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“Then if you still want to see where things go with her, ignore any awkwardness last night and pretend like it was perfectly normal. I know that’s not healthy but this is Tabitha.” The way he said it made me fight the urge to snort but I behaved myself. “Just move forward like you normally would… conversations about limits, lists, all that stuff, and then have little time. Once you’ve reinforced the idea that you’re not going anywhere, then plan a scene.”
So just behave like we normally would.
That wouldn’t be hard but I wasn’t sure easy was the right word either.
Our Tabby Cat was anything but simple.
Chapter 8
Harper
“I still think surprising her with a few things would be reasonable.” Ignoring the way Gaylen snorted, I fussed with the coloring books on the coffee table again, unable to stop myself. I’d been driving him crazy all morning. “It wasn’t a full-sized ball pit.”
He really was ridiculous when it came to buying things for the house.
Plan this.
Practical that.
As I straightened and tried to pretend I wasn’t as nervous as I felt, he sighed. “I’m not going to debate that again, but how about we look at it this way… I think Tabitha would love to help you pick things out to make that space special for both of you.”
Ugh, he always knew what to say to get his way.
Giving him a quick kiss as I walked past him to make sure I had her snacks laid out in the kitchen and everything planned for dinner just in case she stayed late and stayed little, I nodded. “Yes, that’s a very good point.”
She’d feel more connected to the room that way and would know without a doubt that it was for her… and once she picked something out, Gaylen couldn’t say it was ridiculous and unnecessary.
Yep. This was a much better plan.
“How about—” Before Gaylen could tell me to calm down or redirect me like I knew he wanted to, the doorbell rang.
This was the oddest playdate we’d ever had with a little, but if she showed up happy and excited to spend time with us again, I wouldn’t complain. “She’s here.”
Fingers crossed.
Taking a deep breath, I stood straighter and did my best to look relaxed and confident. Coming off worried and obsessive would not help. “Ender’s just going to drop her off?”
He’d said it was because he wasn’t sure what kind of headspace she would be in when it was time for her to head home, but I had a feeling it was to make sure the date ended with everyone happy and not hiding any problems.
He was a bit of a pest but he probably wasn’t wrong.
We looked perfectly at ease as Gaylen opened the door, but I knew just below the surface we were both nuts. Gaylen was just a bit too even tempered for it to be genuine. He was either grumpy or smiling and teasing. This middle ground was manufactured to look like he was fine, but I wasn’t going to call him out on it.
Because then he’d call me out.
But all of that faded from my mind as little Tabitha released Ender’s hand and rushed toward me, her long pink party dress whirling around her as she hurried through the door. “Happy Daddy.”
Hugging my sweet girl as she threw herself into my arms, I laughed and squeezed her tight. “Miss Tabitha, have you come to play?”
Okay, Ender was a pain in the ass but he was right. Having her already in her little headspace when she came over glossed over a lot of awkwardness, even though I thought we’d done pretty well in our conversations earlier in the week.
As Ender spoke quietly to Gaylen, I focused on my sweet girl, who was nodding excitedly without a care in the world… or at least that was how it felt at the moment.
“Play.” Looking mischievous, she peeked around me. “Goats?”
I laughed as Gaylen groaned dramatically, giving her exactly what she wanted judging by the giggles she let out. She buried her face against my shoulder and laughed. “Grumpy Poppy.”
It probably made me a bad Daddy but I couldn’t help laughing and nodding. “I know. He’s always so grumpy. It’s very sad we can’t have goats. Should we go show Ender the backyard so he can see where the goats would go? I’m sure he thinks they’d be a wonderful idea.”
