live with me and Giselle, but unofficially, she hasn’t left my side except to shower or pick up dinner. She was there the entire time I was in the hospital, and when the doctors suggested a home health nurse for a short period of time, Daphne stepped up and offered.
We didn’t bother to pretend she’s sleeping in a guest room. Giselle knows we’re together, and she loves Daphne. It’s funny how life can change so quickly.
“So you know how we talked about inviting Grandma Jo over for dinner tonight?” Daphne says, giving me a sheepish look.
“Yeah?”
“Well, my parents invited themselves, too.”
“That’s fine.”
She cringes. “I guess I can’t avoid them forever. But it pisses me off that my parents are already trying to capitalize on our relationship.”
I reach my good arm out to embrace her, and she snuggles into my side.
“Babe, I’m used to it. Everyone tries to capitalize on me in one way or another. Usually it’s money, other times it’s Blaze tickets or meeting one of the players.”
She sighs softly. “Well, it’s embarrassing that my parents are opportunists who only look at people as ways to further my dad’s political career. I know you want to get along with them, but I’m asking you, please don’t do them any political favors or give money to my dad’s campaign.”
“I’ll send them to my legal department for anything they ask for. Every request gets vetted by them first.”
Daphne sits up and gives me a serious look. “Tell them no. Please. They need to respect boundaries, and our relationship is personal. It’s got nothing to do with money or politics.”
Her tone is imploring, and I realize how important this is to her. I knew her dad or one of his people would ask me for money, and I planned to “donate” some to stay on her parents’ good side. But Daphne’s good side means a lot more to me than theirs does.
“Okay,” I tell her. “I’ll tell them no.”
She nods and murmurs, “Thank you.”
“They really affected the way you see the world, didn’t they?”
“Everything was about money, power and influence. I thought it was because they were wealthy, but I realize now it’s because they’re shallow. You have more money than my family, but you still treat people well. You let Giselle just be a kid, and you don’t think you’re better than people who have less.”
I put my palm on her thigh right beneath the hem of her shorts, rubbing my thumb over the soft, smooth skin.
“I’m not that different from people who aren’t wealthy,” I say. “I have more, but the things that matter most to me are the same as everyone else. That’s why seeing Jada in that car that night hit me so hard. I saw a parent, just like me, wanting to take care of her kids.”
She smiles. “Did I tell you that Jada and her kids made you cookies? She brought them into the office and Hassan texted me about it. We already have so much food here that I told him to keep them, but on the down low. If Jada asked, you got the chocolate chip cookies and loved them.”
“That was nice of them. Did Hassan say how they’re doing?”
“He said Jada hasn’t been late or missed a day of work, and that her boss is happy with her. And the kids are all doing well in school. He goes over to the apartment to check in on them every few days.”
“He’s been juggling a lot while I’ve been gone,” I say. “I need to call my accountant and have him send Hassan a bonus.”
“I’m sure he’d appreciate that.”
Daphne gathers her hair and pulls it over her shoulder, exposing the side of her neck. If I had the use of my left shoulder, I’d push myself up and kiss her there. Her neck, her earlobes, her chest,…every inch of her silently calls to me when I look at her.
I hope she doesn’t think she’s moving out of here once I’m fully healed. Now that I know what it’s like to have her all the time, I’m not going back.
“If you need a referral for an interior designer, I know some great ones,” my mother tells Olivier as she looks around his penthouse apartment.
“I’m good, but thanks. I just buy what I like.”
“But…don’t you entertain?” She gives him a befuddled look.
“Not in my home, no. I’m a pretty private person.”
Mercifully, Grandma Jo ends the conversation when she approaches Olivier, smiling. “Give me a one-armed hug,