Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
But she didn’t, instead opting to play a gig with Leo at a bar. I was slightly jealous, slightly annoyed and slightly proud of her. It was weird to be wrestling with those feelings, especially since we still only have the one date under our belts.
That will be corrected tonight, though.
“Mazzy,” Bowie Jane says with excitement when she sees her standing just inside the doorway. I’m forgotten and she runs to her, throwing her arms around her waist.
My daughter has always been super affectionate. Her mom and I raised her with a lot of love and touch in the form of kisses, cuddles, hugs and holding hands. When Bowie Jane and I watch a movie together, we sit side by side on the couch, and we hold hands. It’s not lost on me that she has slipped into an identical affectionate relationship with Mazzy in the last few weeks, and I imagine that’s only going to strengthen as time rolls on. It provides so much comfort to know that my daughter isn’t just getting basic childcare, she’s receiving love and support from Mazzy.
Mazzy hugs Bowie Jane tightly, her eyes landing on the suitcase. “Kid… you know we’re not leaving until five p.m., right?”
“I know,” she chirps back, releasing her hold on Mazzy. “I’m just excited.”
“Silly girl.” Mazzy tugs at Bowie Jane’s ponytail and turns to me. “You headed out?”
“Yeah,” I say, glancing at my watch, knowing I have to get going and yet wanting a few more minutes with my girls. But duty calls. I move into the kitchen and head toward the refrigerator. “Bowie Jane… will you get my gear bag out of my closet.”
“Sure,” she replies and runs off that way.
I open the fridge door and grab the flowers I picked up this morning. Bowie Jane and I went out for breakfast since Mazzy wasn’t there to cook. Plus, since it’s a game day, I wanted to do something special, just me and Bowie Jane. We found a florist in the shopping center where we ate and Bowie Jane pointed at it as we were leaving. “Dad… flowers for Mazzy.”
She knows we’re going on our second date tonight and I think she’s as excited as I am.
Hopefully as Mazzy is, but I’m not sure. Between my travel, her taking care of Bowie Jane, and having time off this week, our connection hasn’t been as strong. Sure, there’ve been texts, but they’ve been brief and you can only get so deep with a person via text.
I close the door and Mazzy sees the bouquet. Her eyes nearly bug as I move toward her, presenting the flowers. Bowie Jane comes out of my room, barely able to hold the weight of my bag on her shoulder. She drops it on the floor and watches with a big grin as Mazzy accepts the cluster of red roses.
Personally, I was against the roses. Mazzy seems more like a spring bouquet kind of woman, roses being far too traditional. But Bowie Jane is a simple romantic and she insisted on a dozen of them.
“Wow,” Mazzy says as she takes the bouquet wrapped in tissue paper with a pretty red bow. She bends her nose to them and inhales. “They’re beautiful.”
“Romantic, right?” Bowie Jane prods.
Mazzy blushes, my kid inserting herself right into the moment. “Very romantic,” she admits, cutting me a side glance.
“I wanted to give them to you now because if I kept them in my car and gave them to you tonight after the game, they’d be half dead. This way, you can enjoy them more.”
“I’ll put them in a vase and keep them on the counter so I can see them plenty,” Mazzy says, and then moves into me. For a moment, I think she might kiss me and oh fuck… are we ready for Bowie Jane to see that, even if it’s just a peck on the lips?
But Mazzy lifts one arm to my shoulder to pull me into a quick hug. “Thank you,” she murmurs. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, he did,” Bowie Jane says from behind us.
Laughing, we break apart and Mazzy searches the cabinets for a vase. I move over to my kid, nabbing my suit jacket off the back of the barstool where I’d put it earlier. Players must show up to the arena in suit and tie, owner rules, and it stretches across the entire league. I don’t mind though because I happen to enjoy nice clothes and I also like the way Mazzy looks at me when I’m dressed like this.
“Last chance,” I say, picking Bowie Jane up and supporting her weight with my forearm under her butt.
Her arms go around my shoulders and she stares at me solemnly. “I’ll be fine tonight, Dad. Stop worrying.”
I boop the end of her nose and she giggles. “I’ll always worry about you, but for tonight, I shall stop. I hope you have a great time at Ms. Norcross’s house but if you get scared or need—”