Page 83 of Unravel You

One Day at a Time

Valentina

“Wake up. Wake up. It’s your wedding day.” Max climbed on the bed and jumped up and down.

Luckily, Derek wasn’t here for the assault. He’d agreed to spend the night at a hotel. After all we’d been through, he didn’t want to tempt fate and see the bride before the wedding.

“Omigod, Max. Is this necessary? What time is it?” I rolled on my side, rubbing my eyes. It had to be at least seven in the morning.

“It’s six-oh-four. In the morning.”

“On a Saturday? Are you serious with this?” I pulled him down and cuddled him like a human pillow. “Let’s sleep a little longer.”

“Ms. Nikki is already up.”

“Yeah, well, she has superpowers, doesn’t she?”

“She said to tell you sorry about the noise.” He rolled on his belly, grabbed my phone off the nightstand, and started playing one of his word games.

“What noise?” The drilling started immediately, as if they’d been waiting for me to ask. Maybe Max was right. Time to get up and face the wedding day. “Did you eat breakfast?”

“Yes.”

“Who fed you at this hour?”

“Ms. Emily. She says I’m her new breakfast buddy. She usually eats alone, Mom.”

I’d always wondered how early Em had to wake up to keep pace with Derek’s crazy schedule. Most days he was out of the house by six in the morning. I knew that about him now. Such a small detail. How was it possible to love someone this much? I met Max’s gaze. Someone other than Max.

“Grandma Lilly was there too.”

“Grandma who?”

He gritted his teeth the way he did whenever he thought he was in trouble. “She said to call her that. She’s Dad’s mom.”

The morning light filtered through the french doors. Outside, the cacophony of an entire construction crew hammering and drilling filled the air along with the blasting thrumming of my chest. I supposed now that we were getting married, Derek would be his dad. We were a family, the three of us.

“Dad?”

“Can I call him that?”

“We can ask him.” I brushed his rosy cheek.

“He said to call him that. But do you think my real dad would be hurt?”

The bruises on my neck and the back of my head had healed since the last time I saw Max’s dad. Thanks to Derek and Tyler, he would never come near us again. “I think he would be okay with whatever you want.”

“I want Derek to be my dad.”

“Me too.” I swallowed my tears. Happy tears. Not too long ago I’d been sure it would be Max and me forever. “We’re lucky to have him. You know that, right?”

“I do, Mom. His cat is the best.”

“Of course. The cat. How could I forget?” I tickled him until he jumped off the bed.

“Knock. knock.” Nikki barged into the room with Anabelle and Annie at her heels.

“Does she need to be here? Say the word and she’s out.” Annie glared at Nikki.

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