Chapter 41 Grady #2
Instead, she tried to climb off the chair while carrying the mixing bowl at the same time and tripped. I rushed forward to catch her, but instead, I felt the slimy sensation of egg yolks as they splashed all down the front of my clothes.
Cleo whipped around as the metal bowl crashed to the floor, interrupting the peaceful silence we’d been enjoying moments ago.
Charlie’s hands flew to her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Daddy! I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s fine,” I said, holding my hands up. “Just a little mess. Grab a wet towel, sunshine. Let’s get this cleaned up.”
“Here,” Cleo said, rushing to my side. “Let me help. You go get changed.”
“It’s okay—” I began, but stopped the moment she narrowed her eyes and pointed toward the bedroom. “Yes, ma’am,” I muttered, smirking as I padded into my bedroom to change.
Liv and I might’ve been married, but it didn’t mean we did all the overly domestic things like making breakfast on Sunday mornings.
In Nashville, we had a live-in chef who took care of most of the food prep and cooking for us.
We didn’t spend a lot of time at the house together, choosing instead to take Charlie to amusement parks or museums. I wanted her to experience all the things I never had as a kid, but maybe I was doing her a disservice by also forgetting about the things that made my childhood so wonderful.
I mean, some of my best memories were spent in this very house with Mom and Dad doing mundane, everyday things.
As I slipped into the bathroom to change, I heard a knock at the door. I ordered groceries yesterday and was sure that it might be them. They were a little bit early, but that wasn’t out of the ordinary.
“Can you grab that?” I called out, shrugging out of my clothes. “I think it’s the groceries.”
“Sure thing!” Cleo shouted back. She mumbled something to Charlie before heading to the door. The hinges creaked as she swung it open.
“Surprise!” I stilled at the familiar voice coming from the front, quickly pulling on a fresh shirt before hurrying out of the bedroom and hoping I was wrong.
Liv stood at the front door, wearing a smile as her eyes drifted from Cleo to me. She was overdressed, looking like she had just stepped off a photoshoot in a long, flowy skirt with knee-high cowboy boots and a frilly, lace tank top. Her hair was curled, and her makeup was perfect.
“Mommy!” Charlie screamed, running through the house. She moved past Cleo, nearly causing Liv to topple over as they collided. “I missed you so much!”
“Hey, sunshine! I missed you, too,” she said, holding onto our daughter as though her life depended on it. She pulled back, holding Charlie back by her shoulders. “Let’s look at you, huh? You’ve grown so much.”
“I haven’t grown that much,” Charlie giggled. All her attention was stolen as she noticed the boxes in Liv’s hand. “Are those for me?”
Liv laughed awkwardly, moving Charlie to the side.
“They’re for everyone. Though,” she paused, looking at Cleo as she straightened up.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t sure if you’d be here, and I didn’t know what you might want.
I tried to get a variety, but the selection here is limited compared to what I’m used to.
” She held up two white boxes. “Grabbed some kolaches, too. Spicy and regular. Oh! And there are coffees in the car.”
I came to a stop beside Cleo, glancing at her out of my periphery. She was still wearing a deer in the headlights look. I didn’t think she’d moved this entire time. Oh god. This was a disaster.
“Hey,” I said, moving in to give Liv a hug. “Uh, what’re you doing here?”
“I was missing my girl something fierce,” she said, giving Charlie a squeeze. “I know I should’ve called, but this seemed like more fun.”
“Fun,” I snorted. “You were feeling nosey.”
“Yes, fun,” Liv deadpanned. “Now, will you take these from me so I can introduce myself properly?” I did as she asked, watching carefully as she turned toward Cleo.
Her lips spread in a wide grin as she held out her hand.
“Hi! I’m Olivia, but please call me Liv.
I don’t really think there needs to be any kind of formality here amongst friends and lovers. ”
“Right,” Cleo said slowly, reaching out to take Liv’s hand. “I’m Cleo.”
“It’s so nice to officially meet you. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s truly an honor.”
Cleo’s features softened a touch, but I could sense her walls going up. “You as well.” Her gaze traveled from Liv to Charlie and finally to me. “I should go—”
“No!” Liv and I both said at the same time.
“Stay, please,” I continued. “Have breakfast at least.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to intrude—”
“Why not?” Liv asked. “I do it all the time.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling any sense of control I had spiraling out of reach. “What she means is… You’re not intruding. You were literally here, and we were in the middle of making breakfast. You should stay.”
But she was already walking toward the bedroom to grab her overnight bag.
I turned to Liv, exasperated. “You couldn’t have freaking called? Given me a heads up? Messenger pigeon?”
She gestured toward the bedroom. “Go get your girl and stop worrying about me! We can talk later,” she whispered, shooing me off.
I jogged into my room, heart pounding as Cleo tossed the last of her clothes in the bag. I held up my hands as I got closer, scared the slightest movement would scare her off. “Please don’t go, bluebird. I didn’t know she was coming—”
“I’m not worried about that, Grady. I don’t care. She seems lovely, but Charlie hasn’t seen her mom in over two weeks, and you guys obviously have things to talk about.”
“So do we,” I said. My voice sounded desperate, which was precisely how I felt. “Please don’t go.”
“I have to,” Cleo said, finally meeting my eyes.
“Let me drive you, at least.” Maybe if I could get her alone, I could smooth things out. I could calm whatever fears were running through her head, so she’d come back here, and we could start the morning over.
“No, you should stay. I’m going to borrow your truck, if that’s okay. And I’ll have Lennox follow me out here later to bring it back. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried about the damn truck,” I said as she zipped up the bag. I could feel her hesitation for only a moment before she walked past me, giving my hand a squeeze. I let her reach the door before I spoke. “Hey, don’t go like this, please.”
We said things, we made promises, but I felt them slipping away the moment I heard Liv’s voice.
God. Out of all the things I thought to be worried about, this had never crossed my mind.
Cleo knew I’d been married, knew that if we continued whatever this thing was, she’d end up meeting and having a relationship with my ex-wife.
But knowing and seeing are two different things.
When Liv was brought up in conversation, Cleo didn’t have to see her standing in front of her.
“You’re not. I just… I don’t know. You guys deserve to spend the morning together after being apart for so long. I just want to make sure I’m not standing in the way of that.”
“But you’re not,” I said, moving forward until I was standing right in front of her. Gently, I cupped her neck, feeling her pulse rapidly beating beneath my hands. “I’ve told you time and again. You belong here with us.”
Cleo closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. I thought maybe it worked, that she would stay, but then she straightened up and stepped back. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
I stood there in the doorway, watching her walk away until I heard the rumble of my old truck, and she pulled out onto the road, driving away.
“Well, that didn’t really go as planned,” Liv said, stepping up beside me with two steaming cups of coffee. She handed me one, which I took gratefully, taking a long sip to compose myself before I completely lost it.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, heading into the kitchen where Charlie was already munching down on what had to have been her second donut, given the chocolatey mess she’d made on her hands and face. She gave me a small smile as I snatched a glazed concoction from the box.
She was hot on my heels, rounding the kitchen with the stubborn look she often got when preparing to bust some balls at work.
“Look, in my defense, how was I supposed to know the one who got away was going to be here this morning? It’s not like you told me.
Which, in all actuality, I should be madder about since I’ve never met the woman.
But I trust your judgement and all that. ”
“Liv,” I growled, angrily taking a bite off the donut. “Don’t do that.”
“I’m just saying,” she said, holding up her hands. “Besides, I already told you why I came in. I wanted to surprise Charlie. I missed her, Grady. Video calls weren’t enough anymore. I missed you, too, you old grump. It’s nice to see you, by the way.”
Under different circumstances, I probably would’ve rolled my eyes and let things go, but I couldn’t.
Not when I didn’t know what was going through Cleo’s mind or if our relationship was already over before it’d ever begun again.
“Why didn’t you pick up last night? You could’ve at least told me you were planning on coming in.
Hell, a text would’ve been better than nothing. ”
“What part of ‘I wanted to surprise our daughter’ do you not get?” She tapped my temple. “Did she fuck you stupid or something?”
“Very funny,” I said dryly. “And don’t talk about her like that.”
“Ha! I knew it. God, you’re so smitten. It’s adorable.
” She beamed. “Listen, I know it didn’t quite go as planned, but I didn’t come out of malicious intent.
You know that. I thought it would be nice for you to take a break for a bit.
I know y’all haven’t had any true alone time since you came down to Texas.
Figured I could watch over Charlie while you go to get your girl. ”
“I had my girl. She was already here. Your plan clearly had flaws.”
Liv rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Yes, well, I see that now, Captain Obvious. But back when I concocted it, I really thought it was brilliant.”
“You would,” I said, stuffing my mouth and downing the sugary donut with the black coffee. It was hot as shit, but I hardly flinched.
“Come on,” Liv said, tugging me toward the table. With a sigh, I followed her, dropping my ass in the seat across from my daughter. Charlie glanced at me and the box before nudging it over.
Fine. I guess another wouldn’t hurt since I’m probably about to be single.
“Is Miss Cleo coming back?” Charlie asked, looking between Liv and me.
“Of course, she will,” Liv said. “She just had to get some clean clothes.”
Clean clothes? I mouthed, and Liv shrugged.
Charlie’s brows furrowed. “But why can’t she wear more of Daddy’s like she was earlier?”
I nearly spat out my coffee all over the table, but I choked it down instead.
“You’d be much more comfortable in your own clothes over someone else’s, right?” Liv asked, and Charlie nodded. “Right. Miss Cleo feels the same.”
Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Charlie reached for a kolache and took a big bite. I followed suit, grabbing a spicy one for me and a regular for Liv. We were silent for a minute, until I turned to her. “You’re really okay with all of this?”
“Were the signed divorce papers not clear enough?” she snorted.
“Yes, dummy. I’m very okay with it. I know you wouldn’t bring anyone into our lives that would hurt our daughter.
I trust your judgement. Plus, I’ve literally heard about her since the night she dumped your ass.
Believe me when I tell you I’m not worried about Cleo’s character for even a moment. And besides, Charlie loves her.”
Our daughter beamed. “I do. Miss Cleo is great.”
“See? She’s great. I’m great. You’re really a very lucky man, Mr. Wilde.”
“You’re such a smartass,” I growled, though I couldn’t help my smile.
Liv was right. I was fucking lucky. I was sitting here, surrounded by love, by two of the most important people in my life.
I was blessed to not only have a daughter who lit up my world, but an amazing ex, who was both the mother of my child and my best friend.
And finally, I had gotten Cleo Hayes back—the love of my fucking life.