Page 72 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

“Sorry about your shirt.”

I glance down at the slimy splotches on my shirt. “Oh, it’s fine. More than fine.” I’ll have to do something about it before I get Jessica. But it’s a small price to pay for being entwined with Amy Solace.

Amy leans down, lips searching for a kiss, which I give her without question.

“Did that show you? That I care?”

She smiles sweetly and nods. “Yes, thank you.”

I almost say something I’d regret saying. Not because it’s not true, but because it’s impossible right now. What I want to say, though, is that I wish I could take her home with me. I wish I could take her home with me forever.

That night, however, is not tonight.

Soon. I pray that it’s soon.

19

AMY

Though I don’t see Hunter nearly as much as I did before Veronica’s appearance, I see him enough to coast on the memories. I’ve made it a whole week at a time just remembering the feeling of his hand on my thigh or the way he says the word, “Beautiful,” in his deep, yet delicate voice.

It’s the first days of September. Labor Day weekend. Hunter decided to take Jessica away for a few days to visit the development of his newest venture down south. I didn’t expect to be invited, nor was I. But I was certainly thrilled to hear Jessica ask if I could come when I said goodbye to them.

“Not this time, sweetie,” Hunter said.

Not this time. That meant there’d be future times, didn’t it?

They’re coming back today and then Jessica starts her first day of pre-school tomorrow. A full day away from home, away from her daddy. I wanted to offer to help him with school pickup or keeping an eye on her in the afternoons but resisted. It didn’t feel appropriate given his level of concern with the mounting custody case.

Still, though, I wish I could help that way. Resisting the closeness I feel to Jessica and Hunter is getting harder by the day, even if there are these new obstacles between us.

Anyway, with their return this afternoon, I’ve decided to leave a little surprise for Jessica on their front porch. I put together a basket full of different fun treats and activities from a new set of crayons (the biggest pack with all the colors she could hope for) to a few books for early readers to a Pez dispenser shaped like Cinderella, her favorite Disney princess. I’ve gussied it up with Easter grass and sparkly ribbon.

I walk through their front yard and up to the door, dropping it squarely on the welcome mat. I straighten out the ribbon, readjust a few of the treats, and then smile. I hope I have a lot more opportunities like this. To make things special for Jess.

“Oh. It’s you.”

A chill runs down my spine. I turn around to see Veronica standing at the foot of the stairs leading up to the porch. “Hello there!” I say, standing up and straightening out the wrinkles in my dress. “Veronica, right?”

She smiles. “We don’t have to pretend like we don’t know each other.”

I swallow. “Right…”

“Cute basket.”

“Thanks. It’s Jessica’s first day of school tomorrow, so I thought I’d drop off a little – I guess, a care package. You know?”

Veronica’s eyes tighten at the corners. “Sweet of you.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

She stands there, unmoving.

“What about you? What are you doing here?”

“Well, I wanted to drop by to see my daughter, of course. But every time I’ve been by this past week –”

“They’re on a trip.”

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