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Hollie starts to jump up and down in excitement and runs for her bedroom to change. “Come on, Mommy!” she calls, running to her bedroom. The sound of her humming the theme song from her room is the only sound as I turn to Rowan.

“You can’t get tickets. I’ve tried?—”

Rowan reaches into a bag and holds up three printed tickets. “Already got ’em. Lucky for us, Opp’s sister works at the Paramount in hospitality. She hooked me up, we’re in the staffbox so not on the floor like Troy’s tickets, but at least we’ll be there.”

I look up at him, registering what he’s telling me. I think I’m in shock.

This man.

“You…did that?” I ask in disbelief, on the verge of tears. “For Hollie?”

“’Course,” he says, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “She’s been talking about it since the day I met her, there’s not a fucking shot she’s not going.” He taps me lightly on the ass. “Now, you’re burning daylight, love, time to get ready. Got a costume for you too,” he says, handing me a bag with a grin.

I open and look inside it’s Tough Little Turtle’s costume.

“Perfect, right?” He smirks.

I don’t hesitate, I can’t. I throw my arms around his neck and kiss my own personal superhero with everything I have. He chuckles and kisses me back.

“Thank you,” I whisper to him, not knowing what else to add. There are no words. The fact that he not only went out of his way to get us tickets, but to also make Hollie believe Troy didn’t let her down, is more than my heart can take at the moment.

He kisses me once more, smirking into my lips.

“Never thought you’d be wearing a turtle costume for our first official date, but I gotta tell you, I think you’ll still find a way to make it look hot.”

I back up and stick my tongue out at him. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest, and I realize this is what it feels like to be a team. To be able to count on someone other than yourself where your child is concerned.

I let the night ahead of me register as I make my way down the hall to help Hollie get ready.

We’re going toSuperPetswith Hollie for our first official date and there’s no other way I’d rather spend it.

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I glance down at the photograph in my hand, myself and Rowan with Hollie and Power Piggy during intermission. Rowan and I look ridiculous in our costumes, but Hollie is smiling bigger than I’ve ever seen her smile.

I turn to peek at her now, snoozing in her car seat.

She’s worn right out and probably won’t even wake up when I transfer her from the truck to her bed, but she had the time of her life dancing and singing for two straight hours.

“She said this was the best day of her life.” Rowan smirks as he passes the county line thirty minutes outside of Sky Ridge. “I just—fuck, I’m just so grateful I got to be there,” he says as he reaches over and squeezes my thigh. His cape is no longer around him; it’s between us in the console with his glasses, but he’s still my hero for the day.

I reach down and place my hand over his in the dark as the radio croons to us softly through the truck speakers. The moment my hand touches his, heat slinks up my arm. Whatever I was feeling for him before has grown tenfold now, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t scare the shit out of me. But that voice saying I’m afraid is being drowned out by the voice that’s telling me to notice the ripple of veins and muscle in his forearm, or the way he somehow looked hot in his over the top Power Piggy costume. I think back to the way he sang with Hollie tonight, how he picked her up and pointed things out to her at the show, and the way she snuggled into him as he carried her back to the truck.

I look out the window and feel my phone buzz in my pocket.

Teddy

That man deserves a reward, blow job?

It’s not always about sex.

Teddy

Maybe not, but gosh Vi, a man who puts your daughter first? Without hesitation?

He’s pretty great…

Teddy

blow job great?

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