The Daddy Box Set

“How about some games?” I suggested. If I could, I’d avoid the rides for the rest of the day, but I knew Gina wouldn’t go for that. If I could steer her toward the ones that adults weren’t allowed on, then I would feel much better about continuing with that part of the park.

“Let’s do the water gun one,” Gina suggested.

“The water gun one it is then,” Noah said, tilting his cup to me.

I leaned over the table. “I have to warn you. I’m pretty good at that game.”

“I hate to burst your bubble,” Noah said, “but I never lose.”

An hour later, the three of us walked out of the games area of the park. I held two large stuffed animals in my arms and Gina held the smaller one. I’d won all of them.

“You were saying?” I asked when Gina hopped onto another ride. I placed the stuffed animals on a nearby bench. I made a show of how much my arms hurt from carrying the animals.

Noah raked his hands through his hair. He lifted his sunglasses to wipe the glass on his shirt. His eyes twinkled with mischief. “I let you win.”

“Oh, come on!” I said. “You were trying hard. I saw your scrunched up face when you were concentrating.”

“I don’t scrunch up my face,” he said.

I gasped. “Yes, you do!”

He closed one eye and shook his head in disbelief.

“Would it make you feel better if I gave you one?” I asked. I lifted the big purple gorilla and handed it over.

He reached out and touched my wrist. With him feeling the sensitive inner part of my wrist, my mind went blank. I couldn’t think of anything at that moment.

“Let’s have a rematch on another day,” he said.

“Deal,” I breathed.

His fingers moved to my hand, and he guided me to putting the gorilla back onto the bench. He slid them down to my palm.

My breath hitched in my throat. For a moment, I thought he was going to squeeze or hold my hand. But he didn’t. Instead, he turned to watch Gina on the ride. I stood there for a moment, staring at him.

It took Gina’s gleeful laugh to snap me back to reality. What had just happened between us?

I was no closer to getting an answer by the time we reached Noah’s house. With Gina in the car, it wasn’t an appropriate time to talk about us. It seemed like there never would be an appropriate time.

It was past her nap time, so when we arrived, she hopped out of the car, ready to lie down. She really was the perfect kid. I knew plenty of other kids who fought with me about their nap times.

Noah gave Gina the key to the house. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Bye, Jess,” she said and hugged me.

I kissed her cheek. “Sleep well.”

She yawned and nodded, trudging up the walkway to the side entrance.

“Thanks for having me today,” I said. “I’ll see you M—”

“Join us for dinner tomorrow,” Noah said quickly.

“Tomorrow?”

His shoulders lifted. “I’m taking Gina downtown to Eclisse. She likes to dress up for the fancier places.”

“Are you sure you want me to come?” I asked.