Page 29 of Signature Of You

“I don’t think so. I have plenty of dark days.”

“Why? What could be so bad in your life that you have dark days?”

“Plenty. Let’s just leave it at that.”

He nodded and we both turned to watch Gracie play for a little longer before pulling her away to make sure she got to do all the things she wanted before it was time to leave.

Jaah spent the rest of the day with us, humoring Gracie as she talked a mile a minute. He was respectful, keeping his distance from me but that didn’t stop him from finding ways to be close or touch me when Gracie was otherwise occupied.

A hand on my hip, leaning into my shoulder while we sat watching Gracie play games or do crafts that she could handle on her own. It all felt so real.

Like this was how we lived each day of our lives, as a little family. I felt closer to a stranger than I had to any man I’d ever spent time with, creating a false security that today wasn’tjusttoday.

By the time the sun set, Gracie was tugging at my leg wanting me to hold her. We’d stayed longer than I’d planned but the day seemed to fly by.

My arms were full of crafts and balloons and a bag of cotton candy that Gracie just had to have so I wasn’t sure how I would manage carrying my sleepyhead.

However, I didn’t have to. Jaah swept her into his arms and Gracie wasted no time circling his neck and resting her head on his shoulder.

“I can get her.”

“Nah, we’re good. Isn’t that right, Gracie?”

“Mmhm, just don’t drop me.” Her sleepy voice barely leaving his shoulder.

“I promise I won’t.”

“Thank you.”

“Where’d you park? I can walk you to your car.”

“I didn’t drive. We only live a few streets over so we walked. Now I’m kinda regretting it.” I lifted my arms showcasing everything I was holding onto.

“I’ll drive you.”

“No, you don’t have to do that. It’s not far. Gracie can…”

“She’s asleep and there’s no way you’re going to carry her and all that. Let me drive you.”

I should have said no. Everything internally begged me to but I nodded to agree and he smiled, pointing toward the parking lot. “I’m over there.”

He waited for me to move first before he followed, holding Gracie in his arms in a way that appeared as if he would protect her from anything that would cause her harm.

My heart was weak. The visual made me smile all over followed by the rush of sadness from knowing that again, today was just today.

seven

Sol.

When we pulled up at her house, I parked in the driveway behind her car. While Cadence carried Gracie inside, I carried all the things she’d acquired throughout the day.

She pointed to the kitchen, which was off to the right in the front of the house, where I unloaded everything on the round wooden table that took up one side of the room and stood looking around while I waited for Cadence to return.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I needed to get her settled for bed.”

“That was quicker than I expected,” I mumbled, watching Cadence as she stood a few feet away appearing uncomfortable in her own home, which I knew had everything to do with me being there.

The thought of how much time her kid’s father had spent in here had me shoving my hands into my pockets to control the visual of my clenched fist.

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