Page 83 of One Touch

“Daddy’s age?”

Ethan cut in. “Yep, you got it right. Lily and I are exactly the same age.”

“Aren’t you meant to be off fixing cars or fighting fires or something?” I shot back, pursing my lips.

“Not today.”

“Shame.”

“Don’t worry,” Ava said. “I know Daddy’s a hundred years older than you. It’s why you two can’t date each other, isn’t it?”

The question hung between us for a moment.

Ethan caught my eye, his face unreadable. “That’s one of about two million reasons,” he finally said.

“What are the other one million, nine-hundred and ninety-nine thou—”

“We don’t feel that way about each other,” Ethan said.

“Right,” I agreed. “That’s the most important reason.”

“Okay,” Ava said. She looked sad all of a sudden.

“Everything all right, Raver?”

“Yeah. I just like Lily.”

“I like you a lot, too,” I said, scooching over so that I was right next to her. “And I like your dad. But he and I aren’t going to get involved.”

“I know.”

“Maybe it’s confusing because we’re all living together like this, huh?”

Ava nodded. “Can you live here forever?”

“No,” I said, smiling. “But we’ll still be friends. Deal?”

I caught Ethan’s eye. He looked away.

“Okay,” said Ava. “Maybe we can do a book club.”

“I love that idea!”

“We can meet every day and talk about books together.”

“Maybe not every day,” Ethan said gently. “Lily’s busy at her store. And you’ve got school.”

“Every other day.”

“We’ll work it out,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze. “And I’m not going anywhere immediately. Not until your dad finishes his training.”

Ava nodded. “I hope he fails all his exams and has to train forever.”

“Watch it, kiddo,” said Ethan. Despite his grin, I could see the sadness in his eyes.

“And if you decide that you want to marry Dad in the meantime, then that could work, too,” said Ava.

I felt my cheeks flush. “It’s not going to happen, sweetie.”

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