The Single Dad (The Dalton Family #3)(96)

“You got it.”

I continued into the living room, where Ford and Everly were spread across the couch, an animal show playing on the TV.

“How are my favorites doing?” I asked, sitting on the small bit of cushion between their heads, running my hands through their hair.

“Syd, you’re missing the lions.” She reached up and played with the end of my braid. “They’re roaring all over the place.”

I kissed her forehead. “I’m here now, so I can get all caught up.”

Ford tilted his head back to look at me, staring for several seconds before he said, “You were only gone for twenty-five minutes.”

“I told you I just needed to shower.”

“And I told you to take your time.”

I winked. “I did. I even shaved.”

He laughed. “I guess that’s a good thing since Malorie is on her way over.”

“Who?”

“The massage therapist my mother uses. She’s coming to give you a two-hour massage.”

My chest felt tight again, but for an entirely different reason. “You’re kidding …”

“And then you’re having dinner with Kendall and Jo and Hannah tonight. They wanted to surprise you, but I figured you’d want a little time to get ready.”

The tears were threatening to return to my eyes. “But what if you guys need me—”

“Dominick and Jenner are coming with them, and they’re going to stay here while you’re gone. In their words, they’re going to play nurse—whatever the fuck that means.”

“Daddy! Bad word! You put a dollar in the swear jar!”

“Fudge. Whatever the fudge that means.”

I ran my hand across his beard. It had grown so much thicker; it hadn’t been groomed since the accident. “I don’t know what to say …”

He pushed himself up and kissed me.

“Ewww, Daddy! Enough smoochin’.”

I laughed as we separated and said to Ford, “I love you.” And then I pressed my lips to Everly’s cheek and whispered, “I looove you.”





Twenty-Five





Ford





I was just finishing a set of curls when Everly came running into my home gym, shouting, “Bye, Daaaddy!”

Her hair, which was getting so long, bounced like the top of a mop, her glittery shoes squeaking across the rubber flooring.

“No running.”

She only slowed when she reached me. “Oopsie. Too late.” She raised her arms in the air.

I placed the weights down and lifted her up, holding her against my chest, and noticed Sydney standing in the doorway. Her hand was wrapped around the handle of Eve’s pink suitcase. “Looks like you have everything packed for Mimi and Papa’s house.”

“Yep.” She made a face. “You’re sweaty.”

I laughed. “Are you going to be a big girl and not kick Mimi in the face when you sleep with her and Papa tonight?”

She giggled. “Daddy, I don’t do it on ’urpose.”

I used my weaker arm to tickle her and roared into her neck, “You don’t do it on puuurpose.”

“Daddy, you sound like a cat, puuuring.”

This kid.

I cuddled her into me. “I’m going to miss you tonight.” I kissed her cheek. “I love you.”

She giggled, still feeling the tickles, and said, “More than all the stars in the sky.”

Every time she’d said that since the accident, it was more meaningful.

It had been sixteen weeks, and I would never know that girl had experienced a single second of pain.

But we talked about it. We kept the communication open. The last thing I wanted was there to be emotional triggers that had a lasting effect.

“Be good,” I told her. “Listen to your grandparents and don’t stay up too late.” I gave her another kiss and set her down. “And don’t run. There are too many things in here that you can trip on.”

“Okaaay, Daddy.” She joined Sydney in the doorway.

“Your mom will be here any second,” Sydney said. “I’m going to walk her out.”

Damn it, I was grateful my family had accepted the way Everly had come into my life, and although many conversations were had with my parents and brothers, nothing had changed between them and my daughter.

I watched her and Sydney disappear and picked up the weights, slowly working through another set.

Since the cast had come off my arm, I’d hired a trainer and physical therapist to come to my home several times a week, the two of them working together to ensure I made a full recovery. On the days they weren’t here, like today, I worked out without them.

I wanted my arm to be as strong as it had been before.

And in the short time since my cast had been taken off, I could already feel a huge difference.

I finished the set and pulled off my T-shirt, using it to wipe the sweat from my body. Once I was done, I tossed it on a bench and started some triceps extensions. I was only halfway through my count when Sydney came in.

She’d changed into a pair of yoga pants and a sports bra, not the jeans and tank top she’d been wearing only a few minutes before.