---
Even though Derek pointed out that Cassidy was already on board with me moving in and being her new mom, and even though she’s not quite six and probably won’t understand the permanence, I tell Derek we need to ask Cassidy if this is what she wants before we move forward. Most kids don’t get to pick their parents, but I wouldn’t feel right about not asking her first.
We stop at the mall so I can swing by the jewelry store, then begin the long drive to Derek’s. It’s a lovely car ride, the loveliest we’ve had, because this time most of our problems have melted away. This time it’s like a peek at the life we’ll have together. I can picture date nights away from the kids… even though moving away from Bethany and Alex probably means Mike will be the one watching them.
“He’s good with kids,” Derek assures me. “He’ll take good care of ours while I take you out and get you drunk on margaritas.”
Cracking a smile, I look out the window. “I’m sure he will. He’s just never going to be my favorite person.”
“I understand that,” he says, easily enough.
Turning my gaze away from the road and back to him, I say, “Speaking of parents and disapproval, Alex doesn’t even know you and I are talking again, so the news that I’m moving back to the same town I ran away from and adopting your daughter? Probably not going to go over well.”
Derek nods. “Yep, that does sound like something that’s not going to go over well.”
“Bethany likes you already, so maybe that will help.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “I didn’t even meet her, did I?”
“Nope. But as you can probably tell by the fact that she married my father, Bethany doesn’t judge people on their past actions as long as she likes their present. Your whole Family Man kidnapping idea impressed her. She’s crazy,” I add, for reference.
“Sounds like she just has good taste,” he decides.
I smile, lightly whacking him in the stomach. He catches my wrist, then slides his hand until our fingers are entwined.
---
Tonight is Cassidy night. Derek explained away my two week absence, blaming work on me being too busy to come over, but filling in with ideas of things we would do once I caught up and I could come around again.
Cassidy thinks we need to do all of those things today.
I can’t really complain though. The first place on our list is the bookstore I used to work at in high school. I still remember the first time Derek brought me here. It was such an unexpected trip. He was supposed to bring me home from school, but instead he took a twenty minute detour and brought me to my favorite place.
It’s crazy to be back here. There are so many memories littered throughout this store. Everything looks more or less the same, like it’s the one place we used to go to that stood frozen in time, waiting for me to come back.
Sighing with contentment, I squeeze Derek’s hand and lean my head on his shoulder as we follow Cassidy toward the kids’ section.
“I’ve always loved coming to the bookstore with you,” I tell him.
“Dragging me, you mean.”
I shoot him a playful glare. “You loved coming here, don’t start with me.”
Smirking, he frees his hand and wraps his arm around my shoulder instead, tugging me close. “Only because you liked it. You know I’ve never been a book guy.”
“You like my books,” I point out.
“I like those because they come from your brain. I don’t care what comes from anyone else’s brain.”
Shaking my head, I tell him, “There’s one I want you to read. It’s crazy messed-up, it’s a thriller, not a romance. There’s a pinch of romance in it, but it’s about a stalkery creep. You’re gonna love it.”
“You can read it to me naked, how’s that? Then I’ll pay attention.”
Grinning, I look up at him. “Derek bedtime stories after Cassidy bedtime stories, huh?”
“I approve of this nightly routine. You can read me all the books you want as long as you’re naked, but I want touching privileges. You try to focus on the page, I’ll try to convince you to put it down. We’ll see who wins.”
“Sounds like we both win,” I state slyly.