Page 94 of On the Wild Side

I turn at the sound of Melody’s voice and smile. “Sorry, we were taking in the view.”

I bend down so Daisy can hop off of my back, and then we take our seats, and I order us breadsticks and pepperoni pizza before Melody leaves to put our order in.

“Brady?” Daisy’s eyes are suddenly serious as she studies me.

“Yeah, Princess?”

“Do you think that maybe someday I can call you daddy? Maybe if you marry my mommy and stuff?”

And just like that, my heart just explodes.

“I know you got mad the last time I said that, but?—”

“I wasn’t mad,” I assure her, leaning on the table. “I was just surprised. Sweetheart, I plan to be with you and your mommy forever. For as long as I’m still alive, I want to be with you guys. I’d like to marry Abbi, and I’m working out the details of asking her, but you have to keep that a secret between you and me, okay?”

“Like a good secret?” she clarifies. “Like a surprise?”

“Yes, that’s right. If your mom says yes, then you can absolutely call me Dad. I would be so honored and proud to be your daddy.”

Her whole face lights up at that. “I won’t tell Mommy. I love you, Brady.”

“I love you, too, Princess.”

“Pizza time,” Melody announces in a sing-song voice as she sets the steaming pie in the middle of the table. “I brought lots of ranch for dipping andlotsof napkins,” she says with a wink.

“Thank you,” I reply and scoop a piece onto Daisy’s plate. She’s already put a bite of hot cheese into her mouth and closes her eyes on a sigh, as if she’s never tasted anything so good.

“Yum.”

When we were finished eating,we took the leftovers over to Abbi’s office so she’d have something for dinner, too.

She looked fucking exhausted, but she put on a brave face for Daisy and me, giving us hugs and kisses, and even took a minute to scarf down a piece of pizza before she gently shooed us out so she could dive back in.

She was buried in white sheets and towels and had her computer screen up with a big calendar that she was swearing at.

“How many people are you down?” I asked her.

“Three,” she murmured. “Too many during this season. I’ll figure it out.”

“I can clean,” I offered with a shrug. “I’ll buddy up with you.”

“I can clean, too,” Daisy agreed, and to my horror, Abbi’s eyes filled with tears.

“Okay, I love you two, but I have to get to work so I can come home tonight. Thank you for dinner.”

I pulled her to me, my hands on her sides, and pressed my lips to her forehead. When she sighed, I tipped her chin up and gently kissed her lips. “I’ll see you soon.”

She nodded, and then I brought Daisy home.

We made it through the bedtime routine just fine, and then I got her settled into her bed and read her three stories before those pretty brown eyes drooped closed.

And now, it’s eight-thirty, and there’s no sign of Abbi.

Me: How’s it going there?

The bubbles bounce on the screen as I sit on the couch.

Blue Eyes: Just finishing up. I’ll do the last of it in the morning. Is Daisy in bed?

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