Page 149 of Stolen Kiss

My grip stayed firm around Emilia, and I could feel her moving closer to me.

“I see,” Mom said. “I’ve obviously interrupted something. I’ll show myself out.”

“Wait, Mom. Why did you come?”

Her shoulders relaxed and she looked down at Elodie, who was now lapping up all the attention from her grandma. Despite my mom being serious most of her life, even when it came to raising me, she wasn’t like that with Elodie.

My little girl had my mother wrapped around her little finger.

“I wanted to see if Elodie wanted to spend Saturday with her grandma,” she said softly, running one finger down Elodie’s chubby cheek. “I’ve obviously intruded. We could do this some other time.”

Emilia and I shared a look.

Before Mom could turn and walk away, I said, “Mom, wait.” She turned, and I bent down so I was eye to eye with Elodie. “What do you think, princess? Do you want to spend the night and tomorrow with grandma?”

“Yes, Daddy!” she exclaimed, like I knew she would. I looked up and met Emilia’s eyes. She smiled at me.

This would be the perfect time to talk about our relationship and our future.

* * *

It tooksome time to dress Elodie up and get her ready for her sleepover, which meant packing up Mr. Fluffy and Mr. Tail as well.

By the time they turned and headed out the door, our dinner was ruined.

We would just have to call out for delivery.

I hadn’t missed the look my mom had shot Emilia’s way before she left, though I hoped Emilia had.

It would take some time for my mom to get used to the idea of Emilia, and perhaps even trust her, but for now, I needed Emilia to tell me where she thought this was going.

I looked at the front door long after it had closed behind my mom and Elodie, and stayed there a bit, thinking.

“I’m not going to leave. You know that, don’t you?”

I turned around and met her eyes. “Yeah, I know,” I answered slowly.

“Good. Then why do you look like that?”

I shot a questioning look. “Like what?”

“Like you’re defeated.”

I was taken back by her statement. “Do I look like that?”

I made a move toward her, and I wasn’t sure what it was exactly that she saw in my eyes that made her back away a bit.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Are you still mad at me?” I asked her.

“So mad.”

“Why?”

“Because you kept such a huge secret from me.”

“What else?” I asked, taking another step forward.

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