Page 14 of After the Vows

“Girl shit?”

“Can you get Lucas for me?”

“He’s tied up at the moment.”

I groan. “Are you still hazing him?”

Weston chuckles. “It’s not my fault he thought he could handle the escaped sheep by himself.”

“Can you let him know I took Natalia shopping?”

“I will. Uh oh. Gotta go. Lucas is not the sheep whisperer he thought he was.”

I shove my phone in my pocket. “Good news. We’re going shopping.”

“Um.” Natalia bites her bottom lip. “Can we maybe go to another town? I don’t want anyone to see me.”

I pat her shoulder. “Don’t you worry. We’re not merely going to another town. We’re going on the mainland and getting manicures. The day a woman gets her first period should be celebrated.”

“I’ve never had a manicure before.”

“It’s your lucky day.”

I want to make it a happy day for her. I want her to forget all about the other kids witnessing her panic when she realized she had blood on her shorts.

We arrive back on the island three hours later. When I pull into my driveway, the front door next door opens and Lucas steps out. I guess the sheep crisis is over.

“He looks mad,” Natalia mutters.

I don’t disagree. He’s got his arms crossed over his chest again. If he’s trying to be intimidating, he’s failing since all I can think about is how I want him to use those arms to lift me up and shove me against the nearest surface.

Stop it, Chloe. No drooling over a man when you’re with his daughter. Boring rule but there you have it.

“Come on. I’ll walk you over.”

I grab the bags from the trunk while Natalia stands next to me biting her bottom lip. “Let’s go.” I steer her across the lawn to her house.

“When Weston said you were going shopping, I thought you were going to the drugstore. Not buying a new wardrobe.”

I follow Natalia and Lucas inside before I respond. “We did go to the drugstore. But we also got our nails done.”

He frowns. “Why do you need three big bags from the drugstore?”

“Shall we sit down and I’ll explain?”

“Dad,” Natalia whines. “Do we have to discuss this?”

I hand her the bags. “Why don’t you unpack and I’ll talk with your dad?”

“Dad?” He nods and she rushes off.

I wait until the door closes behind her before speaking. “I’m sorry. I did try to reach you. I thought you’d call me back and I could explain why we were gone so long.”

“I don’t have your number.”

“You could have asked Weston for it.”

“He claimed he didn’t have it either.”

---