Page 13 of The Hot New Single Dad Next Door

I step into the room and lower myself to the carpet to sit beside her. “You missing your mom?” I ask.

Sonya nods.

“Yeah. Me, too. But she’s coming to see you next week. You guys get to have a whole girly day together. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

She doesn’t answer.

“You know, Suny...” I shift a little closer to her. “My parents got divorced when I was your age, too. So, if you have questions or if you want to talk about it... you can talk to me. Or your mom. We both love you so much. You know that, right?”

To that, she nods.

“Good,” I say, relieved. I grab the basket and set it down by her dolls. “You sure you don’t want another mini muffin?”

Sonya eyes it.

I smile. I reach in and take one for myself. “Well, if you’re not gonna partake…” I peel off its paper cup and toss it into my mouth, not really expecting much, but... damn.

That’s a good muffin.

“Mmm!” I say, chewing. “Delicious!”

Sonya picks one up and does the same, slowly pulling at its paper.

“What did you think of the new neighbors?” I ask, getting a shrug in return. “Liam seems like a cool kid. Maybe you two will be friends.”

“Will you two be friends?” she asks, taking me by surprise.

“Me and Liam? I don’t know. He seems a bit young to be a drinking buddy.”

She just looks at me.

“Oh, you meant that woman?” I ask, laughing involuntarily. “I don’t think so. There’s... some complicated grown up stuff happening there.” I grab another muffin. “She’s a good baker, though. I’ll give her that. Pretty, too. She has some really big… qualities, but no. No.” I shake my head. “I don’t think we’ll be friends.”

Sonya enjoys her muffin.

I do, too.

Damn, that’s a good muffin.

Why is it with every box I unpack, the pile never seems to get smaller?

And when did I accumulate so much stuff?

Remember when I was a bachelor with a mattress on the floor? That was fun.

Still, I endure. I unpack books and stack them next to pieces of bookshelves I still need to put together. I carefully remove plates from packing foam and pile them in the cabinets next to drinking glasses and cereal bowls.

All the while, I keep one ear on the hallway, listening as Sonya plays in her bedroom. She’s supposed to be unpacking her clothes today, but… I won’t hold it against her. Laundry is boring.

Through my other ear, I hear a sudden roar outside, somewhere in the neighborhood. First at a distance, then closer and closer.

A motorcycle.

I walk to the entryway windows and look out, spotting it as it tears down our street. There’s a man on it, sans helmet, and I roll my eyes at that. Then I notice the smaller person in a little pair of overalls sitting in front of the rider, barely holding on.

Liam?

I plant myself at the window and watch as the biker rolls into Lottie’s driveway across the street. He parks the bike and stands up, helping Liam down. The two of them step onto the porch. The man knocks. He rings the bell. No answer.

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