Page 5 of Baby One More Time

“Oh. Good, I guess.”

He glances around and then waves at someone and takes off, looking back at me as he runs. “See ya later, Mr. Marino. I’ve got to go!”

I smile and wave. “Have fun!”

I glance around and see if I can see who he’s looking at but all I see is groups of kids squealing and milling around. Nobody sticks out.

I head for the barn where he said that I might find Connie. But when I search the aisle and all the kids I don’t see her anywhere.

Where the hell is my little girl?

CHAPTER 4

Connie

My heart beats crazy-fast when Seth jumps around the corner and scares the heck out of me.

“Dang it, Seth! Don’t scare me like that!”

He grins. “You’re too easy.”

I huff and smack his shoulder. Then I glance behind him. “Did anybody see you?”

He shakes his head and his hair whips into his eyes like a dog. “Nope!” He pops the p and smirks. “I think your dad was trying to follow me but I was too fast for him!”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Yeah. Dad doesn’t really run anymore. He’s too slow. He just walks on a treadmill at the gym and then he lifts weights.” I frown.

“Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, I know my Dad talked about your Mom and I saw them in their yearbooks. I looked it up because my Mom was always yelling about how he couldn’t love her like he loved Serena. She was always really mad about it but I don’t think it was Dad’s fault. She didn’t seem like she was ever happy around him.”

Seth shoots me a grimace. “I think it will be good. But why do you talk like that?”

I lift a brow at him. “What do you mean?”

“You sound too grown-up. Aren’t you the same age as me?”

I smirk. “I’m advanced for my age. I read an unabridged dictionary for fun. It was a good summer.”

Seth’s mouth drops open and I love the fact that I shocked him. That’s what I like doing more than anything. I want to shock the whole dang world.

But especially my Dad. He needs this. He needs someone. He’s been alone too long.

Seth said that his Mom has been really sad and that’s why she came home.

So if we can make them both happy with a little bit of fun at the same time, it seems perfect!

I lean my head into his and say, “Okay. Here’s what we’re gonna do….”

Game on, parentals.

CHAPTER 5

Lucian

The next day I’m on my way into work at the gym and I’m running behind because Connie is being a huge pain in the ass this morning. Usually she stays with the babysitter but today there was some kind of emergency and Mrs. Renault called to say that she couldn’t do it this morning.

So I’m dragging a sulky, glaring daughter who hasn’t said a word to me all morning and she’s giving me grief like you wouldn’t believe.

“Connie! Come on! I’ve got to go! That new class is starting today and I need to check and make sure the room is ready.” I turn away, muttering, “I don’t know why we have to do dance classes anyway. What’s wrong with what we already have?”

---