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I pick up the chopsticks, thinking I should stab my eyes out with them right now. How stupid can I be? I’ve agreed to live with the man who is my daughter’s father and who I’ve been crushing on for months.
Stupid, Adeline, just stupid. You might as well take your heart out now and stomp all over it.
Chapter19
Damon
Adeline and Clover moved in with me last night, and I still feel as though I’m on a fucking high. Adeline’s organizing things in her room while I play with Clover on what will be my last available weekend for a while. Tomorrow is D-day, and we both start our work schedules. I’m excited about the new season, but I’m dreading it at the same time.
After a while, Adeline comes in looking all cute with a scarf thing in her hair to keep it back from her face. She’s wearing tight yoga pants and a small top that reveals a little of her stomach when she lifts her arms. She’s pretty much lost all of her baby weight, and I’m starting to realize that this whole moving in together thing is going to be harder on my self-control than I first thought. I haven’t gotten laid in months. The last time I even came close was the night Clover was born. My hand is tired, and I’m desperate for a little action.
“So, my mom is good to help with Clover this week, but I think we need to discuss the nanny situation.” She sits in the chair. I love how she constantly looks at my black leather furniture as though she wants to strike a match and set it on fire.
“I called an agency. They can send over applicants. I was thinking Tuesday evening?”
“Perfect. Thanks for taking the lead on that. My mind has been so occupied with my return to the classroom.” She sips her water. “I’m not sure I’m gonna survive an entire day without her.”
Her eyes tear up again. This has pretty much been her the entire past week.
“I’m just checking, but you’re the kind of woman who wants to work, right?”
Her head tilts to the side, and her eyes narrow a bit. “I’m curious, if I didn’t work, how would I support myself and my daughter?”
Damn it, why can’t I keep my mouth shut?
“I’d pay child support, of course.”
She purses her lips with a pissed-off expression I haven’t seen yet. “So I’d live with you and our daughter, and you’d pay me child support so I could sit around?”
I hate the way she poses it as a question as if I’m stupid. Maybe I am stupid for bringing this up. “I just want you to be happy, and if you want to stay home, I have the means to make it happen.”
She shakes her head. “No, Damon, I’m happy to work. I am going to miss this little one so much.” She swipes her out of my arms and blows a raspberry into Clover’s neck while she circles the room. “But I know my place in this family of ours.”
“Which is?” I watch her with Clover and try to ignore the warmth invading my heart.
She pretends they’re dancing and taps Clover’s nose before touching their two noses together. “I’m worth the least.”
“Not a chance. What’s that supposed to mean?” I scowl at Adeline.
She looks at me. “My daughter has a trust fund worth who knows how much.” She quickly raises her hand. “And I don’t want to know. That’s between the Siskas. I’m a Morgan.”
Her words leave a sour taste in my mouth. I’m done with this conversation.
“Forget unpacking, let’s go for a walk.” I stand from the couch. “Let’s go to eat and spend our last day with her.” I don’t want to sit here and be upset. Tons of parents everywhere have to leave their kids to go to work.
“I look like crap.” She scrunches up her nose.
“So? I don’t look great.” I’m only wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
“You’re Damon Siska, and I’m the girl you knocked up. We’ll be seen very differently by the outside world.”
She’s done better about not caring what she reads online, but I’ve noticed there are still times when it gets to her.
I wrap my arms around her and Clover. It feels so natural, so right. It must be because we share a daughter. “Tell Mommy how beautiful she is, and all the other women are jealous.”
She looks at Clover. “Tell Daddy he lives in a fairy tale land.”
“Come on, I know a great pizza place.”
