Curves for the Single Dad

I shook my head. “Where do you put it all?”

“It’s all the sex. Burns tons of calories, if you can remember that far back.” Oliver laughed when I flipped him off and looked over his shoulder to make sure Lila wasn’t watching. It didn’t matter how many times I told her she couldn’t do what adults did, my little girl would argue that if it was okay for me, it was okay for her.

“It hasn’t been that long.” In fact, it was probably longer, because I hadn’t put much effort towards dating since we moved to Pilgrim almost two years ago.

“Yeah? Are you measuring it in months or years? And,” he held up a hand with an amused laugh, “don’t give me any of that baby age counting crap. If you say sixty-two months, I’ll kick you in the nuts.”

“I’m not counting,” I said defensively.

“Bull. Every man counts. I’ll bet you know down to the hour. Possibly the minute.”

He wasn’t wrong, but he didn’t need to know that. “How are wedding plans coming along?”

Oliver groaned and dropped his head onto the table. “Don’t talk about it. I love Eva, but if I have to look at three identical invitations that she insists are different colors, I’m gonna run into traffic during rush hour.”

“Rush hour in Pilgrim is like three cars, man.” I laughed when Oliver flipped me off.

“You think it’s funny, but it’s not.”

“I’ve been there,” I told him, and that was all I planned to say about the over the top wedding my ex had insisted on. Planning the wedding and the event itself felt longer than the marriage.

Oliver shook his head and groaned. “How’s writing going?”

“Good, actually.” It was nice to have something positive to say about my work again. Even though I hadn’t written one word of the new series, I felt energized. Happy to create again. More than that, I was happy to have an adult to share the details with. Plus Oliver read my books and knew what to expect. He was a surprisingly good sounding board. “What do you think?”

“I think I can’t wait to get an advance copy when you finish it,” he said with a laugh. “And I think you might actually meet a woman, one you can date out here in the real world.”

That was the last thing on my mind. My ex had done a good job on souring me on relationships and marriage. She barely remembered she had a daughter most of the time, and I refused to let another woman get close to my Lila, only to walk away. “My plan is to treat this as real for the sake of authenticity, but I’m not looking for a wife. Or a girlfriend.”

“Who’s got a girlfriend?” Lila’s eyes wide with excitement. “Is it you, Daddy?”

I glared at Oliver, who was too busy laughing to be properly intimidated. “Not yet, but we’re working on it, aren’t we Lila?”

She gave an exaggerated nod, her lopsided ponytail bouncing in all directions. “Yep. I want her to be tough ‘cause dad is grumpy sometimes. She’ll like cupcakes and pizza and football, but she’ll also play dress up with me.”

“That’s an excellent list, kiddo. Did you write it down so I can give it to Eva?”

“Oh, will you?”

He nodded, mischief gleaming in his eyes. “Absolutely. It’s her job to help find everybody a match.” Oh, he was really enjoying himself at my expense. “Anything else? Does she have to be pretty, or smart or funny?”

“No, but if she knows how to do makeup, I’d like that. Don’t all girls know that stuff?” Her gaze bounced between me and Oliver in search of an answer.

“I don’t know a woman who doesn’t know how, at least a little bit, but if she doesn’t, I’m sure Eva or Sophie will teach you.”

Her eyes lit up with excitement that I hated to squash, but I had to. “You have plenty of time until you’re sixteen,” I growled.

“But I have to learn before then Daddy so I don’t look like a clown.” Another groan escaped at her eagerness to grow up, pulling a laugh from Oliver, the traitor.

“Still, we have plenty of time. Don’t be in such a rush to grow up. Enjoy being a kid.”

Lila thought about it and nodded. “Okay. Can I have more quarters please?”

I happily gave her twelve more quarters in hopes it would make her forget this conversation immediately. “Have fun and don’t wander off.”

“Okay, Daddy!”

As soon as she was gone I turned to my so called friend. “Don’t encourage her.”

“Believe me, she doesn’t need much encouragement from me. That little girl is hungry for some female attention. The kind only a mother, or stepmother, can give.”

He was right, I knew that. Of course I knew that, she brought it up more and more with every passing day. “I’m not interested in that kind of commitment. I need to protect Lila.”