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I clear my throat. “I’ve had a lot of practice, remember?”
After I’ve rinsed out the shampoo using the shower attachment, conditioned her hair and rinsed it out a second time, I grab a towel and her robe from the back of the bathroom door.
She takes my hand as I help her out of the tub, but insists on drying herself off while I stand within arm’s reach in case she needs me.
Her bra and panties are still damp, and I quickly help her into her robe when I notice the goosebumps covering her arm. I carry her to the bed, and get a pair of pajamas from her blue ombre dresser on the other side of the room.
The next two minutes are torture while she makes me face the wall, so she can change out of her wet underwear. When she’s finished, I turn around to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing the matching pink tank top and shorts I choose for her.
God, she’s downright irresistible.
My hands are clammy, and my breathing is shallow knowing that she’s not wearing panties under her sleep shorts right now. She didn’t ask me to get her a pair when she asked for clothes, and it’s taking all my resolve from letting my mind wander again.
“Do you want me to brush your hair?” I rasp out.
She nods, with a tired expression.
I grab a hairbrush from the bathroom and sit on the bed behind Marlow, with her back to my front. I run the brush through her hair in slow, steady strokes, careful not to tug too hard. Her waist-length hair cascades in golden waves down her back, and once I’ve got all the tangles out, I begin to plait a French braid.
“What are you doing?” She tilts her head back, curiosity shining in her eyes.
“Braiding your hair. I figured it’d be better to have it out of your face while you sleep.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” She gives me a small smile before turning her head to face forward. “I’ve never met another man who’s as skilled at styling hair as you are. I’m impressed.”
“That’s nice of you to say. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but Maddie, Lola’s mom, left when she was a baby. Back then, there were a lot of external factors controlling my life, but the one aspect I had power over was my reaction to the situation. Early on, I committed to do everything I could to guarantee Lola didn’t miss out on a happy childhood because her mom wasn’t around.”
I pause, fastening a hair tie to the end of Marlow’s braid. “That meant memorizing the CoComelon theme song when she was a toddler, learning to style her hair, and cutting sandwiches into the shape of unicorns and rainbows. I’d gladly do it all a hundred times over to make sure she knows that she’s loved unconditionally.”
“What happened to Maddie?” Marlow pauses as she turns to look at me. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
I usually don’t like talking about it but with Marlow I feel inclined to open up and share more of my past with her.
“Maddie and I started dating in high school. In hindsight, I suspect part of her attraction was linked to my family’s financial status. Unfortunately for her, I’ve never been interested in living an extravagant lifestyle, which became a source of conflict between us. We frequently argued, especially when I broached the topic of marriage or having kids.” I draw in a deep breath as I rake my hand through my hair. “I was blindsided when Maddie left us when Lola was only six weeks old.”
Marlow lets out a sharp gasp. “Where did she go?” Her tone is hushed.
“As far as I know she moved to Canada. I haven’t heard from her since she left.”
I was heartbroken when Maddie threw away ten years with me like it meant nothing and that she so easily left her daughter behind. I spent years resenting her for what she did, but eventually the anger and betrayal morphed into gratitude for giving me Lola in the first place.
When I look back at Marlow I’m alarmed when I see tears streaming down her face.
“What’s the matter? Why are you crying?” I wipe away a stray tear with the pad of my thumb. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.” I start to pull my hand away, but Marlow reaches out to hold it in place against her cheek, pressing a kiss to my palm.
“I’m okay, I promise.” She offers me a comforting smile. “You’ve been through so much, and yet you’ve put it all aside to make sure Lola has the best life can offer. I mean it when I say she couldn’t have asked for a better father.”
“Thank you.” My chest tightens.
Marlow’s observation resonates with me in a way she might not realize. I haven’t told her I’ve been shouldering a load of guilt about not being enough for Lola lately, and her words strike a chord deep within me.
Even when she’s feeling at her worst, she’s quick to offer me comfort. Considering our past interactions, she has every reason to harbor resentment toward me, but she doesn’t. Her kind-hearted and thoughtful nature is one of the reasons I’m finding it so damn difficult to keep my distance, even though it’s better for both of us.
I caress her cheek, tracing her jaw with my fingertips as silence lingers between us, the crackling tension between us irrefutable. My gaze locks with Marlow’s, and I’m having difficulty remembering why I shouldn’t kiss her right now.
She shakes her head. “I’ve seen that look before.”
“What look?” I feign innocence.
