When they finished, Angie ran off to play NHL 15 as Lucy started to clean. “You don’t have to,” he told her, but she ignored him, taking everything into the kitchen and then rolling up the sleeves of her dress before getting to work.
As he watched her, he wished he could convince her to just move in. Was it crazy? Yeah, but he really didn’t care. He knew the moment he saw Lucy that she was different, and he wanted her more than he wanted anything in this world. It scared him and the guilt was there because he was really starting to think that Lucy was his soul mate. But if that was the case, then what was Ava? Because, back then, he was convinced she was the only woman for him. All that changed when Lucy came along. He wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t stop what he was feeling, and he wouldn’t ignore it. He couldn’t. He had to live; he had to be happy.
Lucy and Angie made him happy.
“Are you even listening to me?” she complained and he smiled.
“Starting my design Monday now.”
She pursed her lips. “Yes, but goodness, you were spacing out. What are you thinking about?”
He looked down at his bare feet, tucking his hands in his pockets. “I don’t want you guys to leave.”
Chancing a look at her, he saw she was smiling and nodding. “Well, you’ve got Angie sold.” He grinned as she shut the dishwasher. “But I need some time.”
“I know.”
“But this was great, really nice,” she said, reaching out and taking his hand with hers. Lacing their fingers together, he moved his thumb along hers as she held his gaze.
“It was.”
“Sorry we can’t stay for a movie.”
“No, it’s fine. She’s got school.”
“Yeah,” she said slowly. “But tomorrow, I’ll have a sleepover bag, if that’s still okay.”
Moving toward her, he gripped her hips, pressing her into the counter. “More than okay.”
Pressing her hand to his chest, she gave him a look. “Down, killer.”
He chuckled, dropping a quick kiss to her nose before moving back. “When are you going to tell her?”
Lucy let out a breath. “I guess now. Shit. Why am I nervous?”
He laughed, suddenly nervous himself. “I don’t know. Why? She’s gonna be fine with it.”
“Obviously, since she was praying for it,” she said, rolling her eyes as Benji laughed, shaking his head. That girl kept him on his toes as much as Lucy did. “Angie, honey, come here.”
Angie ran into the kitchen, coming to a halt, her brows rising. “Wait, am I in trouble?”
“No, crazy. Come sit down.”
Angie looked from Benji to Lucy and then slowly moved to the barstool, climbing up onto it, and leaning on the counter. “Are you sure I’m not in trouble?”
“Did you do something?” Lucy asked and Angie’s eyes widened.
“I-touched-Benji’s-Pop-upstairs-but-it-was-a-pony!” she squealed and then slapped her hands to her mouth. “I couldn’t resist. I’m so sorry.”
Benji shook his head as he held in his laughter. Setting her with a look, he said, “It’s fine. Don’t do it again, though,” he said sternly, and her eyes got even bigger.
Then she cut her gaze to Lucy’s. “Can he ground me?”
“Yeah,” she said and Angie’s eyes widened more. “But really, don’t touch his toys—er, collectibles.” Angie snickered as Benji side-eyed Lucy. “Really, ponies?”
He shrugged. “I have all kinds. They’re cool.”
Shaking her head, she looked back at her daughter. “Anyway, we need to talk to you about something.”
Angie just blinked. “What?”
“Um,” Lucy said, smacking her hands together and then glancing over at Benji before looking back at Angie and clearing her throat. He looked to Lucy, waiting. Her face turned red as she struggled with her words. She was so cute when she was nervous. Finally, she spat out, “Benji and I, well, we’re dating.”
Angie looked from Lucy to Benji and then back to Lucy, her brow furrowed. “So you guys are getting married?”
Benji grinned as Lucy gasped. “No. Well, I don’t know. Maybe. We are dating. That’s it. He is my boyfriend.”
Looking to Benji, she shrugged and he smiled. “We are getting to know each other, but we want you to know so if you see us kiss or hug, you won’t be weirded out.”
Angie made a face. “So you kiss?”
“Oh, Jesus take the wheel,” Lucy muttered before covering her face.
“Sometimes, if she lets me,” he said with a grin and Angie laughed.
“My dad and Heidi kiss all the time. It’s gross, but I don’t think it would be gross if you guys do,” she decided and Benji shrugged.
“That’s a plus,” he said to Lucy, but she still had her face covered.
Bringing her hands down from her face, Lucy looked at Angie. “Like I said, we are dating. Is that okay? You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
Angie shook her head. “I thought you had a girlfriend?”
Benji smiled. “Yeah, your mom.”
Her brow rose as Lucy glared at the side of his face. What? He wasn’t going to lie to the kid.
“So you two have been dating, but no one told me?”