Page 69 of After the Vows

“Are we talking about the first movie or the second one?” I ask.

“Duh. The first movie. It’s way better.”

“I don’t know. I think I prefer the second one.”

“We have both. We can watch them both.”

“And then compare which one is the best?”

“Dad.” Natalia pulls on Lucas’s sleeve. “Can we? Can we? Please!”

“The game is on today.”

Natalia rolls her eyes. “There’s always a game on.”

He pretends to think about it. “I guess I can watch the game on my tablet while you watch the movie.”

“Yes!” She throws her arms around him.

I stand. “I’ll make the popcorn.”

“I’ll get the movie.” Natalia darts to the living room and dumps a box of DVDs on the floor.

I find a bag of popcorn and throw it in the microwave. While it pops, Lucas sidles up to me.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

“For what?”

“Spending your free day watching movies with my daughter. You must have better things to do.”

Better things to do than spend the day with him and his daughter? I don’t think so. There’s no other way I want to spend my time.

I can hardly tell him how I’m falling in love with him and his daughter, though. He made himself perfectly clear. This marriage is a professional agreement. Nothing more. He wouldn’t even have sex with me until I agreed it wouldn’t change our relationship.

“What else am I going to do with this raging hangover? Go cliff diving?”

“You dive off cliffs?” He shakes his head. “Why am I not surprised?”

I don’t actually dive off cliffs but the microwave dings before I have a chance to correct his assumption.

I pour the popcorn into a bowl and gather drinks for everyone. When I enter the living room, Natalia is curled up on the sofa next to her dad under a blanket. I hand her the bowl before settling in a chair.

“What are you doing?”

“Watching a movie.”

“No, silly. Why are you sitting over there?” She pats the empty space next to her. “Come sit with me.”

I hesitate for a second. I shouldn’t get too used to having these two in my life. It’ll only hurt more when I’m no longer needed.

But, let’s face it, I’m not exactly known for making good decisions.

I move to the sofa and cuddle under the blanket with Natalia. Lucas murmursthanks.

He doesn’t need to thank me for loving his daughter. She’s easy to love. I’m afraid her dad is easy to love, too.

Chapter 24

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