Not that I’m thrilled to know that, and I certainly don’t encourage her talking about it, but she has shared that information with us, like it or not, on more than one occasion.
Almost worse, my dad has explained how much he loved teaching my mom to ride dirt bikes, and how sexy it was to have her get interested in something he loved so much.
Now I totally get it.
I would’ve loved to have been there when Mia first climbed on, but it doesn’t take away from how fucking gorgeous she looks now climbing off of a four-wheeler after her first ride.
The huge smiles and giggles from my nieces add to the emotion of the moment.
How can I feel so incredibly turned on by Mia and so warm and happy looking at Chelsea, Ray, and Del at the same time?
These girls have been through so much sadness and heartbreak over the past few months, and seeing them happy right now, with this woman who has been making me so happy over these past few days, sends a jolt of endorphins to my system that I can’t deny.
“Uncle David!” Del calls when she spots me.
Mia’s head snaps around and our gazes collide.
“Hey, kid,” I say as Del runs up the steps to me. I catch her and hoist her up for a hug.
“Are you here for dinner?”
“I am.”
“We’re going to paint our fingernails!” she exclaims.
“No way.”
“Yeah! Mia and Sloan are going to help!” She shoots a grin over her shoulder at the two women who are approaching the porch now. Del lowers her voice. “Grandma isn’t good at nails, but Sloan is super good so we’re going to practice with her.”
I nod, unable to look away from Mia. Sloan Bennett is a gorgeous, confident, sweet woman. But she could have been approaching bare naked, or wearing a giant clown head, and I wouldn’t have noticed.
“That sounds great,” I tell Del, eyes locked on Mia.
“I know,” Del gushes. “We get to do manicures for Chelsea’s birthday but we need to practice! Daddy says we’re going to do all of it!”
Charlie’s text had said, Mia and Sloan are going to Mom’s tonight to do manicures with the girls to practice for C’s bday. In case you find that interesting.
I hadn’t responded. But I had found it very interesting.
Obviously.
I know pretty much nothing about manicures.
I have no idea what ‘all of it’ means.
But I do know that Jack probably doesn’t know much more than I do and I know he will want to do whatever he can to make his daughter’s first birthday without her mom as good as he possibly can.
If Sloan and Mia are willing and able to help, I will be so fucking grateful.
I might just have to kiss one of them for it.
Del starts squirming and I let her down.
“Hi, David!” Chelsea, or maybe it’s Ray, says running past me into the house.
“Hey,” I greet.
“Hi, David,” Sloan says.
