Page 28 of Why Not Us?

Taylor brings over the pot of spaghetti noodles and I go back to get the garlic bread out of the oven. Together, Taylor and I bring everything to the table while Adalie sits in the same spot she’d been sitting in before. Dani comes back and we sit and eat. Adalie doesn’t say much as we quiz Dani on her spelling words. When we’re done, we move on to our next nightly tradition, saying the best part of our day.

Dani says it was sketching with Adalie. Taylor tells us the best part of his day was riding his motorcycle to work this morning and home this afternoon. When it comes to my turn, I want to say every time Adalie smiled at me tonight, but that would be weird, so instead, I choose an easy second: when Dani gave me a hug after school.

She laughs. “That’s silly, Dad.”

I just shrug.

Dani turns to Adalie. “You’re next. What was the best part of your day?”

“Sorry to kind of put you on the spot,” I say. “If you don’t want to—”

But Adalie smiles. “It’s okay. Mine is really easy. Like Dani, the best part of my day was sketching with you.”

Dani beams. And for the first time, I’m a little concerned. I can see in my daughter’s eyes that she’s already falling in love with Adalie. I mean, who can blame her? But I don’t want my daughter to get hurt.

Which is why nothing can happen between me and Adalie. She had been right before. The contract between Blue Vista and Hops Scotch would make things complicated between us. But that look on my daughter’s face is far more important to keep intact.

After dinner, Dani clears the table, helping Taylor put away the leftovers, then takes my phone upstairs to call her mom.

Taylor loads the dishwasher while Adalie and I sit at the island.

“Does she call her mom every night when she’s here?” Adalie asks.

I nod. “And when she’s with Katie, she calls me every night. We usually talk for about half an hour before she gets ready for bed.”

She smiles. She is so free with them, like it’s so easy for her to be happy. “It’s nice that you and Katie work so well. I can tell how happy Dani is. It can be hard for kids with divorced parents.”

“Katie and I were never married. We actually weren’t really dating. I don’t even think of her as my ex. Honestly, we were just young and irresponsible. But that changed really fast when she got pregnant.”

“Still. You seem to co-parent well, from the little I’ve seen.”

Her praise shouldn’t make me feel as good as it does, but I’m coming to the point where I no longer question my reaction to her.

Taylor finishes with the dishes and turns on the washer, turning to lean against the counter across from us.

“Nate mentioned you wanted to get out of your comfort zone. What kinds of things are you thinking of?”

She twists her hands together and looks at me to answer the question. She’d already told me she wanted me to help decide on the things we’d do, and I have a few ideas.

“How would you feel about bungee jumping?” I ask, watching as her face goes pale, freckles standing out on her nose. Her fingers still, clenching together until the skin goes white.

“Maybe we can start with something a little easier?” she says, her voice small. “Work our way up to jumping off a bridge?”

I snort. “Anything you say, princess. I have a different idea for next week, anyway. Can you skate?”

She wrinkles her nose in that adorable way again. “Not well.”

“I can work with not well.”

Taylor straightens and goes to my kegerator, the small fridge with two beer taps on top. He pours me the stout I made at my home brew set up in our storage space. He hands it to me before pouring the lager for himself.

“You gonna take her to the rink?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I say, taking a sip. “I was thinking we could shoot a few pucks.” I turn to Adalie. “Did you want a beer?”

“No. I have to drive home.”

Taylor laughs as he brings his beer over to lean on the counter again. “You’re that much of a lightweight?”

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