Page 128 of Return To You

A Freak-Out Moment—And I Want This Too

Skye looks so much like you, I thought she was your daughter.

Yeah, a lot of people think—Ohmygod!! What is he saying now? I reread the title, and then the note.

Am I understanding this correctly?

Ohmygod.

I think I am.

But I don’t think I want a child with a long-distance father. That doesn’t seem… on the other hand…

The next day, after dropping my clothes in the donation bin at the church, I text the girls.

Me

who’s down for a trip to the Grange?

Alex

Yup

Haley

Finally

Chloe

What’s the Grange again?

Kiara

Who’s buying

Autumn

I have a discount there

Chloe

I remember now. LOVE THAT PLACE

Me:

Kay we’ll need 2 cars. Sunday work for everyone?

My last message gets varied emojis and no protests. It’s a date.

The Grange is a large consignment barn that doesn’t accept people’s crap, but rather serves as an outlet for furniture stores, high-end hotels revamping their still-good furniture, and the occasional treasure from an estate. The day we meet up is hot as hell, and we’re all in shorts and tank tops. Alex brought Skye with her, and she jumps into my arms. “Alek-zandra said I could have a princess bed. Will you help me look for one?’

“If you’ll help me look for a dining room table and chairs and stuff for the deck.”

Skye wiggles out of my arms, grabs my hand, and drags me inside. Stopping in her tracks, she frowns. “What kinda stuff?”

Heck if I know. “I’ll know it when I see it.”

“Well, I know exactly what my princess bed needs to look like.”