Head over Heels: A Single Dad Romance(10)

"It was all part of my grand plan," I groaned and slumped my head into my hands, "I was so sure of it that I gave up my lease, and now I don't have any place to live."

"You should live with us!"

At the sound of her high-pitched squeak, I looked up and saw Elizabeth standing in the doorway looking at the two of us as if she had the obvious answer to everything.





Chapter 7





"You did what?"

So, Mimi wasn't as psyched about my new living arrangement as I thought she would be.

"And he has a kid?"

She had problems with that too.

"Are you crazy?"

That was maybe a bridge too far. "Mimi, keep your voice down," I shushed and went over to close the office door. It wasn't as if I needed everyone in the office to know my personal business.

Mimi plopped down in her chair and stared at me as I walked back to my own desk. Her creepy gaze followed my every move and I couldn't help but sigh as I sat down opposite her.

"Listen," I stared at her a bit more vehemently than I planned, "I have no idea why you're so upset-"

"I'm not upset," she snapped, "I just think you're making a big mistake by moving in with a single dad and his daughter."

"I'm not moving in with them," I managed to not roll my eyes at her assessment, but it was hard.

"So, you're not moving into his house."

"No," I objected, "I'm moving into his office."

"In his house."

"It has its own entrance and a full bathroom," I still felt like I had the high ground in this argument, but Mimi wasn't buying it.

"And he has a daughter," she sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest.

"Yeah, super cute kid - so what?" I threw up my hands and waited for her to respond.

"Devon," she paused to collect her thoughts, "You of all people know what it's like to have people come and go in a child's life."

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of a small child," I argued, "I have babysat before."

"So, wait-" she interrupted, "you're going to be responsible for her too?"

"Not all the time, just here and there - and I think you're missing the bigger point," I dismissed her comment with a wave of my hand, "I'm going to be working on my house. My dream is going to become a reality."

"And what happens when the house is done?" She was visibly frustrated with me, and I really didn't understand why, "you're not thinking this through - you're thinking with your…" she stopped and circled her finger at me, "lady parts."

I burst out laughing at the absurdity of the conversation, "my lady parts? Did you honestly just say that?" Of course, I was thinking with my lady parts. One look at Michael and they didn't just guide me, they screamed at me. But that's not why I took him up on his offer - or rather, on Elizabeth's offer.

The idea was absurd of course, but it wasn't long before Michael and I saw the benefit. We would work on the house together - my design, his labor - and then use it as a showcase like I originally planned.

The flip side of the plan involved me moving into his office - temporarily - and occasionally helping out with his daughter to give his ex-mother-in-law a break. He assured me it wouldn't be anything more than picking her up from school occasionally and being at home with her on the nights when he was working late. I was more than capable of doing that.

Apparently, Mimi didn't agree.

"He's old," she tossed out.

"Not like ancient old - just older," I countered.

"You don't even know him," she hissed.

"I've known him - we've known him for well over a year," I shot back noting that he wasn't a stranger to her either.

"It's not the same thing," she rolled her eyes at me and slumped in her chair, "I just can't believe you didn't talk to me about it first."

I finally felt like we were getting somewhere. We had practically been joined at the hip since Freshman year in college and now it seemed we barely spoke. But that wasn't all on me. Something was going on with her and she wasn't sharing any of it. I was going to try again to broach the subject when the office door opened up and Michael popped his head in.

My heart pounded wildly at his sudden appearance, and I wondered if I would ever get used to seeing him.

"Is it safe to come in?" He joked and gave his patented smile but Mimi was having none of it. I saw her roll her eyes before she pulled out a folder to bury her head in.

He ignored Mimi's slight, and turned to me, "Hey Dev," he started and Mimi actually scoffed before taking out another folder to bury her head in, "Would you mind picking up Bethy from Nana Jill's house?"

"Ummm," boy was this bad timing, "sure." I knew Mimi was watching us so I didn't want to stare at him, but how could I look away?

"Great, Thank you," he crooned, "they screwed up the order for the Lambert project and I need to go over to Piedmont personally to straighten things out." He turned to walk out the door and then shouted back, "I'm gonna be late so don't hold dinner for me."