Page 70 of Wood You Knot

“Would it bother you if I…enjoyed hanging out with Nix?” I questioned, watching her closely for any telltales of sadness or doubt. But the grin that came to her face had me smiling too.

“No. Bella and Brielle say he has a crush on you. Do you have a crush on him?”

“A little bit,” I admitted. Daphne gave me a look that suggested she wasn’t buying my answer. “Okay, a lot. I like him a lot. He makes me feel happy.”

“Good. I like Nix. He’s nice! His jokes are a little lame, but we’ll work on that. Maybe Uncle Ed can teach him some good ones.”

“Maybe.” My smile grew as I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“Is he honest, Mommy?” Daphne asked, her little face crinkling in concern.

I took a moment to reply, weighing what I knew about Nix from before and what I’d seen from him recently. Nix donned no mask; he was who he said he was. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was authentic in his words and actions.

It wasn’t just in what I knew and felt—the whole town seemed to love him. He had the approval of the Hartley sisters, and as much as I tried to deny the magic of the love elixir, I had to admit the sisters seemed to have a pretty good read on people.

“Yes, I think he is.”

“Good.” She seemed satisfied with my answer.

“He wants to take us out on a date Friday night,” I told her.

“Both of us?” Her eyes widened with bewilderment.

“Yes, both of us. Would you like that?”

Daphne thought about it for a few moments, and then she nodded. “Yes.”

“All right, good. I’ll tell him we can go.” Leaning forward, I kissed her on the cheek. “Goodnight, Squirt.”

“Goodnight, Mommy.” I had almost made it to the door when she spoke again. “Mommy? If you marry Nix one day, will I be Bella and Brielle’s sister?”

“Marriage is a long way off,” I replied, growing a little concerned. “Like, a long way off. Right now, we’re just…boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“Oh, I know that. But…if you did marry him one day, would I be their sister?”

“No, but you’d be cousins.”

“Okay.” She nodded, accepting that answer. She wiggled in her bed, getting comfortable, and closed her eyes, a peaceful expression settling over her face.

I flicked out her light and closed the door softly, standing outside of it for a moment. I was surprised at how easy the conversation had gone, but then again…I hadn’t serial dated throughout her life. Warren was the only serious relationship I’d had, so she had some memories of me dating, but nothing like the memories I had of my mother.

* * *

Nix

On Friday night, I showed up at five thirty with another beautiful custom bouquet of flowers from Hartwood Creek Flowers for Sage, and a matching, slightly smaller one for Daphne. I knocked on their apartment door and waited.

A few moments later, Sage’s door swung open to reveal a dressed-up Daphne.

“Mommy’s still getting ready, but she said you could come in,” she informed me. She spotted the bouquets in my hand. “Are those flowers?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“Of course they are. Can’t take a girl out on a date without bringing her flowers,” I replied. “These are for you.” I handed Daphne her bouquet.

“For me?” she exclaimed, excitedly taking the bouquet from me. “They’re beautiful. Mommy, look what Nix brought me,” she shouted, whirling around and running down the hallway toward Sage’s bedroom.

Sage stepped out of her room, meeting her daughter in the living room. “Ooh, very pretty!” she complimented, her eyes rising to meet mine. She was wearing a sundress and a pair of white tennis shoes, her hair curled around her shoulders.

Daphne was in similar attire—a sundress and white tennis shoes, although her hair was braided in two thick braids down her back.

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