AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was an innocent touch, probably meant to comfort me, but instead, it sent a tingle through my body. I bounced my knee, trying to get rid of the pent-up tension while I kept one eye on Maggie.
After another lap, Maggie came off the ice toward me. “Where’d Daddy go?”
“To get you some hot chocolate.”
“Yesss,” she said as she plopped down next to me.
“Are you tired?” I asked her, because I was.
“Nope,” she said, her gaze on the skaters.
I winced. “You want to go back out there, don’t you?”
Her head bobbed. “Uh-huh. After my hot chocolate.”
“Your father should be back in a minute.”
We were content to watch the skaters for another minute until Sam appeared with a tray of drinks. “I got marshmallows. I hope that’s okay,” he said as he handed me a cup and then one to Maggie.
“Of course. You can’t go wrong with marshmallows,” I said, more for Maggie’s benefit.
He sat on the other side of me so that I was in between him and Maggie. We sipped our hot chocolates and watched the people as they skated. It was the perfect morning. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done anything like this. When Elle and Gray took Amelia places, I tried to stay home so they could spend time as a family.
I felt a little like an intruder. That was part of the reason why I wanted to move out and jumped at the chance to live with Sam.
“Thanks for coming with us,” Sam said quietly.
I smiled softly. “It was fun.”
He bumped shoulders with me. “You look like you could use a little fun.”
I tried to smile, but it fell flat.
Maggie set her drink to the side.
“Are you going back out?” Sam asked her.
“Yup,” she said as she moved confidently to the gate and was off.
“She’s so good at that.” She was only four, but I envied her confidence.
“She’s going to be a pistol when she’s a teenager.” Sam’s tone was filled with affection.
I glanced over at him. “You’re already worried about her dating?”
“I think a dad starts worrying when they’re born. I was in the hospital room, holding her for the first time, and I couldn’t help but think I’d protect her from everyone.” He smiled at me, and I could see him holding a baby, a mix of protectiveness and determination on his face.
“Even from boys who wanted to date her?” I asked, my tone light.
He nodded grimly. “Mostly those.”
I was so taken with his sweet words I forgot to feel a sense of loss that my father never seemed to have those protective genes. Mom pushed us into the TV industry and didn’t make sure we were safe. She didn’t vet the people walking behind us with cameras. She trusted them to take care of us, but they weren’t there for that. They were adults who used us.
“What are you thinking about?” Sam asked, his gaze on me.
I looked away from him under the guise of keeping an eye on Maggie. “My childhood. It was different.”
“How so?”
