Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Her face furrows. “You keep jumping.”
“Do I?”
“Yes, like this.” Her shoulders spring up, her lips puckered.
I laugh, flexing my grip on her hand. “Sorry, pidge. I’m a bit distracted.” I look at her out of the corner of my eye, wondering if I’m brave enough to plunge into a conversation with my seven-year-old about a relationship. It’s only ever been me and her. What will she make of another woman in my life?
“What’s on your mind, Daddy?” Our hands swing between us, and she looks up at me with concern.
I can’t do it. What would I say anyway? Besides, I should wait for Raya’s reaction to my news before I even think to concern Georgia with a woman who may or may not be in our life. What if I tell her and Raya bolts?
“I was wondering if I’m going to have one scoop of ice cream or two.”
“Three!” she sings, stopping and jumping on the spot excitedly.
I laugh and point toward the lake. “Shall we skip?”
She snorts. “Boys can’t skip.”
“Wanna bet?” I release her and break into what I’m pretty sure is a skip.
Clearly my daughter thinks otherwise, her small body folding with laughter, her palms meeting her knees to hold her up. “That’s not skipping, silly.” Like a pro, she passes me with grace and elegance, dancing off toward the lake. “This is skipping!”
“Easy peasy!” I shout, following on behind, smiling like mad at her pigtails swinging like propellers as she goes. “See, I can do it.”
Georgia looks back, a little breathless. “Oh, Daddy.” She shakes her head, dismayed, as I barrel toward her, legs kicking out all over the place. “You’re funny.”
I’m blowing out my fucking arse by the time I make it to her, now my hands braced on my knees as I puff before her. “Ice cream?”
“Yes!”
I turn and crouch so she can take up position on my back. Her arms around my shoulders, her face close to mine. I sigh and get us on our way.
“Do you think they have salted caramel?” she asks.
“I hope so. It’s my favorite, too.” I take us through the maze of rosebushes, leaning down when Georgia demands so she can pick one. “Just one. And watch the thorns.” She plucks it delicately from the bush and tucks it behind my ear.
Breaking out through a small opening onto the path that leads to the riverside ice cream parlour, I drop her to her feet and transfer the rose from my ear to hers. “Why don’t you get that seat?” I point to the bench facing out onto the river, where swans are swimming in circles waiting for any scraps left by passersby. She’s off quickly, still skipping, still putting me to shame. “Don’t go too near the swans!” I call after her.
“I won’t!”
I make my way inside, relieved to see salted caramel is on the menu. I order two sundaes, one eye trained on the window where I can see Georgia on the bench, her legs swinging happily. “Can I get some napkins?” I ask, preparing for the mess that’s about to ensue.
When I make it to the door, I start to negotiate the ice creams into one hand to let myself out.
“Let me get that for you.”
“Thanks.” The door is pulled open, and I’m about to make my way through when the voice registers, dropping anchors into my feet as it does. I glance up and find Raya holding the door open.
“Hi,” she says, her face pink and damp from exertion. She’s clad in Lycra, but not very much of it.
“Hi,” I mumble back. Oh fuck. What do I do? “Been for a run?” What a stupid question.
“No, horse riding.” She rolls her eyes and moves in, reaching up and kissing my cheek, her warm palms resting on my chest.
If my hands weren’t full and my mind in fucking chaos, I’d embrace her, kiss the living daylights out of her, but instead I’m a statue, tense and worried. So fucking worried.
“You okay?” she asks.
I watch her register the two dishes of ice cream in my hands. One for me, and one for…who? That’s what she’s thinking. I quickly glance across to the bench where Georgia is, seeing she’s at a safe distance. “Yeah, you?” I straighten my shoulders and regret it. My need to stand tall and try to act normal has just earned me a killer of a stab in my shoulder.
“Still struggling?” Raya asks, resting her hand on my shoulder and rubbing into it.
I go lax under her hold, groaning in pleasure. “Probably not a good idea to do that here.”
She laughs, soft and light. “Maybe after our dinner.”
If she hasn’t done a runner after I deliver my news. On that note, I pull back. I need to go before Raya has a chance to ask why I have two ice creams in my hand.