CHAPTER SEVEN

V innie

I wave goodbye to Jasmine and Isaiah, and the tension in my chest finally eases.

Evan snorts.

I glide my gaze toward him. “Something wrong?”

“I rarely see you so happy.”

“Why are you sad, Vinnie?” Stella asks.

Evan looks stricken. Guess you’re not supposed to make seven-year-olds worry.

Well, the good thing is, I’m not sad. Not really. Sad I can’t be with Evan, sad that every moment is bittersweet, but that’s not what some people go through. And to be honest, I’m really glad I met Evan. I’m glad he exists in this world.

I crouch down to Stella. “I’m not sad.”

Her eyes narrow. “Are you sure?”

I nod solemnly.

“Then what’s wrong?”

I hesitate. “Sometimes adults get a bit lonely.”

Evan gasps, and I dart my gaze to him.

Stella gives me an understanding smile. “Everyone gets lonely sometimes.”

Evan squeezes Stella’s shoulder. “That’s right.”

“You get lonely too, don’t you, Daddy?” Stella asks.

Evan’s jaw drops. “Well...”

Stella turns to me. “He does. I know it. All my friends’ parents have husbands or wives.”

“And I just need you,” Evan says.

“You shouldn’t lie, Daddy,” Stella says.

Evan clears his throat, and a ruddy shade that wasn’t there before moves over his cheeks.

“Some people are single,” I say. “I’m single. It’s not that unusual.”

Evan gives me a relieved nod.

Stella assesses me again.

“That’s why Vinnie can take care of us this weekend,” Evan says. “Aren’t we lucky?”

Stella nods. “Let’s watch a movie!”

“Maybe you should ask Vinnie if he likes movies,” Evan suggests.

“Do you like movies, Vinnie?” Stella asks.

“I like movies.”

She nods absentmindedly. She clearly hadn’t expected a different answer. After all, who doesn’t like movies?

“Let’s go to the family room,” Evan says.

“Lead the way, Stella,” I say.

Stella skips ahead.

“Warning, the movies are all G-rated,” Evan says.

“Think I can’t handle that?” I ask.

“They might have music in them. And animation. And make you smile.”

I throw back my head and laugh. I find Evan staring at me, a soft expression on his face.

“What is it?”

“I haven’t heard you laugh in a while.”

“Don’t tell the other teams.”

“I’ll keep your secret,” he says lightly.

We come to the family room. Comfortable couches fill the room.

“You could fit the whole team in here.”

Evan’s smile wobbles. “Do you think I should host more parties? Sometimes I feel bad. I’m the captain, but...”

“Nah. The puck bunnies like entertaining. You can’t take away their fun.”

He gives me a relieved nod.

I sit on one of the couches. Evan sits on the far side of it. Stella busies herself with one of the remote controls, then a screen slides down from the ceiling. This wasn’t here last time I visited.

“Fancy,” I say.

Evan blushes. “Maybe it’s over the top.”

“I think it’s cool.” I give an authoritative nod. “What are you we watching, Stella?”

“Five bucks she says Frozen ,” Evan whispers.

“ Parent Trap !” she squeals.

Evan blinks. “Really?”

“Yeah!”

I smirk. “Way to keep your dad on your toes, Stella.”

She beams, and I high-five her.

Evan’s expression is worried. Parent Trap is about a child who tries to get her two parents back together. I wonder how often he sees his ex. Does Stella want them to get back together? Is that why Stella was musing about him being lonely?

This single dad thing can’t be easy.

I wonder just how often Evan sees Valentina.

I’d been shocked when the newspapers reported that Evan and Valentina were no longer living together. Evan had been too embarrassed about it for me to ask many questions. Still, I’d been surprised when he said that he was looking after Stella, but relieved for him.

Stella was always his pride and joy, the subject of a high proportion of conversations, and the star of the photo albums on his phone.

But Valentina is in New York City. That’s not far from Boston. How often does Stella see her? Does she think that they might get back together again?

Something churns in my stomach, but I know I have no right to feel any jealousy.

I have no right to feel anything at all.

I’m relieved when Stella turns off the lights in the room, and I focus on the film. It reminds me not to accidentally linger on Evan’s face or his broad chest.

A young Lindsay Lohan appears on the screen. Evan is right. This isn’t a movie I would have chosen in a thousand years.

But watching it isn’t unpleasant. It’s fun. I find myself laughing along with Stella. Even Evan looks less miserable as the movie goes on. His face becomes more relaxed, and I’m not surprised when he starts to blink at greater and greater frequency.

“Why don’t you lie down?” I suggest.

“I might fall asleep.”

“Wouldn’t be a tragedy.”

Stella watches us.

Evan puts his legs up on the couch, and Stella sits on his legs.

Soon, he drifts into sleep completely.

When the credits roll, Evan is fully out.

I turn off the film. “That was nice.”

Stella eyes her father.

“What do you want to do now?” I ask.

“You want to do something with me?” For some reason, she looks surprised.

“Of course.”

She grins. “We can play dress up!”

I blink.

Somehow, I wasn’t expecting that. I was expecting to read to her again. Or watch another movie. Or maybe do some cooking, though honestly, even I’m not that hungry. I might have gone overboard with breakfast, just like Jasmine and Isaiah said.

“I haven’t played dress up in a long time,” I admit.

She shoots me a sorrowful gaze. “That’s terrible.”

“You’ll have to tell me what to do.”

“I can do that.”

In the next moment, Stella bounds from Evan’s legs and bolts out of the room. I throw a blanket over Evan, make sure his phone is nearby once he wakes up, then follow Stella.