AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ready?” I open the book. “I love Daddy…”
I read the entire book while Adeline is nice enough to turn the pages on her end. It’s something I asked if she’d be willing to do before I left. Of course, Adeline’s such a rockstar, she agreed without hesitation.
“Good night, baby girl. I love you so much.” I blow her a kiss. “Thanks, Adeline.”
“Of course. I’ll read ‘I Love Mommy’ twice tonight.” She laughs. “It’ll be a race to see which she says first, daddy or mommy?”
“Oh, you want to make a wager?” I waggle my eyebrows.
She laughs. “Nah, I saw it the minute you held her. A million hearts were breaking all over the country—a female finally owned Damon Siska’s heart.”
She’s exactly right. But I was pretty fond of Clover’s mom too. I’ll keep that part to myself though.
Chapter18
Adeline
Ihave to be honest, I hate driving into the city. I should have let Damon hire me a car like he offered. Clover was awesome on the drive down here though, since I tried to schedule it around her nap time.
Damon got home from training camp last night and is waiting for us to arrive at “The Den.” I wasn’t sure what it would be like to be here again. I park in the garage Damon instructed me to, and it’s clear the attendant was already expecting us.
After grabbing Clover in her car carrier and the diaper bag, I go across the street. Thank goodness there isn’t a Colts game today. That would be weird.
When I ring the buzzer, Damon answers, and I tell him it’s us. Butterflies flutter in my stomach when the gate clicks open because it’s been three and a half weeks since I’ve seen him face-to-face. Three and a half weeks since our private bubble was pried open by a crowbar with the responsibilities of the real world.
I climb the stairs, Clover making sounds that make me think she somehow knows we’re about to see her daddy. I slow my movements, taking my time, trying to come to terms with the fact that I missed him. The worst thing I could do is catapult myself onto Damon when he opens the door. It’s Clover he wants to see, not me. I’m just the tagalong, and I’m best to remember that.
I reach his landing, relieved to set down Clover’s carrier. I face her toward the door and ring the bell, but I hear two sets of voices from down the stairs the minute I do. They grow nearer, then a shadow casts down over us. I turn to look over my shoulder and see Miles Cavanagh staring at me with astonishment.
A dark-haired woman I recognize from TV as his fiancée runs into his back, almost falling down the concrete steps, but she grabs the railing. “Shit, you’re lucky I didn’t fall and somersault down these stairs.”
I briefly met Damon’s friends, except for Miles, the day we hooked up, but it was just in passing.
“Hi,” Miles says.
“Hi,” I say in return as Damon opens the door.
“Hi, guys,” he says.
“Hi,” they say in unison, obviously feeling uncomfortable and probably waiting for an introduction. I wouldn’t mind one either.
“Come on in,” Damon says to me.
I pick up the carrier, and Damon takes Clover from me, opening the door a little wider to let us in. I walk into his apartment, and he shuts the door. Miles laughs on the other side, but I have no idea why. Does he know something I don’t? Why didn’t Damon introduce us?
I follow him into his sitting area. The black leather sofas still make me laugh. He puts Clover’s carrier on the coffee table and unbuckles her, lifts her out, and cradles her to his chest.
Damon leans his head down and inhales a deep breath against her hair. “Damn, I missed you.”
My heart pitter-patters in my chest. Jeez, I cannot be jealous of my daughter, that would be pathetic.
“She’s so big. How much has she grown?” he asks, holding her out in front of him. “And she’s holding her head up.” He sits on the couch, sulking.
“She hasn’t grown that much. It’s only been three and a half weeks, Damon.” I sit in the chair, crossing my legs.
He’s wearing a pair of shorts and a Grizzlies T-shirt, his skin more tanned from his outdoor practices than when he was at my house.
“How was training camp?” I ask.
