The Invitation by Vi Keeland(77)

He kissed the top of my head and gave me a big hug. “I’m happy for you,” he said. “I have a really good feeling about things between you and the Adonis. I see a bright future.”

Always afraid to jinx myself, I said thank you, rather than telling him I agreed. But deep down, I saw something bright in the future, too.

I just never expected that brightness to come from a giant explosion.





CHAPTER 26


Hudson



“What are you two up to in there?”

Charlie held out her hand. “You’re not allowed in here, Daddy.”

“Why not?”

“Because we’re making a surprise!”

“But I’m the only one going to be surprised since the two of you are in on it?”

My daughter giggled. “Surprises can be for one person, Daddy.”

I caught Stella’s eye and winked. “Why don’t I put on some music while you guys work in the kitchen? Maybe some Katy Perry or Taylor Swift…”

As expected, Charlie jumped up and down. She pressed her palms together as if she needed to pray in order for me to do something she asked—as if I wouldn’t jump off a cliff to make her happy. “Can you put on Dolly?”

I chuckled. “Sure.”

I turned on the music, sat down in the living room, and put my feet up on the coffee table. Grabbing the TV remote, I flicked on ESPN with closed captioning and started to read the bottom of the screen. They were interviewing a new running back the Giants had drafted for the upcoming season. Big Blue was my team, so I was definitely interested, yet I couldn’t stay focused. Every few minutes, my eyes wandered back to the kitchen. I could see Stella and Charlie working away on whatever they were cooking. Stella stood, while my daughter sat on the counter mixing something. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I watched my daughter cover her mouth as she giggled. The smile on Stella’s face was pretty fucking fantastic, too.

Not to sound like a pussy, but I got this fullness in my chest that gave me a warm feeling. Ah…fuck it, who was I kidding? I didn’t give a shit if I sounded like a pussy. I was happy—really fucking happy. It had been years since I’d felt like I had a real family, and even though I’d only known Stella a few months, and this was the first time the three of us had hung out, my house felt like a home today.

I’d been looking toward the kitchen, but I must’ve zoned out while I was thinking, because when my eyes came into focus again, Stella was squinting at me. She smirked, as if to say, What’s going on in that head of yours?

She probably assumed I was picturing her naked in my kitchen or remembering all the places I’d fucked her in my house over the last week, rather than daydreaming about spending nights with my two ladies, playing board games and making a fire for them this winter in the fireplace I never used.

A half hour later, the table was set, and I was finally allowed to see what the two of them had been concocting.

Stella set a towel-covered casserole dish on the table, and Charlie leaned across, looking at Stella, who gave her a nod.

“Ta-da!” My daughter ripped the towel off.

“Macaroni and cheese? You two find a new box to try out?”

Charlie shook her head. “We made it from itch!”

Stella smiled. “That’s scratch, sweetie. We made it from scratch.”

“It looks delicious.” I looked around the table theatrically. “But where are yours? That one is just for me, right?”

Charlie giggled. “We have to share it, Daddy. There’s enough for all of us.”

I salivated as Stella dished each of us a heaping plate of my favorite food. I couldn’t wait to dig in.

“This is really good,” I said a few moments later.

“Thanks. I…called my mom for her recipe today.”

I hadn’t expected her to say that, and I didn’t want to mention anything around Charlie, so I spoke cryptically. “How did that go?”

Stella shrugged. “It was pleasant, I guess.”

I nodded. “Well, thank you. It really is delicious.”

She smiled. “It was time.”

Oblivious to my meaningful exchange with Stella, my daughter spoke with her mouth full. “Daddy, after dinner can we have ice cream and play secrets?”

I pointed to her dish with my fork. “You’re not even halfway done with what’s in front of you, and you’re worried about dessert? Maybe you’ll be too full for ice cream.”

Charlie snickered as if I’d just told a joke. “There’s always room for ice cream, Daddy. It melts once it’s in your belly, so it’s not even really food.”

“What’s the secrets game?” Stella asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever played before.”

“It’s not really a game. We just eat ice cream and take turns telling each other secrets.” I didn’t want to explain in front of Charlie that it was something my dad had done with my sister and me after our mom first got diagnosed with cancer. It was his way of teaching us that we could always confide in him—trust him to keep our secrets and tell us his.

“Can it be any secret?” Stella asked.

“Whatever you want,” I said.

She grinned. “I’m in.”