“I’m making up for the days that I didn’t have an appetite,” Gabby replies. “I’ve been craving pizza all day.”

“Yeah, well, you can wait just a little bit for that other food to settle.”

“Want some of my nachos?” Nora offers Gabby, who nods and reaches for the chips and cheese.

“You can pick up that spare,” I say to Nora and pat her on the butt, sure that Gabby’s not watching.

“We’ll see,” Nora says as she retrieves her ball and bowls again, picking up all but one of the remaining pins. “Dang it! So close.”

“You’re getting better,” Gabby says with encouragement. She looks expectantly at me. “Your turn, Daddy.”

“I’m beginning to regret this little outing,” I say. “Whose idea was bowling, anyway?”

“Uh, yours,” Nora says with a laugh. “In fact, you were pretty adamant about bowling just two hours ago.”

“I think this little girl’s been bowling when I’m not home. She’s way better than she was the last time we went.”

“Some of us just have God-given talent,” Gabby says. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”

“How old are you?” I demand as I fetch my ball and pay attention to the pins at the end of the lane. I take my stance and go through the motions, release the ball, and pump my fist when it finally knocks down all ten pins. “Yes!”

“Good one,” Nora says and claps loudly, then hugs me when I return to my seat. I pull her in for a quick kiss.

“Hey. None of that,” Gabby says with a scowl. “As in none. Ever.”

“You’ll live,” I say as I reach over to ruffle her hair. “No more itching?”

“No, thank goodness. And I can go back to school on Monday, right?”

“I don’t see why not. You’re not contagious anymore.”

“Good. I’m going to be so far behind, I don’t even want to think about it.”

“You’re a smart girl, Gabs,” I say with confidence. “You’ll be okay.”

“So those are the final scores,” Nora says, pointing up at the screen. “Gabby cleaned our clocks at one forty-seven. Good job, girlie.”

“Does this mean I get to choose what we do next?”

Nora and I share a glance.

“Depends on what you want to do,” I say with a smile.

“Movies at home, curled up on the couch, and Nora makes the popcorn.”

“Now, that we can do,” Nora says as she unties her rental shoes. “Extra butter?”

“Of course,” Gabby and I say together.

“One more.”

I stare at my yawning daughter and shake my head no. “That’s three in a row. You can’t even keep your eyes open.”

“Yes, I can,” she insists, but her eyes drift closed despite herself. “We can watch another funny one.”

“Tomorrow,” Nora says. “There’s still a whole day left in the weekend.”

“I’ll be right back,” I murmur to Nora, then lift my daughter in my arms and carry her to the bedroom. She’s way too old to be carried, but every once in a while I like to pretend she’s still my baby.

“Why am I so sleepy?” Gabby asks into my shoulder.

“It’s eleven,” I remind her. “And you’re still getting over the pox, my friend. You’re bound to get tired easily.”

“It sucks.”

“I know.” I kiss her cheek before lowering her to her bed. I tuck her in, and she’s fast asleep before I turn off the light. “Good night, pumpkin.”

Nora’s not in the living room when I return. I round the corner to the kitchen, and sure enough, there she is, cleaning up from the movie popcorn and goodies, her hair twisted up into a messy knot on her head. She’s in casual comfy clothes that she brought with her this morning because she didn’t know what to expect out of today, and she wanted to be prepared.

That’s my Nora, always prepared.

“How are you, darling?” I ask as I sit on a stool, watching her bustle around my kitchen. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I like the way she looks in my kitchen. Hell, I just like the way she looks, no matter where we are.

“I’m fine,” she says with a soft smile. “I had a good day.”

“Me, too.”

“I didn’t know you were so good at bowling.”

“I’m obviously not,” I say with a laugh. “Gabby kicked my ass.”

“She had fun, too. When you went to the bathroom between movies earlier, she asked me if things were going well. She said she asked you, but you’re not good at giving details.”

I stare at her, surprised. “What did you say?”

“I told her that we’re doing well. That we enjoy spending time together. And I pretty much left it at that.”

“It’s all true,” I say, rubbing my chin. “I guess she did ask me how you were the other day, but I thought she was just asking about you. I didn’t realize she was fishing for inside information.”

“She’s curious,” Nora says. “And that makes sense because it’s been just the two of you for a long, long time. I’m just grateful that she likes me and isn’t throwing a fit at the idea of you dating me.”

Tags: Kristen Proby Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net