The Boy Who Has No Belief - Victoria Quinn Page 0,83
by the offer. “Really?”
“I told them you would probably have your own plans on Thanksgiving, so we thought we could have another celebration on Friday…if that’s something you’d want to do.”
She pivoted her body toward me entirely, her eyes incredulous. “Your parents are willing to cook Thanksgiving dinner and then do it all over again the next day just for Lizzie and me?”
“Well, they’ll cook on Thanksgiving because it’s a holiday, but on Friday, they’ll probably have a chef do it, so don’t feel bad thinking you’re making a ton of work for them.”
“Still, that’s really sweet.”
“Who doesn’t like two Thanksgivings?” I asked. “So, is that a yes?”
Even though a ton of my employees were standing there, she moved into me and kissed me on the mouth, her arm wrapping around my shoulders as she pulled me close, blanketing me in affection like she couldn’t care less what anyone thought. “I’d love to.”
Ryan didn’t mention Kevin again.
After our last conversation, that finally seemed to be the end of it.
Kevin had his chance to talk to me, and now that he knew how that conversation would pan out, his curiosity should be satiated. And I made a very valid point with Ryan, so that shit was finished.
Ryan sat across from me at the bar, the snow coming down outside the window. We were in a booth right up against the glass with a view. “Snow came early this year.”
“Yeah, it’s gonna be cold this winter.”
“Thank god we work inside, right?” He turned back to me. “Will you be able to test your rocket in these conditions?”
“The winter isn’t the problem, but we wouldn’t launch in the wind or snow.”
He nodded then grabbed his beer. “It’s so cold I actually wish my beer was warm.”
“That’s fucking gross.” I laughed because when I imagined steam coming from his beer, it seemed so ridiculous.
“Yeah, good point. So, you’ve been getting along with Emerson’s daughter pretty well?”
“Yeah,” I said with a nod. “She’s great.”
“Really? I have no idea what twelve-year-olds are even like.”
“Well, Lizzie is very smart, has an attitude, is interesting, easy to talk to… She’s like an adult, honestly. She obviously doesn’t know as much as an adult, but she’s really good at conversing with people, just like her mom, so I think that’s why it’s so easy for us to get along. I took her to my compound so she could see my research and the rocket, and she was really into it. She’s developing an appreciation for math and science, which is pretty cool.”
“That is cool,” he said with a nod. “So, is she a genius like you?”
“I’m not a genius,” I said quickly. “And who knows? Maybe.”
“She’ll be in no time if you keep tutoring her.”
“I plan to.” I looked out the window and saw the frost building up in the corners.
“So…you see yourself as a stepdad?”
I turned back to him. “I told Lizzie I’m just interested in being her friend. So, I don’t think that’s where her head is at.”
“Well, I think Emerson probably feels differently, right?”
She wanted me to have a relationship with Lizzie because she said they came as a set. I had to love them both or lose them both. “I guess, but that label feels weird to me. I can just be her mother’s boyfriend. I mean, she’ll be thirteen soon, and do thirteen-year-olds really need stepfathers?”
“I just mean Emerson is probably eager to settle down and get married and all that. Why else would she want you to get along with her daughter?”
“Well, her daughter is the most important thing in her life. I think that’s the bigger issue.”
He nodded. “Well, do you see it going that far?”
“What going how far?” I asked.
“You know, wedding bells and all that.” He drank from his beer.
“Of course I do.”
Ryan stilled as he stared at me, as if he’d never expected me to say that in a million years. “Dude, like four months ago you were stuck on Fleur—”
“I’m not going to marry her tomorrow. But yeah, someday.”
“She’s gotta be hooked on you pretty bad. Sexy billionaire guy who’s good with her daughter? You’re like a dream come true for her.”
And she told me that every day.
“Does that bother you?”
“What?”
“That’s she’s obsessed with you. I’ve seen you two together, and you can just tell by looking at her…she’d meet you at the chapel tomorrow if you asked.”