“You too and, Dad…” I pause, giving my words the attention they need. “I love you.”
“Love you too, son.” I can hear the emotion in his voice before the line goes dead. Jeff Monroe is the type of man I want to be. He loves us unconditionally, and that’s what I want to do for my girls. I want to take the worry from Larissa’s eyes and replace it with the carefree happiness I’ve only seen a glimpse of. I want to be at Paisley’s games and scare the shit out of her dates when they come to pick her up when she’s thirty. I can see our future, picture it in my mind. I just need Ris to catch up.
When I pull into the driveway, her SUV is already there. I hit the button on the garage door and pull in, opening the second door as well. When I climb out of my truck, I motion for her to pull in.
“Why?” she asks, rolling down her window.
“Just humor me.”
She rolls those big green eyes and shakes her head, but she pulls into the second bay. I head to the back to help Paisley out of her seat, but she beats me to it. “I didn’t think you would ever get here,” she says in a sassy yet cute way only she can pull off.
“I know. I was gone forever,” I agree with her. I, too, feel as though it took me forever to get them here. To be home with them.
“Your house is really big,” Paisley says, latching onto my hand.
“You think so?” I ask her, and she nods.
Larissa climbs out, and without thinking, I snake my free hand around her waist and pull her into me, placing a quick kiss to her lips. “I missed you,” I whisper.
“What about me?” Paisley asks. “Did you miss me? I didn’t get a kiss,” she points out.
Bending, I pick her up in my arms, settle her on my hip, and kiss her on the cheek. “I missed both of you.” I tickle her sides, causing her to laugh. “Come on, ladies, the pool is calling our name.”
“I gots a game tonight, so I can’t get too tired, right, Mommy?” Paisley asks.
“That’s right, sweetie. I say we swim and then maybe catch a nap?”
“I don’t like naps,” Paisley grumbles.
“Really?” I ask her, a schooled expression on my face. “I love naps. I would nap every single day if I could.”
“You do?” Her eyes are wide.
“Sure. Everyone loves naps.”
“Will you take one with me?” she asks.
“Of course I will. We can all take a nap after our swim. How does that sound?”
“Really good,” she agrees. I smile over at Larissa, and she just shakes her head.
About an hour of splashing around in the pool, and I can tell Princess Paisley is wearing down. “I’m tired,” I say, faking a yawn, covering my mouth.
“Yeah, me too,” she says, mimicking me.
“What do you say we take that nap?”
“Yeah, Mommy, you ready for a nap?” she asks Larissa.
“I think so.” Larissa stretches in her barely-there bikini. It’s really uncomfortable to be sporting wood and playing in the pool with a four-year-old. I had to keep my distance from her mother. That’s all I need to do is traumatize Paisley for life. Her mother on the other hand….
“Y’all can change in my room. I’ll grab some clothes and change across the hall.” I rush up the stairs and grab some basketball shorts, underwear, and a T-shirt out of my dresser. “I’ll be done in a minute.” I change quickly, leaving my wet clothes hanging on the side of the tub.
When I knock on my bedroom door, Paisley announces for me to come in. They’re sitting on the edge of the bed while Larissa braids her hair. “You ready for that nap?” I ask her.
“Where are we sleeping?”
“Here,” I tell her, finding Larissa’s eyes. Heat flares between us.