Chapter 14

"How's day care, Littles? Spill the tea on the gossip," Chloe says.

Ari giggles. "Why do you want me to spill tea?"

"It's a figure of speech, baby," I tell her.

"Got it," she says as if she understands as she paints Chloe's nails. "Tommy bit Clara."

Both Chloe and I frown.

"You have a cannibal in your class?" Chloe asks her.

Ari tilts her head to the side. "A what?"

"Never mind that, baby. Why did he bite Clara?" I ask.

"Oh, because he's a vampire."

"What kind of fucking day care is this?" Chloe mutters under her breath.

"He hasn't bit you, though, right?" I press.

Ari shakes her head. "No, he said I'm too sweet."

"Lucky you," Chloe says before looking at me. "Did you know that you have a Stefan Salvatore at your kid's day care?"

I shake my head. "No, nothing has been mentioned."

"What else is happening there, kid?" Chloe asks.

Ari puckers her lips as she swipes nail polish on the last nail. "Spirit ran naked through the hall."

"I'm afraid to ask who Spirit is…" Chloe sighs.

"Spirit is a girl in the class above mine," Ari tells her.

"And why did Spirit streak?" I question.

"She said she wanted to be free."

"With a name like Spirit, are we really surprised?" Chloe quips.

I slap her shoulder. "Be nice."

Chloe raises her hand. "Look, all I'm saying is you were afraid of what she would learn from me, when really you should have been worried about the day care."

I roll my eyes, even though she isn't wrong.

"What else can you tell me, Littles?" Chloe asks her as she starts to paint Ari's nails.

"I saw Daddy and Mommy kissing."

Chloe's head whips toward me, but I avoid looking at her.

"Did you now? How did it make you feel?" Chloe asks.

"It made me happy. Now I have a mommy and daddy just like everyone else."

"We've talked about this, Arianna, not everyone has a mom and a dad," I remind her.

"Still, I like having two parents now," Ari says.

Chloe slaps a hand to her chest. "And what am I, chopped liver?"

Ari giggles. "You say the funniest things, Aunt Chloe."

"She really does, doesn't she?" I quip.

"Looks like you've been holding back on me, momma," Chloe says as she works on Ari's nails.

"I really haven't," I say, making her scoff. "No, I'm serious. It's new."

"Tell me about it."

I bite my lip as I try to find the words.

"It might help if you start at the beginning," she adds.

"You mean the very beginning? Because I'm pretty sure you were there for part of that," I tease.

Chloe discreetly gives me the middle finger where my daughter can't see.

"No, we had a run-in with Cruella de Vil," I say, referring to Mason's mother. "And it just set off a chain of events. I ended up going to his office to express my frustration, and the next thing I knew, he was kissing me. Then he took me out for brunch and then went and picked Ari up early and went to an indoor park."

"We're going to have to circle back later because I want to know what Cruella was up to," she warns me. "But I'm happy for you. He seems like a good dude."

"That means more to me than you know," I tell her.

Chloe's eyes soften. "Trust me, babe, I know. Besides, the guy can't be all that bad. He helped make one of my favorite people and has a badass house."

I roll my eyes. "I can't believe you just let yourself in."

Chloe chuckles. "It was so worth seeing the look on your face."

"You brought up roaches, like seriously?" I laugh.

Chloe tips her head back as her shoulders shake. Once she has herself under control, she says, "The best part is you missed the other guys' reactions. Oh, it was priceless. Then you just had Littles sitting there like it was a normal day."

"Because she's used to dealing with your shit," I say sarcastically.

"Please, I'm a delight."

"Whatever you have to tell yourself," I muse.

"So what's next between you and baby daddy?" she asks as she caps the fingernail polish. "All done, Littles. Just be careful until they dry."

"I will, Aunt Chloe." Ari turns toward me. "Can I go play in my room?"

"Sure, just watch the nails."

Ari nods. "I will."

She runs off down the hall.

"Sorry, what did you ask?"

"I asked what's next between you and Mason."

I shrug. "I don't know. We date, I guess."

"You guess." She shakes her head. "You could at least sound excited about it."

"I am, really." I pause. "I'm just scared."

Chloe's eyes soften. "There's nothing wrong with putting yourself out there. Besides, I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"I know. Still, old habits die hard, I guess. Anyway, tell me about you. Have you been on any weird dates lately?"

Chloe groans as she throws herself back against the couch. "First, before I get started, I think we should start doing girl time at Mason's."

"What's wrong with doing it here?" I protest.

Chloe levels me with a look. "Not only does the man have a hot tub, but he has a couch where a spring doesn't try to pop through the cushion to assault you," she says as she shifts away from said spring.

"I'll take it under consideration. Now spill."

"So I went on this date with this dude I met on Lovers Inc. It started off normal, and I was having a shockingly decent time."

"What went wrong?"

"Well, we made it back to his place, and things started to get a little hot and heavy."

I close my eyes. "I thought you were done with one-night stands?"

"Do you want me to finish telling you or not?" she huffs.

I roll my hand through the air, silently telling her to continue.

"There I am, laying on his bed, on my back, wearing this sexy little peach number I bought. I had been wearing heels, so he unbuckles one for me, and I fully expect him to drop it to the floor before moving up my body…"

"Okay, I don't see where anything went wrong."

"He sucked my toe into his mouth."

I shake my head, mouth open. "I'm sorry, I think I just misheard you."

Chloe leans forward and gets in my face and hisses. "He put my toe inside of his mouth and sucked on it."

I open my mouth, but no words come out.

There is one thing neither of us enjoys, and it is feet. Sure, we will give Ari or each other a pedicure from time to time, but that's normal shit. When it comes to sex, though? Feet are not attractive at all. Like, we don't kink shame. To each their own, but it's not something I am willing to add to my sex life. Just the thought of it grosses me out. If they suck on your toe, then move to your mouth or pussy, isn't that transferring germs? Wouldn't their mouth now taste like feet?

Nope. Just No.

"How did it feel?" I gasp as I try to fight back my laughter.

"It's not fucking funny. I ran out of there like my ass was on fire."

"Oh, I'm sure you did. Did you even stop to get dressed, or did you run out in your unmentionables?" I tease.

"I'm so glad you think my pain is funny."

"You have to admit, it's a little funny."

The door opens, and Mason steps inside. "Hey, you two, how's it going?"

"Well, I'm better than Chloe here," I say between laughs.

"I'm going to kill you," Chloe mutters.

Mason raises a brow but doesn't ask any questions. "Right…"

"You know, Mason, you should suck Liv's toes. She thinks it's hot," Chloe tells me.

I hit her with my pillow. "Absolutely not, you evil woman. That's gross as hell."

"Oh, but a minute ago it was funny. Don't you think it would be funny if Mason did it?"

"I swear, Chloe. I will murder you in your sleep." I tease.

She laughs. "I'd like to see you try."

Mason looks back and forth between us for a moment. "I'm feeling like this is something I shouldn't get involved in. How about I go get Ari and we go pick up lunch?"

I beam up at him. I don't know why, but it makes me feel good to know that he is completely fine with the craziness of my life. That and knowing he wants to take Ari with him. He wants as much time as possible with her.

"That taco place we ate at would be good," I admit.

He comes over to the couch, leaning down to kiss me. When he pulls back, my heart is racing.

"Chicken taco meal with flour tortillas, no tomatoes, and double lime rice, no beans, right?"

I'm speechless. We ate there once, and he remembers what I had.

"Yes, please."

"What do you want, Chloe?"

"Oh, the same would be fine. Can you grab a bottle of wine too?" She bats her eyes at him.

He only has eyes for me, though.

"Sure thing. Be back soon. Behave. No murders. If you do, at least wait until I'm here to take the fall," he tells me, kissing me once more.

As soon as he leaves the apartment with Ari in tow, Chloe turns to me.

"Ohhh, you've been bitten by the love bug bad."

I can't deny it.

Each day with the man has me falling deeper.

* * *

"Can I walk ahead of you, Daddy?"

"Sure, baby, just don't get too far ahead of me, okay?" I say as I squeeze her hand.

"Okay!" She lets go and starts skipping ahead.

"This place is interesting. I didn't even know it was here." Brantley says as he looks around.

"I would talk shit, but honestly, I didn't either," Eli confesses, making me chuckle.

"I didn't either, but it came up when I was looking at different things to do with kids. I want to make sure I'm introducing Ari to all kinds of things. Her education is important."

When I walked into Olivia's apartment earlier, she was curled up on the couch, spending time with Chloe. They were laughing and having a good time. Seeing Olivia like that made my heart happy. I wanted more of it. So after getting us all lunch and eating together, I asked if I could take Ari on an outing while they hung out. Chloe offered to leave so we could go as a family, but I told a little white lie and said I already had plans with the guys and wanted to spend more time with Ari.

Olivia agreed easily, which is a feat. She's becoming more and more lax with me taking Ari places, and I love it.

I had no real plans, so when we left the apartment, I asked Ari what she wanted to do, and she said she wanted to smell the flowers, so I did a quick web search and found the closest indoor botanical garden. After that was decided, I asked her what she thought about calling up the guys and seeing if they wanted to join us, and she agreed. Shockingly, both Eli and Brantley were free, but Max was busy.

"They're funny, Daddy."

"I'm glad you think so, sweetheart."

"Who would have thought that you would be the first dad in the group?" Brantley muses.

"I would have put money on it being you," Eli tells him.

"No kidding." I chuckle.

"Hey, I would make an awesome dad." Brantley scoffs.

"I'm sure you would," I tell him.

"How is it, though? Has it been an adjustment?"

I think about Eli's question for a moment while we stop and I watch my daughter and smell some flowers.

"It's as easy as breathing. Olivia has done a fucking phenomenal job raising Ari on her own. Ari didn't even bat an eye when she met me and just accepted me on the spot. Olivia had been showing her photos of me and telling her who I was. Even when she thought I was a deadbeat dad, she made sure my daughter knew who I was. I only wish I knew about her sooner," I tell them.

"Your fucking mother," Brantley mumbles quietly.

I nod. "You can say that again."

"What about Olivia? How are things going with you two?" Eli asks.

We start walking when Ari begins walking down the path again.

"Olivia has been a champ. You could tell she didn't want me around in the beginning but didn't show it in front of Ari, and she didn't try to stop me. She was scared, and rightfully so, considering the number my mother did on her."

"And now? I didn't miss the way you kept touching her," Brantley says.

I shrug. "I want her. Hell, I've thought about her and the night we spent together for years."

"And now she's right in front of you," Eli says.

I nod. "Exactly."

"Is she as good as you remembered?" Brantley asks.

"Better," I say without hesitation. "She's a little bit older and wiser, for sure. Her walls are higher, but I think that's to be expected. I think I want her now more than I did then."

"Is that because she's the mother of your child?" Eli asks bluntly.

I smile as I shake my head. "No, now don't get me wrong, knowing she and I made a human together is hot as hell, but it goes beyond that. I don't know how to explain it, and even if I did, I don't think you guys would understand until you meet the one."

Brantley's head whips toward me. "She's the one?"

I nod. "One hundred and ten percent, without a doubt in my mind."

Brantley whistles. "So you've fallen."

"I have."

"But has she?" Eli asks as we stop once again for Ari to do her thing.

I put my hands in my pockets. "After my mother and Victoria left the other day, Livvy came charging into my office, spitting mad." I smile, thinking back on it. "She told me she wasn't going to share Ari or me with another woman."

Eli chuckles. "She laid her claim."

I smirk. "She did, and I fucking loved it."

"That doesn't answer my question, though," Eli points out.

"I think she's as far gone for me as I am for her, but it's different for her. She never hurt me the way I hurt her." I raise my hand before either of them can say anything. "And yes, I know I didn't actually hurt her myself, but still. The hurt is there. She's scared, and until I can prove to her that I'm not going anywhere, I think she will be standing on the edge of the cliff, waiting to fall. Only if she does, I'll be the one right there ready to catch her. I'm not going anywhere."

Brantley shakes his head. "Better you than me, man. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with one woman."

"I like the idea, I just haven't met someone who makes me want to," Eli confesses.

"It will happen when you least expect it," I tell them confidently.

And it will. There's a woman somewhere out there that will make Eli change his workaholic ways, and there's one somewhere just waiting to reform Brantley's playboy ways, and when it happens, I'll be there for them like they are for me now.

"She's pretty cool for a kid," Brantley says, changing the subject.

Eli scoffs. "Like you know much about kids."

Brantley raises a brow. "And you do?"

Eli shrugs. "I think I could take care of one better than you."

"Bet." Brantley turns toward me. "This weekend we have a home game. How about I take Little Bit for a few hours and you can take her mother out?"

"You want to babysit?" I ask, full of disbelief.

He shrugs. "Why not?"

"I'm sorry, but no. You are my best friends and I trust you with my life, but Olivia doesn't know you yet. Besides, neither of you have ever been around children. Do you even know how to take care of a four-year-old? What if she throws up on herself? Or gets cranky?"

"We can handle it, Mase." Eli places his hand on my arm.

"We might not have experience, but we wouldn't let anything happen to her," Brantley adds.

I consider it for a moment.

"I want to say yes. I'd love to finally get Olivia on a real date with me, but I'm not sure she would agree. She doesn't know you guys like I do. She was hesitant to let me have Arianna for the longest time. I don't think she would go for it," I admit.

"What about the friend? Chloe?" Eli asks.

I think about it for a moment. "That could work."

"You trust the woman who asked if I was a serial killer to watch your daughter, but not me?" Brantley asks, sounding offended.

"I don't trust her more. Olivia does. With good reason. Next to Olivia, no one knows our daughter better than her. I wish I could say it was me, but it's her."

Both men fall silent as they realize I'm right.

"That's kind of fucked up that she knows more about Ari than you do," Eli says after a minute.

Brantley shrugs. "Fuck it. Invite the little weirdo to make the kid feel comfortable. I can still woo Ari with her there."

"Not if I win her over first," Eli says, egging him on.

I love this about the two of them. Brantley gets worked up easily, and Eli plays into it when the truth is he doesn't care nearly as much as he makes it sound. He would give up the title of best uncle to Brantley just to make him happy. Even if he really wanted it for himself.

"Are you sure?" I press.

"Positive," both men say.

"Little Bit, do you want to go to a hockey game?" Brantley yells out.

Ari turns around and comes running back to us. "What's hockey?" she asks.

Brantley groans. "You wound me, kid. Wound me."

"Do you want to go?" Eli asks her again.

Ari shrugs. "As long as Mommy and Daddy say it's okay."

All three of them look at me, and I raise my hands. "I'll text Livvy and see what she says."

"Sweet," Brantley says, rubbing his hands together.

"She might say no," I point out as I text her.

Me

I don't know if you remember, but Brantley owns a hockey team. They have a home game this weekend. Brantley invited Chloe and Arianna to go. Eli will be there, and probably Max. They figured we could have a date night. You can say no if you aren't comfortable with it. Or he can get us in too, if you prefer.

The longer it takes for her to respond, the more nervous I become. What if I just fucked up everything I've been working toward? As we continue along the path, Eli and Brantley banter back and forth, vying for Ari's attention. I'm glad I have them. Ari will never say she doesn't have a whole team behind her.

Finally, my phone buzzes in my hand.

Livvy

Chloe says she's game, and if you trust them, then I do too. A date would be nice.

"She said yes," I tell them, making them cheer.

It looks like I have a date to plan.