Page 67 of Bake You Mine
“It would be weird if we showed up at the fall festival together, right?” Liam asked. “I’m kind of excited to go. I want to spend more time with Kiki and Brody.”
She sipped her coffee. “Kinda.”
Aubrey wondered if there would be a typical day on her schedule anytime soon, probably not until after the competition. Already, her routine was thrown, with it being after seven,and she wasn’t at Petit Chou yet. She’d planned to go in late because she hadn’t wanted to leave Liam’s bed. Why the school administration thought to hold the damn festival during the week was a mystery to her.
He leaned over the counter, and Aubrey watched how his abs flexed and tuned him out. She felt he’d asked her a question, so she’d murmured in response.
When she’d said nothing else, he said, “Did you hear a word I said?”
“Abs,” she said, pointing. “Sorry, you’re distracting!”
With a laugh, he reached over and ruffled her hair. “Okay, we’ll go over to the school separately, then. I can only stay an hour or so anyway.”
“Me, too. Chris took the day off, and he’s staying for the whole thing. I wish I could, but I’m the God damned boss, and that means getting to work.”
“Girl, same,” Liam said, and they both laughed.
Her phone buzzed with a text, and she reached for it. With an eye roll, she read it. “My ex-husband is a demon who can be summoned by saying his name.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, Daphne wanted to wear something specific to the festival, and she forgot to pack it because, of course, she did; she’s twelve and refused to let me help her. He wants to meet at the house before he drops her off at school since he assumes I’ll be there.” She looked at the time on her phone. “Which means I should have left ten minutes ago.” She ran into the bedroom to throw on her clothes and then paused to kiss Liam on her way out.
She caught sight of Chris’s truck, several cars ahead of her, on her way off of Ford’s Parkway and into her neighborhood. She felt like she was starring in one of the final scenesofFerris Bueller’s Day Offas she zoomed her van down a side street and pulled into the garage. The door descended seconds before Chris’s truck followed into the circular drive.
She grabbed her things and ran into the house, finding her father standing in the kitchen.
“Hello, bat. I see you made it out of hell. I’m Dad.”
She rolled her eyes, threw off her jacket, and kicked off her boots into the hall closet. She slammed the door shut just as Daphne and Chris walked through it.
“Hey there, little bug. What did you want to wear to the festival?”
“My black sweater with the cat eyes! I’ll grab it.” She took the stairs two at a time. Her father, being the turd he was, left her alone with Chris.
“Everything okay with Daph aside from the wardrobe malfunction?”
“Well, I told her Kayla and I have separated.” He held her gaze before dropping it dramatically, like some soap opera star.
She palmed her face. “Would’ve been nice if you’d told me that was a possibility, for our kid’s sake.”
“I’m sorry. Life’s been hectic, and things have fallen through the cracks. I think we might be done for good this time, since she’s moving out.”
“Everything all right, Aubrey?” Her father appeared in the doorway. Oh,nowhe cared enough to check on her.
Chris cast a glance at his former father-in-law. He straightened and put a smile back on his face, likely because he knew Aubrey’s father had deep connections at Quantico, where Chris still worked.
“Everything’s fine, Dad.”
Daphne came tearing down the stairs and ran right out the front door. “Come on, I don’t want to be late!”
Chris and Aubrey exchanged glances as he pulled his keys from his pocket. “I’ll see you over there, I guess.”
“You will. Thanks for taking her.”
Chris left, and Aubrey drummed her fingertips against the banister. She had to be careful bringing Liam into Daphne’s life. Which was hard, considering they already seemed to adore one another.
Her father came out of the kitchen. “So, will you tell me where you were last night?”
