Heartless (Enemies to Lovers 1)
Page 42
“You never asked.”
He nods. “This goes both ways, Della. I’ve never lived with a woman. It’s only been me and my dad. I’m going to do things wrong. I don’t know any of the rules when it comes to living with a woman.”
I shrug and smile at him. “I was ten when my dad died. Jamie can hardly remember him. We’re pretty much in the same boat. We’re going to do stuff that will upset you. We’ll all just have to learn to get along.”
“Can we start over?”
“Yeah, let’s go get our daughter some food.”
CHAPTER 14
CARTER
Shopping with Della is crazy on a whole new level. Every sweet thing I took, she just put back. She even spoke to me in her stern Mom voice. That’s some serious scary shit.
When we get back home, Jamie is waiting for us with a jar in her arms. The words swear jar is written over the middle of it.
“Alright, kids.” She holds the jar out to me. “You owe the jar thirty dollars for all the f-bombs and five dollars for the b-word.”
“You’re fucking kidding me,” I say, not believing this shit.
“Make that an even forty-five. Another ten for the f-bomb.”
Della starts to laugh but Jamie pins her with the same look that makes her quickly swallow the laughter
“Let me just place the bags on counter.” While I pay my fine, Della unpacks the bags.
Daniele comes running from her room, yelling, “I’m made a poo-poo in the big toilet.”
“Dammit, I forgot about her seat.”
“That will be five dollars,” Jamie says, taping the jar.
I try to open a cupboard but the thing is stuck. “What the hell?”
“That’s another five dollars, and you have to remove the safety clip first.”
I look at Jamie and take my wallet out again. I shove a hundred in the jar. “For the rest of the night. Now show me how to remove this thing.”
Jamie unclips it quickly then hands it back to me. “Now you do it.”
“Why?”
“So Danny won’t open them and get hurt.”
“Oh.” After my fourth try I get it right. When I turn around Della is already busy preparing the Mac n Cheese.
“That’s my favorite,” Danny says as she’s struggling to get onto one of the stools.
I go stand behind her and pick her up. Helping her to balance on the stool, I keep standing behind her so she doesn’t fall backwards. She leans back against me and looks up at me with a huge smile. “Love you, Daddy.”
Her words slam my breath from me.
I knew Dad loved me but he wasn’t one to say it. I can’t remember if I’ve ever heard those words in all my life. At least not directed at me.
I press a kiss to Daniele’s head before I hand her to Jamie. I walk away before they can see what her words are doing to me. I’m just about to head up the stairs when I trip over something and slam the side of my head against the wall.
“Fuck it!”