Page 106 of Shortcake
She collapsed onto the counter and I took my time pulling her dress over her bare body, making her presentable again before standing up and bringing her jaw to mine for a kiss.
She moaned into my mouth before whispering, “I’m Jell-O.”
Smiling, I scooped her into my arms and carried her downstairs to her bedroom, depositing her gently on her bed.
She reached for my hand, trying to pull me down with her. “What about you?”
“Tonight was about you,” I answered. “I’ll take care of myself later.” Then, I pulled her panties free from my pocket and held them up. “But if you think you can have these back, you’ve got another thing coming.”
She grinned, but it was lazy. Sleepy. “Keep ‘em. They’re from Target anyway.”
I could still smell her arousal on them. Goddamn. I was going to fuck myself while gripping her panties tonight. Maybe Iwasa kinky pervert, like she always joked I was.
“Are you sure that’s okay?” she asked, seeming unsure. “I don’t usually… you know… leave a guy hanging.”
Smiling, I kissed her again. “I have no doubt you’ll take good care of me soon.”
Then, standing up, I headed back for the stairs. “I’m going to bring you down some dinner.”
“You don’t have to do tha—”
“Addy,” I interrupted her. “Let me take care of you tonight.”
Hiding her smile, she bit her lip. “You’recooking, though?”
“I’m making salad and baking a frozen pizza for all of us. I think I can handlethatat the very least.” I winked but didn’t give her the time to respond before I turned and headed up the stairs. Then called down as an afterthought, “I’ll bring some carrots down for Eleanor, too.”
* * *
Newsflash:I couldn’t handle a bagged salad and frozen pizza nearly as well as I thought I could.
I don’t know how I managed to do it, but I damn near charred the bottom of the pizza until it was blackened.
Even the salad—though it was just from a fucking bag—seemed sad and boring. I literally just dumped the salad bag into a bowl. I didn’t realize that Addy always added other veggies to it, like freshly cut cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. This stupid salad only had shredded carrots, cabbage, and iceberg lettuce. Which, if we’re being honest, everyone knows is the worst of the lettuce family.
At my feet, Gus gave a low bark, and I tossed him a baby carrot, which he gobbled up.
I cringed as I plated two slices of pizza and a spooned bowl of sad salad for Addy. Then, putting a can of Diet Coke on the tray and a few baby carrots, I climbed the stairs down to her room again.
My daughter still hadn’t come out of her room and after I delivered Addy her dinner, Harper was my next stop.
Addy was already fast asleep when I crept downstairs. I set her dinner down on the desk in the corner and tip-toed over to the edge of her bed. Some of her soft, red hair had fallen across her forehead. Silently, I reached out, combing my fingers through it and brushing it from her face.
She looked so peaceful. Like a different Addy. She was always on. Alwaysgo-go-gowhen she was awake. I loved that about her, but it was nice to see her so relaxed too.
I wanted to be this person for her. The one she could let her guard down around.
The one who helped her relax.
My heart clenched, my blood running hot as her lips parted and she let out a quiet moan with her exhale.
I wasn’t sure what it was about the moment, but something deep in me clenched. A familiar ache tugged at my heart.
Love.
I was falling in love with Addy.
It felt equal parts thrilling and ridiculous.
