Page 55 of Never Let You Go

Grace included her in her group of friends, and from what I’m hearing, she fits right in. She’s been hanging out with them—a lot. She hasn’t had dinner here in several days, at least not with me. There are occasional dents in the leftovers, though.

Is she avoiding me outside of work?

She turns halfway around on the sofa. “He’s here. Do you want to—Okay…” She settles into her initial position, her back to me. “No, we’re—I mean, I’m not going out… Okay… Oh wow…. Is she going to be okay? I see… Oh…okay… No… I don’t know… I’ll let him know. I’m here all evening. I can look after her… Sure. I’ll ask Christopher what he wants to do. You take care of your mom.” She twists her head my way. “That was Grace. Apparently, she was supposed to babysit Skye tonight?”

I grunt, “Yes.”

Skye pulls a Jack, slaps her hand on the table, and swipes up the deck of cards.

Alexandra continues. “Her mom twisted her ankle, so she wants to stay with her to take care of her and run to the pharmacy. She said you were supposed to go out? She’s asking if you could drop Skye off at her mom’s place instead of babysitting here? I can totally babysit Skye. I told her you’d let her know.”

Shit. I should just take Skye with me to that meeting. It won’t be fun for her, being at Emma’s office, but it shouldn’t be more than an hour.

“She might expect a call or a text message?” Alexandra insists when I don’t answer.

Losing interest in our card game, Skye crosses her arms. “I want to stay with Alek-zandra.”

“Aunt Shannon makes the best elbow noodles,” I argue.

Skye sighs. “If Aunt Shannon twisted her ankle, then who will be cooking?”

“It’s not all about food, bug.”

“You said she made the best—”

“Skye. Enough.”

“Whaaaat?” she whines. “Can I just please stay home with Alek-zandra?”

“Alexandra has to study.”

Alexandra stops twirling her hair, lifts her arm, and lets her thick mane cascade down the back of the sofa. “That’s totally fine with me. I’d love the company.” Her arm stays bent over her head, and she keeps teasing her hair with her fingers.

My brain is suggesting creative uses for the sofa. Alexandra’s head is perfectly aligned with my hips, so there’s that. And there’s the fact that the back of the sofa is like a cushioned ledge on which her supple body would fit perfectly, on her belly or on her back, while I—

“Daddy! Can I stay home with Alek-zandra?” Skye says, making the point that I’m no fun by stuffing the deck of cards back in its sleeve.

“If Alexandra is sure.”

“Oh I’m sure! Come here, bug,” she says, using my nickname for Skye.

“I’ll keep it to an hour, promise.”

“Take all the time you need,” she answers.

Skye hurls herself into the sofa. “Can I watch a cartoon?”

“How about… we set up an art studio,” Alexandra says.

Skye’s eyes widen.

“Come on. Paints. Brushes. The whole shebang.”

“The whole shebang!” Skye cries as she gets all her stuff out.

“Um. You sure about this,” I ask Alexandra.

“Hundred percent. Go out. Have fun.”

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