Page 36 of Fallen Ink

“Yes, but I couldn’t hear what you said. What’s up? Are you on your way?” She should have been well on her way by then if she was going to make it in time, and the fact that she’d called gave him a bad feeling.

“Damn, I knew there was an issue with my phone. I need to get a new one. Anyway, I was halfway there when there was an issue at work. I had to go in. I tried to call, but I didn’t get ahold of you. Then I called Mom and Dad, and they were on a date about an hour away—which yay for them but it sucks. Then I called Sienna, but she didn’t answer. Only texted me back saying she was finally on a date but that she would cancel right away to come and watch Daisy if you needed her. I didn’t really know what to say to her, and now she’s waiting on my call. Well actually my text because she said not to call so you can probably tell what kind of date it is.”

Mace pinched the bridge of his nose. When Violet got anxious, she rambled, but the fact that she’d gone through all of this after only calling him once and not thinking of the house phone meant that she was truly sorry for not being able to make it down to watch Daisy.

“It’s okay. I’ll figure something out. Thanks for trying and, hell, thanks for working hard to try and get me out tonight.”

“I’m really sorry. But, of course, I was doing my best for you. This is a date with you and Adrienne. This is like whoa important.”

He shook his head, glad that she couldn’t see the smile on his face. “It’s just a date. Stop freaking out.”

“I’ll freak out if I want to. Now, I have to go, but know I’m sorry. And then go hug that baby girl of yours because I’m going to miss our sleepover!”

They said their goodbyes, and he hung up, wondering what the hell he was going to do. Then his doorbell rang, and he figured that he’d just run out of time. Adrienne had said she’d come to his place and pick him up since it was her idea for the date, and since he liked making her smile, he’d agreed.

But now, she was here, and he would either have to cancel their date completely, or find a way to make it work with a hyper four-year-old in the room.

This was so not going the way he’d planned.

When he opened the door, however, he got tongue-tied and found himself unable to speak at the sight of Addi in tights and a slinky black dress under a white coat. How she hadn’t slipped on the ice in those shoes, however, was something he would have to ask her later.

“Hey, you,” she said, her teeth chattering. “Didn’t really think about how much skin is actually showing through thin tights.”

He pulled her inside and kissed her temple, closing the door behind her so he wouldn’t let out all of his heat. “You look…well…as soon as I come up with words to adequately describe how you look, I’ll let you know.”

She beamed at him but didn’t take off her coat, and he wasn’t sure if he should bother taking it off for her since he was still trying to formulate the next parts of the evening that was now completely off track.

“Well, that’s the best way to say hello.”

“So, there’s a slight change of plans,” he said, wincing.

Daisy ran up to Adrienne at that moment and threw herself against her legs. Addi almost fell off her heels, but he gripped her tightly against him, the three of them making quite the trio.

“Be careful, Daisy,” Mace warned.

Addi just laughed. “You’re like my niece, Livvy. She almost knocked me down yesterday at my family dinner.”

“Livvy’s three, right? She’s younger than me but not by a lot.” Daisy looked up at Addi with stars in her eyes, and something inside Mace shifted. He wasn’t sure what it was, or if he would ever be able to name it, but he knew he needed to be aware of it.

“Yep. She’s only a little younger than you.” She looked at Mace quickly before looking down again at Daisy. “Maybe, one day, you’ll meet since I think you two would get along great.”

“Can we, Daddy? Can I meet Livvy?”

Addi winced, but Mace just nodded. “Sure. We’ll try to make that happen.” He leaned over and brushed his lips along Addi’s temple while Daisy did twirls in the living room in her excitement. Then he leaned over and whispered. “Stop stressing. You’re in my life. You’re in hers. Even if we’re just friends. Okay?”

Her shoulders visibly relaxed, and he hated that he’d made her feel as she had. They were both walking this line and, somehow, they would find a way through it.

“I have bad news, however,” he continued. “Daisy, honey, come here for a bit and stop making yourself dizzy.”

She blinked, stumbled a bit, then skipped over. “Dizzy Daisy?”

Addie laughed and ran her hand over Daisy’s hair. “Dizzy Daisy sounds like a My Little Pony.”

“She’d be my favorite if she was,” Daisy said honestly, and the adults laughed with her.

“Like I was saying, I have some bad news.” He cleared his throat as his two girls looked at him. “Violet had to go into work, and the rest of the family is out. That means our date might be a little different. Not canceled, but different.”

Addi’s eyes looked disappointed for a fraction of a second before she smiled. “So you’re saying we get to hang out with little dumpling for dinner?” She hugged Daisy close, and his daughter giggled.

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