Page 24 of My Daddy Valentine

Kimmy smirks, clearly enjoying whatever she thinks she’s figured out. “I think I know what kind of ‘late night’ you had, but don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.” She winks, and I laugh, shaking my head. I’m not sure how much of my sister’s teasing I can take before I start blushing, but I know I’m not fooling anyone.

Simon catches my eye again, his gaze flickering briefly to my father, who’s still as stoic as ever, his mouth set in a firm line. Simon’s the type who’s hard to read, and I can’t tell if he’s feelingthe tension my father’s been radiating or if he’s just completely unfazed by it all. Either way, it’s clear my father hasn’t exactly warmed to him yet.

“How’s everything coming along for tomorrow?” I ask Kimmy, trying to shift the focus away from the last few hours of my life and back onto the wedding.

Kimmy leans in, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement. “It’s coming together perfectly. The florist is all set, the caterers are working on the final touches, and the venue’s going to look stunning. I just need you to help me with the seating arrangements later,” she says, looking over at me with a smile. “You know, the boring stuff.”

I laugh, already dreading the inevitable seating chart drama that comes with every wedding. But I don’t mind helping. Kimmy’s always been the center of attention, always the one with everything in order. I just want her to have the perfect day.

After breakfast, Kimmy, Mom, and I stand up to leave the table and head to the venue. My father and Simon stay behind, deep in conversation. I can’t help but feel a small sense of unease at the way my father is eyeing Simon. I’ve never seen him like this, so... guarded. But I don’t have time to dwell on that. Kimmy’s pulling me toward the door, practically bouncing with excitement.

“We’re going to have so much fun today, Ella,” Kimmy says, linking her arm with mine. “I need your help with the little details. I just want everything to be perfect.”

I smile, squeezing her arm. “Of course. Anything you need.”

As we leave the restaurant and head toward the car, I catch a final glance at Simon, standing by my father’s side. There’s something about him standing there—tall, confident, unshaken—that makes me feel a little more certain about the choices I’ve made.

I try to push my lingering thoughts of last night to the back of my mind, focusing on the wedding preparations, on my sister’s big day. But it’s hard to keep my mind from wandering back to Simon. The way he looks at me. The way he touches me. The way he holds me close when no one’s looking, and I can feel the heat of his body against mine, his breath hot on my skin.

When we arrive at the venue, everything seems to fall into place. Kimmy is practically glowing as she checks off the final details, ensuring that the flowers are arranged just so, that the seating chart is perfect, that the music will play at exactly the right time. She’s the perfect bride, in control and confident, and I can’t help but admire her for it.

But as I go through the motions, my mind keeps drifting back to Simon. What will happen when we’re alone again tonight? Will everything still feel the same? Will we still have the same connection, or will the tension between us—both from the pretending and the reality of it all—be too much to handle?

I try to push those thoughts aside as we move through the final steps of wedding prep. Kimmy and my mother are deep in conversation about the last-minute touches, and I’m left standing there, wondering what exactly Simon and my father are talking about back at the resort.

I don’t have long to think about it before I get a text from Simon:Everything is going well here. Your father seems pleased. See you soon.

I read the message twice, trying to figure out the subtext. Was my father really pleased, or was he just tolerating Simon for my sake?

Either way, I know it doesn’t matter. We’ve got a job to do—pretend to be the perfect couple, make my father believe that I’m serious about my life and choices. And if Simon can help me do that, I’ll take it.

By the time we return to the resort, the sun is setting, casting a warm orange glow over the resort’s front lawn. I feel a sense of anticipation build up in my chest as I step into the lobby, knowing what comes next. The wedding tomorrow, the final pieces to the puzzle. But tonight... tonight will be different. I’ll be with Simon again, and I don’t think I can stop myself from wanting more.

And when we finally reach the door to our room, everything inside me says I should stop. I should pull back, keep this thing between us fake, and keep it under control. But when I look at Simon, standing there with that glimmer in his eyes, I know that I’m not going to be able to resist much longer.

Not when he makes me feel this way.

Not when I’m already so far gone.

15

Simon

I’m standing by the window, looking out at the expansive view of the resort grounds when the door creaks open behind me. I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Ella. I feel it—the shift in the air, the subtle change in the room’s energy as soon as she steps inside.

And then I do turn, and I see her.

She walks in like she owns the place, her eyes catching mine immediately. Her dress hugs her in all the right places, the fabric flowing softly as she moves. Her hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders, framing her face perfectly, and in that moment, everything else fades away. She’s stunning—there’s no denying it. She takes my breath away every time I see her, and I can’t help but feel a flicker of something deep in my chest.

I remind myself that this is just an act. We’re playing a part for her family. For her father.

But damn, it’s hard to remember that when she’s standing in front of me, looking like she belongs in a fairy tale.

She notices me looking, and a slight blush creeps up her neck, but she doesn’t look away. There’s a spark in her eyes now, something that wasn’t there before, and I know it’s because of what happened between us last night. I know she’s feeling it too—the pull, the chemistry, the electricity that seems to hang between us whenever we’re close.

I walk toward her, drawn to her, and stop just a few steps away. “You look...” I struggle to find the right words, but nothing seems adequate. “You look perfect.”

She smiles, but there’s a nervousness behind it that I can’t ignore. She’s still processing everything, I can tell. Her father, the wedding, the plan. It’s a lot, and I’m sure she’s feeling the weight of it all.

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