Page 88 of Love In The Spotlight

He almost spit when she said that. Laken was roaring with laughter. Even West was grinning.

“You know what?” Aileen said. “Maybe the pig needs to go to the bathroom now.”

“We can bring it to my bathroom upstairs,” Penelope said. “You can’t poop on the floor. I peed on the floor once and got in trouble.”

He rolled his eyes. “This was a bust,” he said. “I never saw this coming.”

“I’ve got a nephew about your age,” Lily said. “He loves pinatas. His older sister got one for her birthday. Do you want to see a video of what they did and how much fun it was? It’s not real. It’s just a toy.”

“Please,” he said to Lily.

She pulled her phone out and brought it over to his daughter and saw her giggling over the stick swinging and hitting and then the candy spilling out.

“I want to do that,” Penelope said. “It won’t hurt the pig?”

“No,” he said. “It won’t.”

“You trust Daddy, don’t you?” Janelle asked.

“Yes. Daddy’s the best,” Penelope said.

He couldn’t even describe how it felt to hear those words being said.

He’d never blindfold his daughter. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. She was too young anyway.

Everyone stood around while Penelope took swings at the pig and was batting it around.

After ten whacks, it split in the back and candy started to come out.

“It’s pooping,” Penelope said.

Laken moved over and nudged his arm. “Admit it, it’s funny.”

“It is. She’s having a great time and it just started. I can’t thank you enough for this.”

“I didn’t do anything,” she said. “Not yet.”

“You did. You suggested your family come and I know they are all busy.”

“It’s family,” she said. “They wouldn’t miss it. And Braylon was right. My mother would have wanted us all together anyway. This way it’s at your house and in the comfort of your home for your daughter.”

He wasn’t sure he would have traveled too far to be with their family and risk being seen in one of the condos. Not yet. But it’d be soon.

This party was just the start of his daughter getting some attention. And maybe he needed that moral support that Laken had said so many times she’d received.

It was foreign to him.

He should be happy that his mother at least called and talked to Penelope on her birthday a few days ago. He’d wanted to tell his mother about Laken, but something came up and the call ended quicker than he hoped.

He’d call them next week to let them know everything that was happening. They knew about the business, but they didn’t know he’d be going on a morning show to talk about it.

The least he could do was prepare them because it’d bring attention on them. Which was probably going to drive a bigger wedge in their relationship, but he had someone else to think about in his life.

Someone who loved him unconditionally.

As much as being a parent was stressful, it was a wonderful feeling to know how loved he was.

Then his eyes locked on Laken’s and he realized he was getting it from two people in this room.

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