place on this green earth where I can truly find happiness. Or well, it used to be. Now my happiness lies with my girls. Wherever they go, so does my heart.
Bryce had split when I first found out I was pregnant with Coby and dad immediately took us in. He suffered through the horrible pregnancy and was there to help my every need when I was put on bed rest.
Pregnancy sucks. Whoever tells you that pregnancy is a beautiful thing is a liar.
I don’t know what I would have done without my dad. He literally saved us. He took me and Ryan in, gave us a home, and welcomed Coby with open arms when she came screaming into the world.
Dad was my guy. I freaking loved him. We were like two peas in a pod, and I sure as hell would have loved him harder if I’d know he wasn’t going to be around much longer. He passed just over six months ago and it still shatters me. I can’t even think about it without tears springing to my eyes. But what’s worse is knowing that my girls will grow up, not knowing that same love from their grandfather that I’d been so blessed to have in my life.
My attention falls away from Ryan and I take a moment to listen out for Coby playing in her sister’s room. They’re both happy and despite the house being a mess and the pile of laundry that’s been staring at me all day, I’m happy too.
It’s a great day. We rarely get this. My shift at the dance studio was canceled due to the security system malfunctioning. Literally nobody in or out of the building, so I got today off which meant my babies did too. No daycare for them and I have to admit, it came at a great time. I needed nothing more in the world than to just be home with my girls, listening to their laughter ringing throughout our home. Nothing short of perfect.
I get back to making them some lunch before they realize they’re hungry and come screaming for it.
My mind instantly falls back to the stranger at the hardware store. I can’t believe how much of a bumbling idiot I was. I find myself replaying it over and over again in my head, saving the image of him to my mind.
He had walked up to me and I hadn’t even noticed him until it was too late. He gave me this smirk that had me catching my breath, and then his deep baritone voice came out and nearly knocked me right off my feet. I don’t think I even heard what he said over the rapid pulse beating in my eardrums.
What was wrong with me? After the morning I’d had, I was surprised anyone wanted to come anywhere near me. I had on my resting bitch face that told people to leave me the hell alone and walk the other away as fast as they could.
My best friend’s voice had popped into my head and I could picture her saying, ‘If they can’t deal with you at your worst, I don’t blame them. You’re fucking crazy sometimes.’ Those words reminded me that I had one hell of an attractive man standing before me who looked like my next unplanned pregnancy and I needed to get rid of him before I made a big mistake.
Taking a deep breath, I channeled my inner attitude and looked him straight in the eye while trying to remain pleasant. “Yeah, I’m all good. Thanks,” I’d told him, smiling as I said it to not appear like a complete bitch while desperately trying to dismiss him at the same time.
“You sure, angel?” he questioned, his cocky smirk pulling up at one side, flashing those perfect teeth, and making my stomach clench with need. I mean, angel? From any other man that would sound creepy as hell, but coming from him, it sounded dominating. Intriguing. It sounded like a damn promise to rock my world and leave me begging for more.
It sounded fucking dangerous.
Reality check; fuck men. I’d risked it all before and there’s no way I’m about to fall into that trap again.
Stepping back from him, I was about to dismiss him as the sound of a pager cut me off. I wanted to look around, searching out the old man that was bound to be around here somewhere and had to choke back a laugh when I realized the pager was