Page 16 of Curvy Wives of Willow Creek 5-8

"What happened after you woke up?"

I continue, telling them how Damien hired me on the spot to babysit his daughter, Lucy, the sweetest child I've ever met. I pause, remembering his conflicted expression and the tension between us when we fought.

Kate leans forward, her green eyes shining with anticipation.

"Get to the juicy part, Sophie," she insists, a mischievous grin on her face.

I can't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. Taking a deep breath, I tell them about the conversation I had with Damien after Lucy went to sleep.

"He confessed his attraction to me but said it might not be enough because of Lucy. He said he can deal with another broken heart, but Lucy can't," I say, my voice barely a whisper. "And we kissed," I add, trying to play it cool, although the memory of his lips on mine sends a rush of warmth through me.

Kate's eyes widen in surprise. Ivy, on the other hand, takes a moment before speaking.

"Damien isn't wrong, you know? Love can be complex, especially when a child is involved. But if you both feel something for each other, there's still a chance. It's up to him, though. If he contacts you within the next three days, that means he misses you," she says, her tone serious.

Kate hums, her fingers tapping on the table.

"There are so many men in Willow Creek, Soph. Why can't you choose one without a complicated past?" she finally asks, a playful smile on her lips.

I laugh, a genuine, heartfelt laugh.

"I guess I have a thing for men with a complicated past, men I can hopefully save from a life of pain."

Ivy joins in the laughter, her eyes shining with mirth.

"Men with a past make the future more interesting," she adds.

Kate shakes her head, chuckling.

"You are both crazy," she teases, a fond smile on her face.

As our laughter fills the coffee shop, I feel a sense of warmth and belonging. I may not have Damien, but I have my friends, and their love and support mean the world to me.

So, following Ivy’s advice, I give Damien three days.

If he doesn't contact me, I'll move on, no matter how much it hurts.

I know we only spent a few hours together, but I did see a potential future in his eyes, a future I'm now willing to let go of if he doesn't fight for me.

Chapter 8 - Damien

Sprawled on the worn-out leather couch, I wait for my daughter Lucy to prepare herself for the day.

My mind refuses to stay still, forever trailing back to one face, one pair of soft, understanding eyes. Sophie.

My mind rolls her name around like a sweet melody, a tune I'm afraid to get addicted to. She's too good for this world, too good for me, and I let her walk away.

I push the heel of my hand into my forehead, my fingers threading through the remnants of my sleep-mussed hair. Did I really do it for Lucy's sake, or was it my own fears holding me back, using my daughter as a shield?

My heart twists, an almost painful physical sensation, at the image of Sophie's tear-streaked face.

Sophie, Lucy, and I... could we be a family? I can't help but play the scenario in my head, the three of us wrapped up in each other's presence.

Coming back home after a long day of work, just to find them curled up together on this very couch, their faces lit up by the soft glow of the television. Could it really be our reality?

A soft tug at my sleeve pulls me out of my melancholic reverie. Looking down, I find Lucy, her sparkling green eyes a mirror image of her mother's.

She's in her new school uniform, her light-brown hair tied back into a neat ponytail. She points at the clock, her words filled with the urgency of a child with the world to explore.

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