Page 112 of Three Pucking Words
His chuckle is light as he watches Gemma run over to Puck and drop his invite in front of him on the floor. “I know you want to have your own studio, so maybe you can start building a portfolio. Only if you want to, though. I’m sure she’ll want to talk it out with you at some point during the party. Her niece, Kendra, will be there too.”
My teeth dig into my inner cheek at the suggestion. It’s been a long time since I’ve considered a studio, but since meeting Bodhi my muse has slowly been coming back.
Gemma is running around in her own little world, stopping and staring at the different murals on the wall of various artists and athletes who’ve performed or played in the stadium.
I turn to Bodhi. “I’ll think about it,” I tell him, feeling the nerves prickle in the back of my neck at what I’ve been waiting to do all day. “I actually want to askyousometh—”
His phone goes off, making his cuss. “One second, honey. I’ve been waiting for a call back from Gem’s doctor. This is them.”
Any courage I had to ask him out here and now goes away, and I’m not sure if relief or disappointment fills my stomach. “I’ll talk to you later at the game,” I tell him, smiling.
I don’t give him a chance to tell me to wait before telling Gemma goodbye and heading back to my office with my tail between my legs.
As soon as I sit down, Karina comes out of her office. “So? Did you do it?”
I groan. “No.”
She crosses her arms. “Why not?”
“He got a phone call,” I reason. “It isn’t like I’m not going to see him later. I’ll ask him then.”
Karina sits on the edge of my desk. “You’re asking him on a date, not asking him to get married. Don’t work it up in your head. He’s not going to say no.”
I go to argue with her but realize she’s probably right. So, I close my mouth and sigh lightly. “Are you going to Gemma’s birthday?”
“A five-year-old’s birthday? No thanks.”
I look at her. “She’s turning seven.”
She waves me off. “Same difference. I don’t do the whole kids thing.”
Shrugging, I say, “Fair enough.”
The way she’s looking at me makes me squirm. “Does this mean you’re doing the whole stepmom thing? Because I can see it. And I don’t mean that in a bad Cinderella kind of way. I think you’d be perfect for the role.”
My heart tightens. I’ve never really thought of it that way before. If things work out with Bodhi, that will mean I’d be a permanent fixture in Gemma’s life—in both of their lives. Would Gemma accept me? Or would she grow up resenting me the way I did Sylvia?
Concern crosses Karina’s face. “You look pale. What’s wrong?”
I lean back and stare up at the ceiling. “I’m wondering if karma is going to come back and bite me in the ass. I wasn’texactly nice to my stepmother. In fact, I was a brat. It’s a wonder she likes me at all.”
She laughs. “I don’t think you have to worry. I’ve been around Gemma enough to see how much love that kid carries. You’ll be fine.”
“You sound so sure.”
Her shoulders lift. “I’ve got a sixth sense about these kinds of things. I knew the second you got here that there was something going to happen between you and Bodhi. That boy couldn’t keep his eyes off you. Nobody has ever doted on another human the way he has with you. Food delivery? Cute notes? My husband doesn’t even do that, and we’ve been married for years.”
My brows pinch. “Really?”
“He’s not a romantic,” she explains casually. “I’m grateful, to be honest. The point is, nothing about this development between you to is small stuff, Honor. You’re going to his seven-year-old’s birthday party and worried about how she’ll treat you in the future. But you’re overthinking it.”
I overthink everything. “How?”
“As long as she sees how happy you two are, that’s all that will matter,” she insists. “Isn’t there a whole case study on nature versus nurture? Kids thrive in healthy environments. If she sees how in love her father is, how could she not love you the same way?”
Damn. I never thought of it that way.
“But,” she adds with a grin. “First thing is first. Put your big girl panties on and ask that man out on a proper date. If you don’t do it at the game, I’ll track you down and force you to do it myself.”
