Page 7 of My Daddy Valentine

I nod, my hands tightening around the straps of my bag. It’s the same curt answer he always gives me. If he wanted to talk about the gallery, he would. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t care about that conversation. He only seems interested in work when it suits him.

We walk in silence for a while longer, and I start to wonder if this is how it’s going to be every day. Me, trying to fill the space between us, and him, barely acknowledging my attempts.

We reach the entrance of the building where Ava and I live, and I can finally breathe a little easier. The door opens with a quiet click as I pull out my keys. But before I step inside, my phone rings in my bag.

I take it out, already knowing who it is.

“Kimmy,” I say with a smile, stepping back from the door. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Ella!” my sister’s voice crackles through the phone. “I need you to help me with the wedding details! It’s coming up so soon, and I’m freaking out.”

I step out of the building to get a little more privacy. “I’m so excited for you, Kimmy! My little sister is getting married! Okay, so what’s going on? What do you need help with?”

I can hear her sigh in relief. “Okay, so the flowers... I can’t decide between roses or peonies. And I’m not sure what kind of cake to go with. Do you think lemon or chocolate would be better?”

My mind starts racing with thoughts of her wedding. It’s been a whirlwind for her, and she’s been leaning on me a lot lately. I want to be there for her, even though we’re so far apart.

“Well, I think peonies would be gorgeous,” I say, walking further down the street. “And the cake... both sound amazing. Maybe we can do a little tasting when I visit next week? I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

Kimmy laughs. “Thanks, Ella. You’re the best. You’re still coming, right? I need my maid of honor to be there to keep me calm.”

I smile, my heart swelling. “Of course, I wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world.”

Simon stands in the doorway, staring at me as I speak to Kimmy. He doesn’t move, doesn’t interrupt, but I can feel his gaze on me, sharp and intense. I lower my voice slightly, trying to keep the conversation private. “Yeah, I’ll be there. We’ll figure out the last-minute details soon. I’ve got some things to do here, but we’ll talk again tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay,” Kimmy says, sounding relieved. “Love you, Ella.”

“Love you too,” I reply, ending the call and slipping my phone back into my pocket.

Simon’s eyes are still fixed on me, and I wonder if he overheard everything. I didn’t exactly try to keep my voice down.

“So... wedding stuff,” he says, his tone slightly dry. “Your sister getting married?”

I nod, feeling suddenly awkward under his gaze. “Yeah. Kimmy’s getting married soon. I’m the maid of honor. It’s... kind of a big deal.”

Simon doesn’t say anything for a moment, but I can tell he’s processing what I just said. It’s weird, this shift in our dynamic. He’s never shown an interest in my life—mylife outside of the gallery. And yet here we are, standing at the door of the building, talking about my sister’s wedding.

“That’s... nice,” he says finally, his voice a little softer than usual, though still guarded.

I glance at him, confused. “Yeah, it is. I’m really excited about it.”

He clears his throat, running a hand through his hair, then turns to head inside. “Well, enjoy your evening. Don’t stay out too late. You’ve got work tomorrow.”

I blink, thrown off by his abruptness. “Right. See you tomorrow.”

As I step into the building, I can’t help but wonder why he seemed... almostinterestedin the details of my sister’s wedding. It’s strange. He’s always so closed off, so focused on work. But just for a moment, it felt like something else—something more human was in that conversation.

I shake my head, pushing the thought aside. He’s still Mr. Grumpy Mentor, after all.

But for the first time, I find myself wondering if there’s more to him than I’ve realized.

5

Simon

I’m trying to focus. Really, I am.

But it’s almost impossible.

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