Page 12 of Could Be Worse

I adored my girls, unlike their mother, who’d had no problem walking away from them. No one would ever hurt my girls again. I’d promised they’d always be my number one priority.

With that thought, I killed the engine and dragged my ass out of the truck. My girls were probably up past their bedtime, waiting for me. I never came home so late, and they wouldn’t settle into bed until they got their huggies and kissies. They had to see me with their own eyes before going to sleep. It was like they were afraid they’d never see me again.

It broke my heart how, despite not remembering Connie, they knew they had a mother, and she wasn’t around.

And Nana Bea, my aging grandmother, was a softy with them. If it weren’t for her, I didn’t know what I would’ve done after Connie left. Moving from St. Paul to Bastion Township had been a no-brainer. I needed help with my girls, and my nana was the only family I had. But the move had affected my business more than I had anticipated.

I entered through the kitchen door and crept in quietly.

“Daddy!” my girls squealed and bounded toward me.

I knew it. They were up waiting for me.

“There’s my girls.” I lifted them up, one in each arm, and kissed their sweet faces. “I missed you so much!”

They giggled and hugged my neck. Suddenly I remembered what was most important to me. My girls. My babies. No woman would ever mean more to me than Cat and Tori. I’d been an idiot earlier, getting mixed up with Sunshine. Drowning my sorrows in her tight, exquisite pussy.

“How’s my grandson?”

“All right. How about you, Nana?” Shit. I had to stop thinking nasty thoughts around my nana.

“Just fine.” She waved me off, spunky as always. “How’d it go?”

“No idea. I should hear back on Monday.” I wasn’t a praying man, but I was gonna start, if the big man upstairs would answer my request.

I didn’t want anything for free. I was hardworking, got my hands dirty and paid my own way. Taking handouts wasn’t how I did things.

Just open the door for me to earn my own money. That’s all I ask.

“I have a good feeling about Mankato.” She rose to her feet and went to put on her coat. “Your life is going to get a whole lot better, Bryce Crispy.”

“Nana.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

The girls giggled louder, loving how my nana called me by the nickname she gave me when I was a kid. I hated Bryce Crispy.

“Look how they love your nickname.” She came and kissed the girls on the cheek. “Sweet dreams, my darlings.”

“Good night, Nana Bea,” they replied in sync.

“Thanks for watching the girls so late.”

“Of course.” She made her way to the door.

“I smell perfume.” Cat sniffed my chest. Then Tori followed suit.

“Perfume, you say?” Nana Bea turned around. “Were you on a date?”

“No.” I chuckled and felt my face heat up. “Let’s put you two to bed.”

“I like the perfume, Daddy.” Tori buried her face in my shirt.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Nana said as she went out the front door.

I jiggled the girls playfully as I carried them to their bedroom and put them on their respective twin beds.

A talk wasn’t necessary. There was nothing to discuss.

As if I’d ever tell my nana how I hooked up with a gorgeous stranger—and in my truck, no less. Yeah, not happening.

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