side to get her to look at me.
She takes a deep breath and drops her head to the back of the couch, twisting to look at me. “She’s my priority.”
“Yup.”
“No, what I mean is, nights like last night? They’ll be few and far between. I’m her full-time parent and she’s only fifteen. I can’t just leave her for the night.”
“Yup.”
Her face goes blank. “I don’t think…”
“I understand, Hadley. That’s why I didn’t want to go out for our date last night. I get it. I’m dating a single mom and that means I will always come after Brooklyn. I’m okay with that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Do I look sure?”
Her eyes probe my expression, probably trying to see if I’m lying.
Whatever she sees relaxes her. “Yes. You look sure.”
“That’s because I am. I won’t ever lie to you, Hadley. I need to earn that trust, I’m okay with that. But I need you to believe more than anything that I will never get angry or upset with you for putting Brooklyn first, for building the diner up to what you want it to be. I don’t want to be a background character in your life, but I’m not going to throw a fit when I’m not the star.”
“This might not say much about me, but I wouldn’t mind being the star in yours.”
“I’m okay with that.”
“You’re pretty wonderful,” she tells me, kissing me softly.
“Right back at you. I’m going to shower then we can go to your place, see if Kevin likes me or hates me and I pray his opinion of me isn’t a deal breaker in case he hates me.”
