Page 109 of Everlasting Love

“Because you love our daughter and would do anything for her.” Vi lands a kiss on my cheek, and I wrap my arm around her, tugging her into me. I never seem to get enough of her. “And because the school decided it was a good idea to include daddies in book week this year.” She snickers and raises her eyebrows at me.

“This is true, but I think this is going too far.” I turn to the left, studying the giant green wings rising from my back. “Where’s the shirt that goes with this?” I’m sure there was a shirt in the photo.

Vi’s eyes skate away from mine, and she bites her bottom lip. Teasing out the bottom of her hair, she looks back at me. “Uhm … it didn’t come with a shirt.” She brings her hand up to smooth over the silver adornment that rests over my shoulders and drapes over the top portion of my chest, barely coveringmy nipples. “You look amazing without it, though.” She licks her lips, and I flick my eyes between hers, paying attention to the slim line of China blue that’s shrinking by the second. “All the other daddies are going to feel so inadequate next to you,” she breathes then her eyebrows slash down, causing creases between her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I drop my hand to her ass and pull her body against mine, squashing her breasts against me. We both groan at the sensation. If only we were both naked.

“Daddy!” Jas twirls into our freshly renovated bedroom. “Look at me!” She freezes in place when her eyes land on me. “Wow! You’re the best fairy king I’ve ever seen.”

My chest puffs up with pride that she thinks I’m the best fairy king she’s ever seen … and well … maybe the costume isn’t so bad after all. I grin at Jas. “Thanks, Angel.” I hold up my hand and gesture for her to turn around, which she does with her lips spread wide. Her rainbow tutu flares out as she turns, her chestnut locks that Vi decorated with a halo of colorful ribbons flow down her back, and I grin at how colorful her princess fairy costume is. When she completes the turn and faces me again I tell her, “You look beautiful.”

She tilts her head to the side and tucks her chin into her shoulder. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Okay, well, we’d better get going. We don’t want to be late. Parking will be a nightmare today.” Vi scoots us out of the bedroom and downstairs where Jasmine collects her school bag. As soon as Jas tries to climb into the car, we realize our mistake.

“I don’t fit, Mommy!” Jas’s bottom lip trembles and Violet crouches down to her level.

“We’ll take the wings off for now. Okay?”

Jas nods and Violet carefully removes the wings. I’m going to have the same issue, so I remove my wings too, which are probably four times the size of Jasmine’s. Now I wish I had ashirt to wear because I feel ridiculous. We lay the wings carefully in the back and reverse out of the driveway, listening to Jas’s favorite song, which she sings loudly from the back seat.

I smile to myself.

Did I ever think I’d dress up as a fairy for book week at school?

Nope. Not even in my dreams did I think this was a possibility.

Am I happy about it?

You bet your ass, I’m happy about it.

Ecstatic.

I turn into the parking lot at school and find an empty spot which is a miracle on a day like this. I look around at the other fathers and not one of them is exposing as much flesh as I am. “Are you sure it’s appropriate for me to go shirtless?”

Vi glances around the car, then turns to me with a shrug. “It’s the costume. It’s not like you’re showing anything.”

I’m still not convinced as we climb out of the car and grab the wings from the back. Vi helps Jas put hers on, and as I struggle to get my arms through the elastic straps, someone wolf whistles across the parking lot. I snap my head up and narrow my eyes to find Toby walking toward me with Poppy’s hand securely tucked in his. He looks like he’s about to step on stage with his guitar slung across his body. Poppy’s hair is teased up and she has a blue and red lightning bolt painted across her face. Cass walks behind, holding Daisy’s hand with their three-month-old daughter strapped to her chest.

When they reach me, Toby slaps me on the back. “Nice wings, man.” He snickers, raising a single eyebrow.

“Where’s your costume?” I grunt.

“I’m a rock star. Thisismy costume.” He smirks and I roll my eyes. “Poppy’s David Bowie, and I’m her lead guitarist.”

“What book is that from?”

He shoves his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “Starman: David Bowie, the definitive biography.”

“And how does that meet the theme of book week?”

“Music transports us to magical places.” Can’t fault him there. He scans my costume, helping me to straighten the elastic holding my wings on. “And what are you?”

I raise my brows and stand tall. “Jas and I are garden fairies. I’m the king garden fairy, and she’s the princess garden fairy because fairies love nature and use their magic to care for all of the plants and animals,” I say with pride.

Toby nods thoughtfully. “Makes sense.”

“Rosemary,” Jasmine sings and Cass bends down so she can kiss her baby cousin.

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