AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know exactly what it means,” he interrupts. “It means you should be nice instead of a jerk. I was just using it in a different way. In a Telford way.”
I go for a piece of the same pizza Telford just ate. “I like the Telford way.”
“Good.” He beams with a smile. “Let’s find a movie to watch. Cindy is dying to snuggle up with me on the couch for a couple of hours.”
“It sounds like a plan to me.” I grab another soda from the fridge for myself.
Before I do, I sneak a peek at my phone. The only messages waiting for me are from my mom and another reminder from Nitespark about setting up my profile.
I make a mental note to respond to my mom tomorrow before I delete the Nitespark one.
I’m not going to need that app, after all, since I’m going to have sex with the hottest man I’ve ever met.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Rook
“You’re sure smiling a lot, Daddy.” Kirby can’t help but notice my stellar mood. I’ve been sporting a smile since shortly after I got home three hours ago.
When I was sharing a bottle of champagne with Carrie, my mom called, saying my daughter was in tears and asking for me. The crisis today was the result of Kirby misplacing a silver bracelet Chesca had bought for her in Boston.
Although my mom spent almost an hour searching for it, she came up empty. That’s when Kirby’s grief hit, so my mom reached out, hoping I could head home to renew the search.
I found the bracelet on the floor behind the nightstand next to my daughter’s bed.
The crisis was diverted, and my mom took off in search of a lemon drop martini.
“She’s right.” Holden swirls a finger in front of my face. “What’s up with you?”
“I’m having dinner with my daughter and one of my best friends.” I glance to where he’s seated at the head of my dining room table. “Isn’t that reason enough?”
“Yes!” Kirby yells.
At the same time, Holden shakes his head. “No.”
Kirby laughs. The end of the piece of spaghetti she’s slurping up dangles on her bottom lip. “You said no, and I said yes.”
Holden laughs, too. “You know I like teasing your dad.”
“I know,” she agrees, nodding as she stuffs the wayward spaghetti into her mouth with her hand. “I try to tease him, but he never gets it.”
I drop my fork on my plate. “When has that ever happened, Kirbs?”
“My best friends call me Kirbs,” she corrects me yet again.
I go for the same response I always do as I shoot Holden a smile. “I thought I was your best friend.”
“You are.” She sighs. “You’re my sixth best friend right now.”
What the…? I’m slipping down the list at breakneck speed.
“I’m in spot number three,” Holden brags, holding up three fingers.
“How?” That one word question sparks a huff of laughter from him.
“I accompanied our little dancer to tap last week.” Holden stomps one of his shoes on the hardwood floor. “It seems the teacher likes my moves more than yours.”
“She said Uncle Holden was a natural,” Kirby explains. “Sorry, Daddy, but he’s my new dance partner.”
