Page 89 of My Mistake To Make

I smile, and he laughs. ‘They both are, but they’re awesome.’ I concur—they are.

‘Did you have a good day? You’re soaked.’ I pull at his shirt.

‘It was rough today. I was on the roof.’ The idea jolts me, the thought of him up there any day sounds terrifying, and the idea of him up there in this weather is unbearable. ‘What? Are you worried for me?’ he asks, smirking slightly, and I shake my head.

‘No, I’m worried for my roof, big oaf like you.’

He laughs, and I can’t stop myself from stepping forward and wrapping myself around him.

‘Do you want to come in and get dry? I can chuck your clothes in the dryer.’

‘You’re just trying to get me naked.’ Well, that would be an added bonus. ‘I can’t. Jessie is coming back tonight. I don’t knowif she’ll be back in time to get Bo or if she’ll be getting her tomorrow, but I need to be there in case.’

I take a breath and step back. ‘When are you meeting the lawyer?’

‘Wednesday,’ he answers without any hesitation, and I know he just wants to get this done.

‘Okay, well, you need to get back and get changed then before you catch a cold.’

‘One minute you want my body, the next you want me gone.’ He steps back and clutches his chest as though it hurts, and I laugh.

‘Get off my property,’ I call out, amusement lacing my words as he dramatically stumbles down the steps and backs toward his truck.

‘Call you later,’ he says, offering a sly wink as he climbs in, and I grip the porch railing, holding tight as happiness tries its best to burst out of me. This man is wonderful, and even if only in secret, in this little bubble we have up here, he’s mine.

Why Do You Think I Put It On?

Doug

‘Douglas.’ My sister smilesup at me from her position behind her desk, and I nod.

‘Breanne.’

She stands to hug me, and I sag, realizing how much I need the contact.

‘How’d it go, honey?’

I slump into the chair opposite hers. She arranged a meeting with a lawyer friend of hers from college, so out of courtesy, she’s the first one I want to talk to about it.

‘Great.’ I blow out a long breath, relief pouring from me. ‘She was amazing. I need to fix up my housing situation because she thinks the courts may still feel Bo is better off in Jessie’s house than Mama’s, but with everything else, she thinks I have a shot, Bree.’

‘Of course, you do. You’re an incredible father.’ I see the tears welling in her eyes. I love my sisters so much, and they adore their niece.

‘Thank you for helping me out with this.’

‘Always, honey. Anything.’ She smiles, genuine in her love for me, and I nod.

From Bree’s office, I head home to shower and debrief Mama, Merv, and Zoe, who stopped by before work. Since Jessie picked Bo up on Monday night, I’ve hardly heard from her, although Bowie always calls to say goodnight before she goes to bed. We live less than ten minutes from Jessie’s place, but walking into the lion’s den at bedtime is not an option. Depending on her mood, once Bo is asleep, Jessie would be on me one way or another like a bitch on heat or just a plain bitch, both unwelcome, so the calls have to do.

I sit on my bed and wait for the call, my smile picking up when it comes.

‘Hi, Daddy,’ she says, all tucked up in bed with her ugly-ass gibbon stuffed toy. She loves the damn thing and has since the second she saw it in the zoo gift shop when she was two.

‘Hi, honey. You all ready for bed?’

She smiles and nods her head, snuggling Gibs closer under her chin, and my heart melts. Man, she’s adorable.

‘Okay, sweet girl, close your eyes and have the sweetest dreams, okay? I love you.’

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