Aspyn peered at me. “What?”
“How about I go pick up Kadie?” I nodded toward my door. “I got a crib, toddler bed, and a car seat. And the fence I was working on can wait a day. If she gets sicker, I’ll call you and let you know, and we can meet at the doctor’s.”
Unease settled over Aspyn’s face. I knew this was a big thing to ask of her. It was one thing to finally accept me but quite another to leave our sick daughter alone with me for the first time.
“Are you sure?” she said quietly. “Have you ever dealt with a sick kid before?”
“It’s not like this is the only time she’ll be sick. I might as well start learning now.” I shrugged. “I’ll pick up medicine and some stuff from the pharmacy before I pick her up.”
Aspyn sat there quietly for a long while before a smile swallowed the unease. “Thank you, Alex.”
I shook my head. “It’s the least I can do. She is our daughter.”
“Yes, that she is.”
I grinned. “Now, and as much as I love my daughter’s mama, it’s time for her to get out of bed and get ready for work.” I playfully pushed her, and she fell off with a thud.
“Son of a bitch,” Aspyn said. She hopped to her feet and frowned down at me. She poked me in the chest. “I’ll forgive the pushing me out of bed, but how could you tell me you love me like that?”
I shrugged. “I thought it was pretty funny myself.”
Aspyn rolled her eyes. “You promise me next time it won’t be so lame.” She crossed her arms over her those magnificent tits of hers. “Or else.”
I held up a hand. “I promise to tell you I love you in a non-lame way next time.”
“Now, we better hurry,” she said. “So, no shower hanky-panky. Even though I love you too.”
My heart sped up at hearing those words. It’d been so quick and casual between us, but I finally knew we both felt the same way.
I held up my hand again. “I promise shower hanky-panky on a different day.”
Aspyn chuckled.
* * *
Two quick and separate showers later, without any hanky-panky, unfortunately, we were both dressed.
She drove off in her car, still wearing her clothes from yesterday, and I headed off in my truck, heading to the pharmacy. It’d be pretty stupid if I picked my sick little girl and then made her come inside with me.
I hurried to the cold and flu section and grabbed some children’s medicine. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with her, so I grabbed a multi-symptom medicine containing a decongestant, fever reducer, and antihistamine. I figured that should at least help her feel a little better.
The trip from the pharmacy to Kadie’s nana’s house only took a few minutes. Once I arrived, I knocked quietly on the door, hoping I wasn’t disturbing her.
The door creaked open not long afterward. Good ol’ Nana stood there, a smile on her face.
“I didn’t realize this is what you had in mind.” She nodded inside.
/> I stepped inside. Kadie lay on the couch curled up under a blanket. I could hear some kids playing in a nearby room.
Her nana sighed. “I gave her some medicine to bring down her fever. She’s also got a bit of a cough. I don’t think it’s serious. Just needs rest and plenty of fluids.”
I walked over to the couch and picked up my daughter. “She’ll be at my place, and I’ll make sure she gets to feeling better.”
I turned to leave and headed for the door.
Nana wasn’t quite done with me yet, though. “I’m glad you worked it out. I know my daughter can be a handful, but I also know you’ve both cared for each other since high school. We can’t let mistakes destroy us.”
I looked over my shoulder. “We’ve both made our mistakes.”