Page 119 of Choosing Forever
“Did you need a bag for her pen?” I ask, the tease coming naturally.
He looks down at the one in his hand, as if he forgot it was there. “Well, that, and something else.”
I hum, leaning back in my chair as he starts toward the desk. His outfit is very different than the ones I’ve seen him in recently. More professional, with a dress shirt and tight-fitting jeans. The hat is still there, though, like it always is. And did he trim the mustache? Because it almost fades into the new scruff on his jaw like he spent a few minutes in front of the bathroom mirror this morning.
He stops a couple of feet away from me and reaches into the bag. First, a bag of Twizzlers appears, and then, a frosty bottle of cherry Coke. Two of my favourite things in the entire world and the reasons behind my occasionally high blood sugar.
I roll my lips together, looking at him and melting. It’s not supposed to be this easy, but I’m already doubting that I’ll be able to make him work for anything. At this rate, I’ll be the one begging him for a chance, and that’s totally unacceptable.We haven’t even gone on a date yet, Delaney.
“Are those for me?” I ask, my tone even as I fight not to give myself away.
His tongue slips across his teeth as he grins and chuckles. “They are. I mean, I had them in my car, so I figured you might like them.”
“You keep unopened licorice and cherry Coke in your car?”
“He does! I usually eat the licorice. I’m not allowed to have the Coke, though,” Abbie says, focused on tying her bracelet together. “I ate half the bag yesterday.”
Surprise flickers through me. He reads my mind, nodding in silent confirmation.
“That’s a coincidence,” I whisper.
Darren sets everything on my desk, his fingers lingering. “They always find their way into my grocery cart. Almost like I can’t help myself.”
“I’m not complaining.”
“Good.”
“Are you leaving now, Dad?”
“Geez, are you in a hurry to get rid of me?” he asks, reaching over to tap the underside of her chin.
“You’re distracting Ms. Delaney.”
I let out a soft laugh and shrug. “You heard her.”
“Oh!” Abbie shouts, making me jump. “His bracelet. Give him his bracelet!”
“What bracelet?” he asks, staring directly at me despite speaking to his daughter.
“The one Ms. Delaney made you at the donut place. Before I hit her in the nose.”
My skin burns beneath my heavy blouse. I tuck my hair behind my ear and attempt to play this off with a loose laugh. “Oh, I don’t know where I put that.”
“You made me a bracelet?” Darren asks, of course not letting it go.
“I was bored.”
“And thought of me.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You were just the topic of conversation, and I wound up making something for you. That’s all.”
“You’re a terrible liar,” he taunts.
“And your ego is showing.”
“Would you prefer I tucked it away?”
I roll my eyes, rolling my chair until my legs are trapped beneath my desk. “The bell is going to ring any minute.”
