Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
She huffed out a sigh. “No calling boys.”
“That’s right. No boys. None. Everyone you love besides Daddy is a girl, anyway.”
“What about Uncle Sawyer?” She raised her brows.
Well, she had me there. “I might make an exception.”
“Will you put Morgan’s number in, too? Just in case?”
“I can do that.” Leave it to my brilliant little daughter to twist the knife. I didn’t have the heart to tell her no, and I knew Morgan wouldn’t want me to when it came to this. Fin had caught on that Morgan hadn’t been around, but since I’d never outright told her we were together, I didn’t think I needed to announce what might be the opposite now.
“Thank you!” She threw her arms around my neck, and I held her tight, breathing in the scent of her strawberry shampoo. This deployment was going to suck on every fucking level possible.
“I love you, Finley.” God, how was I going to leave her for three months? I hadn’t been apart from her for more than three days since she was born.
“Love you, Daddy.” She smacked a kiss on my cheek.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Maybe it’s Morgan!” she exclaimed, wiggling down from my arms. She shot off like a bolt of lightning before I could tell her there was zero chance in hell Morgan was here. She’d even sent Juno back with Sam the day after she’d thrown me out. “Mommy!”
Shit, I’d forgotten what time it was.
I walked into the entry to see Claire hauling in a massive suitcase.
“You still sure about this?” she asked as Fin took her purse.
“Sure that it’s better for Fin if her routine is as close to normal as possible? Yes. You still promise to move out when I get back?”
She arched an eyebrow. “How about I promise to move out when you get back if you still want me to?”
I tilted my head and blinked.
“Okay, fine.” She rolled her eyes with a smile. “I promise. This is just the first one. I’ll bring the others over tomorrow before you go.”
“Thank you. I’ve got all the feeding schedules up in the kitchen.”
“For Finley or the menagerie?” she joked.
“Yes,” I answered.
We both laughed, and it was awkward but easier than it had been.
Knock. Knock. Sam stood behind the glass storm doors with a beach bag slung over her shoulder.
“New girlfriend?” Claire asked.
“Don’t start,” I warned, keeping my voice level since Finley was here as I opened the door. “Sam?”
Her gaze darted to Claire, then her suitcase, then me. “Bad time?”
“Not at all. Come on in.” I stepped back, and Sam walked straight through the entry to high-five Finley.
“How’s it going, Fin?”
“Hey, Sam!” She leaned around Sam and stared at the door, which served as another slice to my soul. Not that it mattered. It was pretty much death by a thousand tiny cuts around here right now.
“Just me today,” Sam said with enough perk that Finley’s face fell only slightly. “But she did bake you some cookies this morning!” She dug into her bag and produced a Ziploc full of chocolate chip cookies.
“Really? Yay!” Fin took the cookies and disappeared toward the kitchen, still wearing Claire’s purse.
Cue the most awkward moment of my life.
“How about I take Fin down to the water for…” Claire glanced between Sam and me. “A while. Text me when you’re ready?”
I nodded my thanks, and Claire ushered Fin and her cookies out the door.
“Can we sit?” Sam asked.
“Sure.”
Once we were at the dining room table, Sam pulled out her phone, a laptop, and the small, silver tape recorder that usually lived on Morgan’s counter.
“Does she know you’re here?” Even asking was painful.
“Hell no. She’d slaughter me for what I’m about to do, which means I’m trusting you to keep this between us. But, before we start, do you want to explain why your ex has her suitcase in your entry? Or should I just jump to conclusions?” Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Claire is moving in so Finley can stay in our home while I’m gone,” I answered easily. “We’re not together. We’re never going to be together again. I’m just trying to make it as easy as possible on my daughter.”
Sam studied me for a second and then nodded, as if accepting my answer. “Okay then. Because I’m not about to risk one of my closest friendships if you’re already moving on. Get me?”
“I’m not moving on. I’m not exactly hopeful, but not moving on.” I rested my elbows on the table. “It’s only three months, Sam. She threw me out and slaughtered me for three damned months.”
Sam sighed. “You’re not wearing her glasses.”
“She doesn’t wear glasses,” I countered.
“Not the kind of glasses I’m referring to.” She rolled her eyes. “When you think about this deployment, what’s your first concern?”
“Easy. Who is taking care of Finley? Where is she staying? How do I keep connected to her? How do I make her feel secure and safe? Not that Morgan isn’t a giant clusterfuck—”