Page 24 of Mind Pucked

“Thank God,” Oliver grumbles, walking past me toward the parking lot. “See you at the next practice.”

I wave at him and make a beeline for Hayden, whose Frozen shirt is already dirty from playing with the boys. She sees me and comes running, and I catch her, scooping her up.

Amelia comes over to us, a bright smile on her face as she watches us together. That look shouldn’t make me feel warm all over, but it does.

Maybe Felix is right—it’s just that I haven’t been on a date or even had a one-night stand for the past two years. It’s makingme desperate. I don’t know if I have any plans to change that anytime soon, but if my nanny keeps making me hard, I may not have a choice.

“Are you ready to eat and seeFrozen?” I ask Hayden, and she claps happily.

Amelia laughs at her reaction and leans in to tickle her, accidentally brushing my arm. Our eyes meet for a moment, and I swear the grin falls from her face before she moves away a few steps.

The mood gets better, and Vaughn stays away from us as we eat and the sun goes down. Just after sunset, the movie starts, everyone camped out in chairs or on blankets where we can see the large projection screen. Max, Hayden, and Dean’s kids are playing and dancing between our blankets as Amelia keeps a good eye on them.

With her here I can actually relax, and I’m tempted to just doze off, except that Hayden’s excitement as she stands up and gets ready to sing along to the songs has me remembering I don’t want to miss this. I have to hold all these memories for myself and for Lyla.

By the end of the movie, Hayden has tired herself out and is actually cuddling Amelia in a way I didn’t expect. I remain still and just watch them. Even Quinn notices and gives us the thumbs up. Hayden has known Quinn her whole life and still won’t do this with her.

It’s late, almost Hayden’s bedtime when the movie is over, and I have to carry her to the car. I buckle her in, thinking she’ll fall asleep on the way home, and then get in the driver’s seat next toAmelia. When the engine starts, Hayden pops up in the back seat like she was never tired at all.

Amelia and I laugh, and Hayden claps, pointing to Amelia. “Ami, Ami!” she calls her, and as I back out of the parking space Amelia turns her head so she can look at her.

“What is it, Hayden?”

“Did you see me? I danced with Max! Max is so fun! But Gabe, he did not like Elsa. That’s stupid.” I see her in the rearview mirror, crossing her arms over her chest with a sour face.

“Oh, well, I love Elsa. Maybe he just likes a different character.”

“Maybe,” Hayden concedes. “But then he chase me. All over the place, so I’m dirty.”

I blink, trying not to interject as she becomes a complete chatterbox with Amelia. She’s never done this either, and it warms my heart in a good but very dangerous way. I can see us both getting far too attached to this woman next to me.

What if she leaves? What if she’s too good and I can’t hold back?

I shake my head and turn my attention back to their conversation as I make the turn onto our street.

“You can have a bath tomorrow.”

“No, now!” Hayden wines.

Amelia shakes her head. “You need sleep. Besides, tomorrow means you have more time, so you can play with all your toys and have bubbles!”

“Bubbles!” That gets her attention quick. “Pink, smelly bubbles?”

Amelia looks at me as I pull into the driveway, confusion marking her face. I laugh. “It’s a fizzy bath bomb that she likes. It turns pink. That’s what she means. It smells like strawberries.”

“Oh.” She turns back to Hayden. “Well, if your dad can show me where they are, then I’m sure you can have one. That sounds so cool.”

“Very cool.”

I let Amelia get Hayden out of the car and follow them both up the stairs to Hayden’s bedroom. Amelia helps her brush her teeth and get into her pajamas, and once Hayden’s in bed she goes to leave the room, but Hayden squeals, “I want Amelia to read to me tonight! Hmph!”

I turn to her and shrug. “I guess tonight she gets what she wants.”

Amelia nods. “She’s a princess tonight.”

I trade places with her, trying not to touch any part of her as I go to leave the room while she and Hayden decide what book to read for bedtime. I sneak down the stairs, not wanting to disturb them while they’re building such a good connection. I go into the kitchen instead and instantly know I need a drink.

I lean against the counter and run my hand through my hair, trying to shove down all these conflicting emotions. This is what I wanted. I wanted Hayden to bond with someone—especially another woman. It’s just so hard seeing that it isn’t her mother or my wife.

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