Page 21 of Detention with Daddies

Liv and I have gotten to know quite a bit about each other, but I’m still learning more about her. That’s part of the fun. Wecan talk for hours, and I discover something new about her every day.

Meeting Ruby is a big step. On both ends. I need to see her interact with my daughter. She’s the most important woman in my life, and I’ll be hard pressed if Ruby doesn’t like Liv.

“This is the first time I’ve met one of your girlfriends.” Ruby chews on the end of her hair.

I laugh. “I haven’t had any girlfriends, Ruby. No one since your mom.”

Her dark blue eyes are round, almost accusing. “But that girl at your work, the blonde. Barbie?”

I sigh. Yeah, the bane of my existence as a newly single father. “Britney. She’s interested, but I’m not, baby. Since when are you interested in my love life?”

She shrugs and tucks her hair back from her face. “I don’t want you to be lonely.”

It sounds like a partial truth. Has her mom been pumping her for information again?

“I’m not lonely, baby. I have you.”

Ruby rolls her eyes. “It’s not the same thing, and you know it.”

I do know it, but I also haven’t been in the right place to date anyone since her mother. We’ve been divorced nearly a year, but the entire process of breaking our lives in two had me reevaluating everything in it.

Custody was the worst. I didn’t tell Ruby that she had to stay with me. That she shouldn’t go live with Lisa.

I told her that I wanted her to be safe and happy, and where, that was up to her. That I would love her no matter what.

She chose me, and it didn’t go over well.

Lisa wanted the child support.

And she’s kept my life under a microscope ever since.

Granted, that’s not why I keep turning Britney down, but it’s a good enough excuse.

“Well, I like Olivia, and I just want to make sure you like her too. I think you will.”

Her mouth flashes in a quick smile before it fades, like she doesn’t quite believe me. But Olivia is sweet. Kind. Smart. I have a feeling they’ll get on well.

It doesn’t take long to get to the field, and Olivia is already leaning against her car on her phone. Her red hair down around her shoulders, the wind teasing it across her face and throat.

Ruby turns to me. “She’s pretty, but is she your type?”

I send my daughter a look. Certainly, she’s not so shallow. “She is. Your mom was the one who was out of the ordinary for me. Believe it or not.”

Ruby peers at me in a way that I can’t quite decipher. It’s not quite disbelief. Not quite calculating. I hate how her being a teenager is affecting the way we communicate. Even if I’ve been expecting it.

“Okay,” she says, tilting her head to look at Olivia as we park.

Liv looks up as I pull in beside her, and her smile is big and bright.

“Ah.” Ruby’s eyes narrow, but it doesn’t look mean. Or upset.

“Ah, what?”

She blinks at me for a second. “Just, ah.”

“Are we going to unpack this later?” I gesture between us.

Ruby shakes her head. “No. Just…observing.”

---