Bleeding Love(52)
“You get that I have a dick and gossip sessions don’t apply to me, right?”
“Shut the hell up and tell me!” she huffs.
I flick my blinker and head toward my house while I process my thoughts and for the first time, I don’t tell Dani everything. My promise to Megan and the relationship we’re building means more to me than anything else in my life. Even the best friend that knows every single thing about me.
“I’m having dinner with her and Molly tonight.”
“Uh,” she falters. “Is that it?”
“That’s all you’re going to get.”
“Seriously?” she gasps.
“Love you, Dani, but last night Megan finally, thank Christ, broke through the chains that have been holding her captive and those moments are for her and me alone.”
“Oh my God,” she wheezes. “That is so beautiful.”
I roll my eyes.
“If she lets you in, then good. I’ll be happy with the outcome either way because right now I know she’s moving on and we’re going to do that together. It’s good, Dani. Really good.”
“I’m so happy for you, Lee.”
“Thanks, babe.”
“How do you feel about tonight? Nervous? You are, aren’t you?”
“Dani, I’m out of my mind, could puke, nervous.”
She laughs and proceeds to spend the rest of my ride home talking my nerves down.
I’M GOING TO PUKE.
Maybe.
Probably.
“Is he here yet, Mommy?”
“Not yet, little bird,” I tell Molly and laugh when her little lips pull into a frown.
To say my daughter is excited would be a great understatement.
“Come here, baby. He’ll be here soon and then you can tell him all about our day.”
She climbs into my lap and settles in to wait. Sofia the First fills the room and I settle back with her curled against me and think about how the morning went.
It wasn’t the same madness that had met me the last time I picked her up from the Reid’s. Since I didn’t arrive until well after lunch—thanks to a very long shower with Lee—Axel had already left for work, dragging Nate with him to ‘learn the ropes,’ according to a laughing Izzy. I think Izzy could tell my nerves were sparked bright. Her knowing eyes spoke volumes. Of course, she also knew that I spent the night with Lee since the first words I stuttered were just that.
“I think Lee is my boyfriend,” I told her with my cheeks flaming.
Izzy had barked out a laugh and pulled me into a tight hug.
“That’s just their way, honey. His father was the same way with Dee. Axel the same with me. Greg and Melissa. Maddox and Emmy. Asher and Chelcie. My sweet Dani with Cohen. Heck, even Davey had his moment with Sway. These men, it’s just how they are. When they set their minds to something there is nothing and no one that will hold them back. And sweetheart, before you even let this thought take root in your mind, when they know, they know and they know in a way that sticks forever.”
Of course that did nothing but make me freak out even further, causing Izzy to laugh harder, and Molly to join in while dancing in circles around us. I came down from my freak out . . . until I got my little bird home and while I watched her pick and peck at her snack, my nerves climbed once again.
I should have known better. With Molly, there needed to be no doubt.
Leaning my head back, I settle in for our wait and playback my conversation with Molly.
“Mommy, what did Mrs. Izzy mean? About being sticky forever?”
I turn my head from the counter I had been wiping—the same spot for the last five minutes—while staring off into space. Her brown eyes full of curiosity smile up at me from the table.
“Not sticky forever, little bird. She was talking about a feeling, kind of. She meant it like how I love you will be a feeling that sticks to me like yummy, chewed up bubble gum.”
Her nose crinkles and her lips twist in a way that I know she’s holding in a giggle. “That’s gross, Mommy!” she tells me seconds before peals of laughter come bubbling out of her mouth. “I don’t want to stick to you with chewy bubblegum!”
Smiling, I move from the counter and over to sit next to my sweet, full-of-love, daughter.
“It’s a little different than that, sweets, that’s just the best way to explain it.”
She stops laughing out loud, but those eyes of hers are still burning with amusement. I watch her expressive face as she thinks about what Izzy told me and what I just told her. And then I watch as all of it plugs into the right plugs and the connection is made.
“Who do you want to stick to with chewy bubblegum, Mommy?”
Ah, my smart little bird. She’s always been so wise beyond her five small years.