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“Does your dad normally come to events like this?” I wasn’t sure which was worse, a stand-up dad who disappeared or one who’d never been there at all.
“I’ve never had a school dance before, so I’m not sure.”
I wanted her to feel better and forget about the people who’d let her down. “I’d be happy to go with you. What should I wear? A tux?”
Delaney’s lips twitched as she lowered her knees and scooted closer to me so she could read the flyer. She pointed at the paper where it said it wasn’t a black-tie event.
I tapped my chin with my finger. “I have just the thing.”
“No jeans or T-shirts,” Delaney said seriously.
“What do you take me for? I’m a gentleman. I’ll pick you up and—” My mind was already whirring with ideas. She’d need a bouquet of flowers.
“Where are you taking my daughter?” Natalie stood in front of us, her hands on her hips.
My heart raced in my chest as I handed her the flyer. I completely forgot we needed to run this past her mother.
“He’s taking me to the daddy-daughter dance,” Delaney said, excitement tinging her voice as Natalie read the form.
When she lifted her gaze, she asked, “Are you crying?”
Delaney shook her head. “I was but not anymore.”
“Honey, I think you should ask your father first,” Natalie said.
Delaney’s expression fell. “I did.”
“He said no, didn’t he?” Natalie’s jaw tightened, and her fingers tightened on the school form.
“He said he was busy.” Delaney’s voice was small and full of pain.
“I’d like to take her if that’s okay with you,” I said to Natalie, desperate to get Delaney’s mind off her father’s rejection.
“Delaney, why don’t you go to our room and get started on your homework. I need to talk to Mac.”
“Mom—”
“I’ll be there in a minute. Go.”
“Ugh. Fine,” she huffed and then jogged toward the steps.
“I’m sorry. I should have discussed it with you before I told her I’d go.” This was just one more reason why I wasn’t a good bet for a single mother. I didn’t know how to handle these situations.
Natalie sat on the windowsill next to me. “I should have known this was coming and prepared her father for her invitation.”
“Would it have changed anything?” I asked her.
Natalie sighed as she leaned against the window. “Probably not.”
“It’s not your job to prepare him for a call from his daughter. He could have made a different decision.” He could have made a lot of different ones. His bad decisions were why Natalie and Delaney were here, and I couldn’t be upset with him about it. My life seemed more interesting with them in it.
“I don’t want her to be hurt.”
“He’s going to do things that hurt her feelings, and there’s nothing you can do about it other than be there for her. If you want to take her to the dance, I’ll step aside. But honestly, she seemed happy with the idea of me taking her.”
“It would be amazing if you could, but I can’t ask that of you.”
I wanted to go with Delaney. “I want to. I’m excited about it.”
