Page 29 of Outplayed

Why?

Yes, we’d had an amazing relationship back in the day, but how could he still think that? Why would he tell his daughter that?

Pushing those thoughts aside, I took my seat again and nodded. “Um, this house is huge for just you and Izzy.”

He chuckled as he checked the roast. “It is. But it reminded Izzy of a castle when we started looking. When her whole face lit up, I knew it was the one. We love the area, the peace to it, and I had hoped when Izzy starts school next year, she’ll enjoy the country schools more than she would have the city ones.”

“Does she go to kinder now?”

He leaned back into the bench and nodded. “She does. A few days a week. Trisha had already been living in Ballarat, so she helps with pickups and dropoffs when I’m busy with work. Though, I do try to do most of it.”

I just bet the kinder teacher loved it when Travis went there.

My lower stomach burned.

I wouldn’t admit it was jealousy.

“You have a beautiful daughter.”

His eyes warmed. “I do.”

We both looked towards the entryway when we heard the sound of tiny feet making a big slapping sound on the floor.

“Miss Violet,” Izzy yelled, entering the kitchen. “You should see my room. There’s fairies everywhere.” She grabbed my hand and tugged on it. “Come look.”

Travis chuckled. “How about you show her after dinner since it’s ready?”

She pouted, and I would have given her everything, but then she smiled. “Okay, Daddy.”

Daddy.

Travis was a father, and from what I learnt over sharing a meal with them, he was strict when needed, but other than that, he was the sweetest father, and she shone from his words, praises, and teasing. I honestly wasn’t sure I’d enjoy myself, worried I’d be too wrapped up in my own head, but I was wrong. They made sure to include me in every conversation. Travis even teased me when I pushed the beans aside, reminding me how I used to do the same when we used to date, how he’d hoped I’d grown out of it.

I screwed my face up. “That’s something I’ll never grow out of.”

“Does that mean I don’t have to eat my beans?” Izzy asked.

Travis shook his head. “Eat four at least.”

She groaned. So I tried suggesting, “How about we both suffer through it and eat just four.”

Izzy nodded eagerly. We picked one up and shoved it in our mouths. She didn’t seem to gag like I wanted to, but I held it down for her. Travis, of course, knew this and laughed hard.

But then… God, then, since he knew I was struggling, he took the other three from my plate and then Izzy’s and ate them for us. I wasn’t sure why his actions thawed my heart just a little more, but it did.

He winked. Izzy clapped and giggled.

I smiled and laughed more in that night than I had in a long time.

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