35. Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Nate
M y phone rings early the next morning and Adalie groans, pulling her pillow over her head and snuggling into my side. I grab the offending device from the bedside table to see it’s Taylor calling.
“My girlfriend is mad at you again,” I say instead of hello.
“Thank fucking Christ,” he says, and I’m not sure if he means about me being back with Adalie or me being alive. “Didn’t I tell you to let me know when you’re staying at her place, so I don’t worry?”
I snort. “You did. I’m sorry, Mom.”
He sniffs. “It’s fine. Tell Adalie I’m glad my brother stopped being an enormous idiot. Also, get your ass to work on time.”
He hangs up on me and I set my phone on the table again.
“Taylor says hi,” I say.
She peeks out from under the pillow with a sneaky grin. “I heard what he said. Are you going to get to work on time today, Nate?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
She squeals as I flip her onto her back and pin her beneath me, my hard cock pressing into her leg.
“I want you to come to my house next Monday,” I say.
“When Dani is there?”
I nod, kissing her neck. “I want us to tell her we’re together.”
She strokes a hand along my cheek and over my beard. “She knew from the beginning.”
“I know. But I want to make it official. Will you come over?”
“Yes,” she whispers before kissing me.
“I don’t think you should stay over night for a while, when Dani is with me.”
“That’s fair.” She gives me a slow smile. “What about the rest of this week?”
“This week, I don’t intend to let you go for anything other than work, princess.”
When I pick Dani up on Monday, she rambles on and on about the camping trip she went on with Katie and David this weekend. It’s the last weekend of summer break and she starts school again tomorrow. When she runs out of things to say about their trip, she starts talking about her baby brother’s bedroom and how she helped pick out the paint for it and is going to help pick out the furniture later. She doesn’t stop talking until I park in front of my house and she gets out of the car, stopping mid-sentence when she looks at the other cars parked on the street.
“Dad,” she says. “Is Adalie here?”
I nod and her eyes widen, her mouth splitting into a grin before she races inside.
“What about your things?” I call, but she’s already inside. I grab her backpack from the back seat and start toward the house. Dani and Adalie come out together, arms wrapped around each other and my heart expands. They’re laughing as Dani reaches me and takes her backpack.
“Sorry, Dad,” she says. “I was just really excited to see Adalie again.”
I incline my head toward the house, and we go back inside together, taking a seat in the living room.
“So you guys aren’t broken up, right?” Dani asks, looking between us. “Are you going to get married and have a baby like Mom and David? Can I be your bridesmaid, Adalie?”
My breath catches as I think about marrying Adalie, promising to spend the rest of my life with her. It’s not something I thought I’d ever want, but now that I’m sitting here with her and my daughter, I don’t think there’s anything I want more. Except maybe a little red-haired baby girl to complete the picture.
Adalie laughs at Dani’s enthusiasm, sending me a quick look, but we’d already discussed that Adalie can tell Dani whatever she thinks is right in the moment. “It’s still a pretty new relationship, Dani. And, while my friends have gotten married super fast, I’m more of a slow and steady kind of person. So, if we get married one day, it won’t be for a while. But, if it happens, you can absolutely be a bridesmaid.” She looks at me again. “Unless you’d rather be the best man for your dad.”
Dani giggles. “I can’t do that. I’m not a man.”
I listen as Adalie tells Dani about how Vic is going to be Spencer’s best man, which Dani finds the funniest thing in the world. Eventually, Taylor comes up and I make dinner, listening to my family talk and laugh together. Adalie stays for dinner, and after, Dani goes upstairs to talk to Katie. The first thing she says is, “Guess what. Dad and Adalie are back together.”
Of course, Katie already knew that because I told her last week. Adalie stays until after the phone call, then goes home when Dani says good night. I walk her to her car and kiss her goodbye. It’ll be the first night we’ve spent apart since last week, but I’ll call her later. When Dani is in bed and I go to tuck her in, I sit on the edge and smooth her hair back from her face.
“You know how much I love you, right?” I ask her.
“Of course. I love you, too, Dad.”
I nod, considering exactly what I want to say. “No matter what happens between me and Adalie, I will always love you.”
“I know that, too. Just like Mom will always love me even though she and David are going to have a new baby. I’m not worried, Dad. You and Adalie have been dating for a while now and nothing’s changed, except now she gets to be here more often. She’s pretty cool, you know.”
I chuckle. “I do. I’m really glad you like her. I don’t think I could ever be with anyone if you didn’t like her, pipsqueak.”
After Dani is asleep, I lay in my bed, my phone in my hand, and I place a call.
She picks up after only half a ring. “I was waiting,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
“How was your drive home?” I ask.
“Not nearly as eventful as when I got home. My mom called.”
I sit up. “What did she say?”
“She wants me to come over for dinner this Sunday, to clear the air , she said.” Adalie snorts. “I said I was going to be with you and Dani this weekend. So she said, you were both welcome.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, she said it somewhat begrudgingly, but yes. I said I’d talk to you about it, but I wouldn’t have her or anyone say anything remotely rude or mean toward Dani. And if they did, not only would we leave immediately, but I wouldn’t be back. Ever.”
I blink. “You would cut off contact with your family for my daughter?”
“No, Nate. I would cut off the people I’m related to for your daughter. My family is Spencer, Vic, Derek, and their families. My family is… you and Dani and Taylor. My family wouldn’t ever say anything I’d need to stand up against.”
“Adalie?”
“Hm?”
“I love you.”
She chuckles. “I love you, too.”
I hear the rustle of movement from her end, and she says, “Now. There’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.”
“What’s that, princess?”
“We’re not going to be seeing each other overnight for the next week. But I still kind of want you to make me come.”
My dick hardens instantly at her words. “Oh? And how do you suppose we make that happen?”
“I don’t know, Nate. Maybe you should tell me what to do.”
I lay back, phone pressed to my ear, my cock in my hand. “Oh, princess. I can absolutely help you with that.”