Page 99 of Asher

“It’s not,” I agreed. “But if you clean, you’ll get an allowance.”

She squinted, intrigued but not wanting to be overly optimistic. “What’s an allowance.”

“It means if you do your chores, you get money.”

She sat up a little straighter. “Money?”

“Yep.”

“That I get to use on whatever I want?”

“Yep.”

“A new barbie?”

“Maybe. We’ll see how much you earn.”

“$100.”

“How about $20.” I countered, ruffling her hair. Of course, she would want that much. Girl loved to buy things.

“Deal.”

“You have toactuallyclean your room before you get anything.” I pointed out.

She rolled her eyes. So much sass for seven. “Fine.”

“Thank you.”

“Aren’t you going to help me?”

“I’m cleaning the kitchen first, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Why don’t you head up and I’ll play some music.”

“Okay, mom!” Nix hopped up and bounded up the stairs as I sat frozen on the couch. Happiness seized my wildly beating heart and I tried to keep tears from welling in my eyes. We had talked a little about whether I was going to be her mom. I told her she could call me whatever she wanted. I wasn’t going anywhere and if she wanted me to be her mom, I would be honored.

She just hadn’t called me the name, aside from once during Asher’s proposal, until now.

And I had no idea how much I wanted to hear it.

Not until that moment.

Grabbing my phone, I shot of a text to Asher to let him know what just happened.

Dropping the phone on the counter, I worked on wiping up the mess we created when we were making chocolate chip cookies.

My phone beeped just as someone knocked on the front door. Snatching the phone on my way to the door, I smiled reading Asher’s response. I shoved the phone in my back pocket as I yanked the door open.

“Hi.” My voice drifted off as I saw who was standing on my porch. I stared at Stella in confusion, arms crossed over my chest. “Stella.”

“Hi, Haley.” Shoving her hands in the front pockets of her jeans, her shoulders hunched in. She looked smaller. Defeated. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and not an ounce of make-up covered her face. “Can I come in?”

“Asher isn’t home.” My voice was harsh like a verbal slap, and I didn’t miss the way she winced. I dropped my arms, but I refused to let myself feel bad for the girl.

After all, she tried to ruin my happiness.

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