Page 106 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

“He has to stay! I told Santa he has to stay!”

Of all the reactions I expected, this isn’t one that I even remotely anticipated. Seeing Mira cry, I’m both baffled and concerned. To my surprise, it’s Darian who swoops in. “I’m staying for dinner, aren’t I? Doesn’t that count for something?”

Mira sniffles. “Where will you sleep?”

“Ah.” He scratches his head. “I have a hotel room—”

“You’re not staying here?”

“He’ll stay!” I burst out. “He can sleep on the couch. Right?”

I give him an awkward look, and Darian smiles and nods in agreement.

“But Janet’s dad sleeps in her mom’s room.”

I feel like I’m being cornered here. “Mira, that’s not a good idea. I don’t think your father will be very comfortable—”

“I don’t mind.” Darian shrugs.

“Yes, you do,” I say through gritted teeth. “You mind very much.”

“I really don’t,” he replies innocently.

“Can I also sleep in your room, Mom?” I’m starting to notice that she switches between “Mom” and “Mama” quite frequently. Now that she’s no longer upset, she’s back to calling me “Mom.”

I give in. “Sure.”

“So, we’re having a slumber party, then?” Darian says cheerfully, looking a lot more eager than I feel. “Good thing I brought snacks and toys!”

“You did?” Mira is delighted.

He goes over to where he put down his belongings, and she trails after him.

“Are these flowers for Mom?”

A wicked gleam enters Darian’s eyes. “Why, yes they are. Do you think she’ll accept them from me?”

“She will!”

Mira has always been mischievous, a little bit of a troublemaker, but this excitement she’s showing is different. I’ve never seen it before. When she walks over with Darian and he holds out the bouquet, I can’t bear to break her heart.

“Thanks.”

Darian grins. “So enthusiastic.”

“I’ll show you where the vase is. In the show Mary was watching, the girl put the flowers in a vase. Come on, Dad!” Mira grabs him by the hand, pulling him into the hallway, and as Darian lets hermaneuver him, for a moment, I think I see a sheen of tears in his eyes.

I sniff the bouquet absentmindedly.

This was the right thing to do. I have to accept that I don’t always make the right decisions at first. Mira needed her father.

But I feel a hint of uneasiness. She wants him to stay? He can’t stay. But what if she needs him to stay?

Am I willing to put aside my own emotions to do what’s right for Mira? I promised myself that I would give her everything she ever needed. But what if she needs Darian and me together?

Is that something I can give her?

Chapter 21

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