Page 44 of Even Ground

“You have to try these rolls. They’re amazing.”

She holds one up to my face and my lower lip grazes her thumb as I take a bite. Pania blinks a bunch of times and drops the rest of the roll onto my plate.

I swallow the food, but can’t stop watching her drop her head and turn back to the food.

“Finished.” Amelia pronounces. Pania picks up her napkin and wipes the sauce from around Amelia’s mouth. “Can I have some bread?”

“Of course you can.” Pania places a roll on her plate, and Amelia picks it up, taking a big bite.

Over the next half hour, we finish off the pizza—or rather I do because Pania is enamoured with the garlic rolls and Amelia admits defeat after her head-sized slice and a single roll.

Leaning back in my seat, I pat my stomach. “I’m going to have to do double time at the gym after all this good food this week.”

Pania drains the rest of her drink and puts the glass down. “Aren’t you starting your new movie soon?”

“Not long after we get back from Hawaii.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

I knit my fingers together. “It’s exciting. I never thought Josh and I would be making our own movies, but here we are.”

Amelia yawns, and Pania reaches across the table for her hand. “Are you tired, sweet pea?”

She nods.

“Let’s get you out of here.”

“I’ll go and pay the bill.”

Pania gets up and rounds the table, taking Amelia’s hand in hers. “Want to go home?”

Amelia wriggles off the chair and leans against Pania. “Will you read me Hairy Maclary when we get there?”

“Of course I will.”

For a moment, I just watch as Amelia wraps her arms around Pania’s waist and snuggles in against her.

We make our way to the entrance where I pay the bill, and then move out into the warm night.

“Did you have fun, Amelia?” I ask.

“I’m full of pizza.”

Pania and I laugh; it’s the best answer there is.

Once she’s buckled into her seat, I drive my way back to Josh’s place, contentment settling over me. My plan had been to take Pania out, but I’m not upset with the way things transpired.

We pull up to the house, and Pania turns to look at the back seat.

“Melly’s asleep.”

I chuckle. “I’m not surprised. I’ll carry her inside.”

Pania’s eyes smile. “Are you still being the daddy?”

I look back at Amelia. Her head’s flopped against her seat, and her mouth’s wide open as she sleeps.

“Just until we get inside. Josh is such a lucky man. He gets to do this all the time.”

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