Chapter 22 #2
When the knock came at the door, I had worked myself up so much that I was a sweaty ball of nerves.
I should have taken a shower. Or gone for a walk.
Maybe done some yoga. Even though I wasn’t sure where in the apartment I would have enough space to spread out.
Maybe meditation would have been a good idea.
I did a course once during my first year at college because my fear of taking exams was only eclipsed by my fear of running out of coffee.
It worked for a while, but then I dropped out anyway.
When I opened the door, I’d wiped my palms on my clothes a few times, the friction only making my hands even hotter.
Vance stood there with two bags in his hand, his tie loosened, and the first few buttons of his shirt undone.
He put the other hand on my waist and pulled me into the hallway, away from the door.
His mouth came down on mine, and he kissed me long and hard. Resting his forehead against mine—a difficult endeavor he seemed to have mastered with ease despite our height difference—he brushed his thumb against my side. “I’ve missed you.”
My anxiety had taken the first train out of town as soon as Vance touched me, and I felt settled and happy for the first time since he’d found out about Addy. “I’ve missed you too.”
I didn’t think my sweat glands could take another day of getting the cold shoulder. They’d been working overtime all day.
“I’m sorry, ipo.”
I nodded against him. “I promise no more secrets.”
He leaned back. “No more secrets.”
Placing a brief kiss on my lips, he put his arm around me and walked us inside.
As soon as the door closed behind us, the girls called out from the bedroom where they’d been playing. “Is that Vance?”
I opened the bags he’d set on the counter. “It is. Come say hi.”
The girls burst into the kitchen in a mini tornado. Elana looked up, arms crossed, brows drawn together. “Why weren’t you here yesterday? We had lasagna. With extra cheese. Didn’t you want lasagna?”
He brushed his hands over their heads. “I love lasagna. But I had to work yesterday.”
Satisfied with his answer, they moved their attention to the takeout. Addy climbed up onto the stool and looked inside the bags. “What did you get us for dinner? Is it pizza?”
Vance helped me open all the containers. “Sorry, no pizza today. I got burgers and mac and cheese.”
The girls cheered, and we all settled around the table despite my protest that the couch would be more comfortable. Or if I pushed the coffee table out of the way, we could have a picnic on the floor. Anything was better than the table.
But I was overruled, and Vance squeezed into his usual spot between the girls, helping them put food on their plates. “How was your day?”
Elana kneeled on her chair, one hand on Vance’s arm, the other shoveling in food. “We went to the park with Mommy. And we bought you that yucky bread from the supermarket.”
Vance chuckled. “You mean rye bread.”
Elana crinkled her nose. “It smells funny.”
“It’s healthy.”
She made a gagging sound. “I don’t like the taste of healthy.”
Laughing, Vance helped her sit down properly. “I know, honey. But it’s important to eat healthy.”
I cast a pointed look at all the cheese and pasta on the table, and Vance shot me a sheepish grin. “But I know you don’t like it, so that’s why I get things you do like.”
I mouthed, “Pushover,” and he smiled at me, unrepentant.
I did the best I could to provide healthy meals, but it was hard with the limited budget I had to work with.
Vance paused eating, making sure he had our attention. “Do you want to have a sleepover at the house I bought? All the bedrooms are ready.”
I glanced at the girls, who looked eager to sleep anywhere that wasn’t the apartment. “Vance made sure you each have your own room. With your own bed.”
The girls cheered, and Addy tugged on Vance’s sleeve. “What color are my walls? Do I get rainbow sheets?”
He tapped her nose. “Both your walls are peach, and there’s a large chalkboard you can paint and draw on. But if you don’t like any of the colors, we can change them.”
More cheering as I cocked an eyebrow at Vance. “Let’s not make any big changes quite yet. The color is lovely, and if the girls don’t like the sheets, we can get the ones from here.”
I’d finally gotten my full tour of the house the second night I’d stayed there and had seen their rooms. Vance had gone all out, even going so far as to buy toys. He’d used the furniture I had thought we’d been buying for the guest rooms for his nieces and nephews.
His eyes crinkled at the corners, and I almost forgot what we were talking about. Almost. “What do you say we all go there tomorrow after school?”
Elana nearly climbed over the table in her excitement. “Can we, Mommy? Please?”
“Don’t sit on the table. And yes, we can go over tomorrow.”
Noticing the girls had finished their dinner, I said, “If you’re not hungry anymore, why don’t you pack a small bag? That way we can go straight after school.”
They jumped up and raced to their room, chatting excitedly about what the house might look like.
Vance helped me clean up, his hand constantly brushing me, standing close so I could feel the heat of his body. When we were done, he turned me to face him, my back to the counter. “You’ve been quiet. Are you upset about the house? We don’t have to stay there if you don’t want to.”
My gaze dropped to his chest. “I’m not upset. I’m worried the girls are going to get smacked in the face with what we’ve lost since the divorce. And then they’ll be upset when they have to come back to our tiny apartment.”
“You don’t have to come back if you don’t want to.”
Okay, now that would take me a minute to unpack. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
He didn’t hesitate with his reply. “I am. I hate this apartment. And I know I want to be with you. There is nothing that says we need to take a certain amount of time for the next step.”
“What if we don’t work out?”
He growled, his hold on my hips tightening. “We’ll work out.”
“But you don’t know that for sure. You might decide having two little girls around all the time is too much. Or what if we don’t get along? Or I can’t live with you getting up at the ass crack of dawn every morning? Or you can’t live with me making a huge mess in the kitchen?”
“You have two little girls who I adore. And they are a part of you, so they belong with me as much as you do.” He kissed my cheek. “And you always clean up once you’re done making a mess.”
I tipped my head back, and he took the invitation for what it was and kissed me. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you organize my fridge and cutlery drawer every time you’re here. I didn’t know cutlery could look orderly.”
His arms wound around me, and he drew me into him.
“I know you. I’ve known you for months. I know who you are. And I know your girls. And I know that I want you living with me. Hell, I’d move you in tonight if you’d let me.”
I brushed my thumb against the edge of his angular jaw. “Let’s not be hasty. The girls might hate it.”
He actually looked worried for a minute despite my teasing tone. There was no way they’d hate it.
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Then I’ll let them redecorate their rooms until they love them.”
“What about Orange and Winston?”
He cast a look at my dog, who was sitting next to us, leaning against his leg. “I’m sure they want to see their new home too.”
Okay, now I had no more arguments. I’d thought for sure that would be what might make him see reason.
Winston hissed whenever he saw Vance, and Orange followed him around whenever he came over and left mountains of his hair everywhere.
He’d also tried to get on the sofa bed with us, which was where Vance drew the line.
There was a loud banging on the door followed by a voice from the hallway. “You have some explaining to do.”
That was unmistakably Malena.
“I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed.”
That was Linny.
“Oh, I’m definitely angry.”
And there was Keely.
Damn it, Malena must have activated the phone tree. I’d been suspicious that our group chat had been so quiet. Now I knew why.
Reluctantly releasing Vance, I skirted around him and opened the door. I was met with two angry faces and one disappointed one.
They barged in, Linny the last one through, closing the door behind her. They lined up in front of me, and I readied myself for the ass chewing I was about to get.
Warmth hit my back, and Vance’s hands came to my hips. “Hello, ladies.”
They mumbled their greetings, never taking their eyes off me. Unsurprisingly, Keely was the first one to speak. “Why did you never mention anything to us? Do you not trust us?”
Malena was next, not letting me respond. “We’ve been friends for years. And I never even had any idea. How could you not tell us?”
Linny jumped in right after. “I would have never thought of her as anything but your daughter. We all know you love her. But I am hurt that you didn’t trust us enough to talk to us.”
And now I knew I was an asshole. Because I should have told them. This mess was entirely my doing. “I’m sorry for not telling you. I just never knew how to approach it. And to be honest, it never mattered to me. She’s my daughter in all the ways that count.”
Keely pinched her nose between her fingers. “Except that she’s not, and now you’ve given Douchy McDoucheface leverage.”
Malena held up her hand. “I wouldn’t be so quick to say that. Vance and I found her birth mom. She might have given up custody, but technically she still has rights.”
Keely dropped her hand to her side, narrowing her eyes first at Vance and then at me. “I want in. That dickhead is not taking the girls.”
I put my hands over my chest, taking a sharp breath in. “You found her? Have you talked to her?”
Malena nodded. “I got her number this afternoon. I’ll call her tonight to see if she’d be willing to meet up with us.”
I dropped my hands, reaching for Vance, who immediately intertwined his fingers with mine. “I’m coming too.”
Keely nodded. “Good. Now we have a fighting chance.”
That’s when the girls burst into the room, both holding a backpack in their hands. “We’re all packed.”
Addy spotted our visitors first and shrieked in delight, quickly joined by her sister once she realized what the excitement was all about.
Elana rushed up to us, running from one person to the next, overwhelmed by who she should greet first. Keely noticed her dilemma and picked her up, giving her a hug and kiss, then handed her over to Malena to do the same, then Linny, who eventually set her back down.
Malena kneeled down, inspecting the backpacks they were holding. “Where are you girls off to this late at night?”
Addy hugged her backpack to her front. “It’s for tomorrow. We’re sleeping at Vance’s.” She leaned in and lowered her voice. “And he has three bedrooms. One for each of us.”
Malena made an approving sound. “That is indeed fantastic. Tomorrow will be lots of fun.” She stood back up, fixing me with narrowed eyes. “We’ll talk more at the office.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “If we must.”
Keely waved at the girls, then gave me a disapproving look. “Oh, we definitely must.”
Linny smiled at everyone and blew kisses at us before they left again.
I think that was the first time I was worried about going to work.