Page 103 of My Lucky Charm

“Sorry, Scout. It’s a no.”

“But, Daddy!” Scarlett’s tone borders on whiny. “Look at how good this picture is!” She points at the oversized photo covering the counter.

Eloise holds back a laugh at my daughter’s harmless attempt to manipulate me.

“Sorry, Scarlett, this isn’t up for debate,” I say, moving the frame into the living room, where I lean it against the couch. “It’s not a good idea.”

She ignores me and looks at Eloise. “Does it pay?”

Eloise looks at me, then back at Scarlett. “It does pay.”

“A lot?” Scarlett reaches for a box of Lucky Charms that I definitely didn’t put on the grocery list.

“Yep.” Eloise pulls out a bowl and slides it across the counter. In just a couple of days, these two have come up with their own silent language.

“Enough for a phone?” Scarlett looks at me as Eloise grabs the milk from the refrigerator.

And all at once, something inside me sparks. This entire scene, both of them in my kitchen, joking around and discussing things that normal parents and kids would discuss. Seeing my daughter respond to Eloise with this kind of ease—I want this.

Dallas’s words are back in my mind, waging a war with the words I grew up believing.

It’s okay to need someone.

Won’t that make me weak? Vulnerable? Soft? And if it does, is that really a bad thing? Will it really affect my game? I stopped playing for the love of it when I was fourteen and determined to make the junior hockey team by the time I turned fifteen.

Hockey has been a soulless job ever since.

“Dad?”

I look up and find them both watching me. “Sorry. Let’s talk about it later, okay?”

Eloise takes the hint, changing the subject, sharing today’s itinerary with my daughter with the kind of excitement I never seem to be able to muster, and five words keep playing over and over at the back of my mind.

It’s okay to need someone.

When we head out, the words come right along with me, making it impossible to keep this day in the mental box where it needs to live.

This feels like some kind of date.

This feels like some kind of family.

This feels exactly like what I shouldn’t want.

But exactly what I do.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Eloise

Iwant him to love it here.

As we head out into the city, I’m more determined than ever to make this place irresistible. I know this is my job, but if I’m honest, my motives aren’t entirely professional.

I’ve gotten attached. To this job. To the team. To Scarlett. To Gray. Especially to Gray. Which doesn’t make sense because he’s not even pleasant to be around.

We spend the morning at Shedd Aquarium, which is one of my all-time favorite places to visit. It’s not too crowded, so we can move about the shimmering underwater wonders with ease. After the dolphin show—which was as entertaining as I remember—we drive down Michigan Avenue and park in a garage near Millennium Park. It’s a short walk to lead them to one of my go-to places in the city—Garrett’s Popcorn.

“Every time I gave a city tour, I always made sure to walk by this place because it smells like caramel and heaven had a baby,” I tell them. “We have to get some. I recommend eating it Chicago style.”

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