Page 114 of The One I Hate
“Again, easy. Snakes.”
“Snakes?
“Snakes.”
“Out of all the things in the world, that’s what you want to go with?”
“Absolutely. Those fuckers are terrifying. Oh, and I’m scared of clowns, so none of those ever at our child’s birthday parties.”
“Agree. No clowns…but now I need the serious answer.”
His gaze travels down, and he takes the moment to give my hands another squeeze. “Losing you.”
That takes me by surprise. “Are you serious?”
He looks up at me, his eyes sad. “I know you think I speak and act without thinking. And most of the time that’s true. But there is something I haven’t said…”
Why is he scaring me? “Simon?”
“I love you Bug. I love you so much it hurts. You’re my reason for everything. And I want you to know…even if Baby Bug weren’t on her way…”
“It’s way.”
“Her way…I’d still be in love with you. And if I lost you…if I ever did anything in my stupid ways that would make it where you weren’t in my life…I don’t know how I’d survive. And that’s fucking scary.”
“Hey…” I get up and move to the empty seat next to him, taking his face in my hands to bring him in for a reassuring kiss. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Sharing that with me.”
He nods. “I meant every word.”
“I know.”
I bring him in for another kiss—one that is probably not fancy Italian steakhouse restaurant appropriate—and the weight of his words hits me. I also realize in this moment that I love him too. I thought I did, but I also thought it was too soon.
Then again, Simon and I have never been on a normal clock, why start now?
We break the kiss, but I don’t let go of him. “I love you too.”
My heart melts with the smile that adorns his handsome face. “You do?”
I nod. “I do…Daddy…”
If there’s ever the look described as “got a puppy for Christmas” it’s the one on Simon’s face. “Will you say that again, but so I can record it and make it my ringtone?”
“Absolutely not. That was a one and done.”
“Fine,” he mumbles before perking back up. “How about this? I’ll make you a bet.”
“A bet? What are the terms?”
“If I beat you at the past part of the date, which is scheduled to begin in thirty minutes, you record yourself saying Daddy. And if you win, I’ll drop it and even make sure Baby Bug sticks to Dada.”
I reach out my hand. “Deal.”
“Putt-Putt? You’re taking me to Putt-Putt?”
