I chuckle. "I was asking what shade of Matiz nail polish that is."
"A shade that will never be sold in any of our stores again. I'm pulling it tomorrow. My toes look like fucking pumpkins."
"You're such a good dad." I close the top of the pizza box. "Can I take this with me or do you want it?"
"I like that you think I'm a good dad. It's my goal to be the best at that I can be." He looks down at where my hand is resting on the box. "Are you going to eat that for breakfast tomorrow? If you are, don't put it near a microwave. You'll ruin it."
"No. I'm going to give it to a man who lives on the corner."
His fingers trace over the pizza place's logo on the front of the box. "You like helping people, don't you? You were going to give all those pastries from the conference room away too."
His words aren't meant to make me feel uncomfortable, but they do. "I don't like wasting food."
He lifts a brow. "That's admirable and very responsible. There's some fruit in the refrigerator I bought the other day for you. You can take that for him too."
"I will." I smile softly. "Thank you, Nolan."
"I'll walk you out." He picks up the pizza box from the nightstand. "Text me once you're home so I know you made it safely."
"I can do that."
"You will do that."
I want to do that. I like the protectiveness. It makes me feel safe, even if I can defend myself with one hand tied behind my back. "I'll see you at work on Monday?"
"Unless you want to hang out with May and me tomorrow." He takes a step back. "She'd love to see you again."
"Thanks for the offer but I'm going to lay low tomorrow." I need some time to absorb everything that's happened today. I feel like I woke up with one life and I'm going to sleep with another, better, happier life. "Pajamas and Netflix for me."
"I wish I could join in on that." His voice is quiet. "I will one day."
He will. It won't be tomorrow or the next day, but I want it someday. I'm sure about that.
Chapter 48
Nolan
I told her I loved her last night. I was seconds away from being buried balls deep in her when I said it, but it left my lips. She heard it. Her body told me she did. She didn't say it back, and now I know why. Now I fucking know why she didn't say a goddamn word to me when I confessed what I felt.
"Daddy, that's Ellie."
Dammit.
I thought I could steer May out of here without her seeing what I'm seeing. It stopped me dead in my tracks when I walked through the door of this candy store.
A goddamn candy store.
On a Sunday afternoon.
Who meets their lover here? Who holds hands in a store filled with children?
I stare at where they're seated at a small table. Ellie's hand is wrapped in his. It's lost in there. Her eyes are staring at his face. The smile on her lips is a tribute to how much she's enjoying whatever the fuck she's doing right now.
"Ellie!" May screams her name loud enough that everyone in the place turns to look at us, including Ellie. She tugs her hand from his instantly, her eyes a window to the surprise she's feeling.
"May," she calls out, her voice cracking. "What are you doing here?"
What the fuck are you doing here, Ellie? What the fuck is he doing here?
I don't say a thing because I don't trust myself right now. I can't guarantee that I won't say something that will damage my daughter's perception of me, so I say nothing.
May rushes over to Ellie and reaches in for a hug. I follow, wanting to pull her back. I don't want to see them together like this. I don't want yesterday to be a mistake.
"Who are you?" May extends her hand toward him after she lets go of Ellie. "I'm May."
"Wolf," he replies with a smile and a brief shake of May's hand. "I'm a friend of Ellie's."
"Wow. Wow. Wow." May steps closer to him, her eyes skirting over his forearms and the elaborate tattoos on display. "You're way better at drawing than me."
"Drawing?" he asks with a chuckle. "What does that mean?"
I feel Ellie's eyes on me but I ignore her. I can't look at her. I don't know what she's doing but it's obvious this isn't pajamas and movies at home. The lemonades on the table and the open candy bar they're apparently sharing make this a date in my book.
May flips her hand over to show Wolf the picture of a monkey she drew on her palm this morning. "I draw like this and you draw like that."
He laughs. "Mine are a little different than yours are."
"Way different." She looks back at me before she takes another step closer to Wolf. "Is your name really Wolf?"
"It's Liam Wolf," he explains. "My friends call me Wolf."
"Can I be your friend?"
"We need to go, May." I tug on her shoulders. "Let's get your candy so we're not late for the museum."
She reaches for my wrist, her gaze scurrying over my watch. "We have until the little hand is at the two, Daddy."
"We're going now." I grab her hand. "Let's leave Ellie and her friend alone."