We finish eating, and the girls help us to clean and store the leftover pizza. We decide on a movie, and I whip together some “sprinkle popcorn” per the request of Lennie. Awkwardness settles on my skin once the movie ends, and I’m unsure of whether or not I should stick around, or if I should get Lennie packed up and out the door.
“Daddy, can we have a sleepover?” Lennie’s voice pulls me out of my internal thoughts.
“I don’t think so,” I reply with a grimace.
“Pleeaaase,” she whines. “Presley already asked me if I could, and we’re going to listen really good I promise!”
I sigh, glancing over to Fallon. I’m not going to be the one to make this decision. If Lennie wants to stay over, I don’t mind, but I really don’t want her to feel like she has to say yes.
Fallon has a soft smile on her face. “If your dad says it's okay, then it’s fine with me, Lennie.”
“Really?” Lennie shrieks.
“Really,” Fallon agrees. She glances over to me. “Jase?”
“It’s fine with me if it’s okay with you,” I respond, leaving it ultimately her choice. “I can pick her up in themorning.” Fallon nods. It’s nearing eight now, and it’s close to bedtime for them anyway. “I’ll run home quickly and grab a few things for her?” I offer.
“No need,” Fallon says, waving her hand. “We have plenty of extra pajamas she can wear tonight. Presley, why don’t you and Lennie go pick out some pajamas from your room.”
The girls excitedly stand and run down the hall toward her room, leaving Fallon and I alone. “Are you sure about this?”
Fallon stands from the couch, gathering the popcorn bowls together. “Of course, it’s really no big deal. They’ll be asleep in thirty minutes anyway.”
I stuff my hands into the pockets of my shorts. “Right.” I shift back onto my heels. “I should probably get going then?” I jerk my thumb toward her front door.
“Or you could stay?” Fallon glances up to me with her doe-eyed gaze, and I know I’ll say yes. Even if I didn’t want to, or didn’t need to spend hours apologizing to her, I would stay. Much like my daughter, those eyes could get me to do anything. I would fall to my feet and worship the ground she walked on if she asked me to.
“I can stay,” I agree.
Fallon nods, glancing down at the bowls in her hands, and I note the pink staining her cheeks.
28
FALLON
Ican’t believe I asked him to stay. I shouldn’t have, but something about him is pulling me in. If anything, I can’t let him be alone tonight.Idon’t want to be alone tonight.
The girls are in their pajamas and ready for bed now, and we’re setting up the trundle bed in Presley’s room for Lennie to sleep on. Lennie is about to lay down on the bed, when she looks up at Jason standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
“Daddy, you can go now,” she states matter of factly. “I don’t need you to say goodnight, I like sleepovers.”
Jason chokes out a laugh. “Wow, sweetheart. Nice to know you don’t need me anymore. I guess I’ll go then without saying goodnight.” He jerks his thumb over his shoulder, and starts to turn out the door.
“Wait!” Lennie shrieks. “I need a goodnight kiss!”
Jason hadn’t even turned his body fully, so he shifts back, a smile reserved for only his daughter on his face. He walks to the bed, leaning down to one knee and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, Len. I love you.”
“Love you more, Daddy,” Lennie responds, her eyes already blinking harder, voice more slurred.
“Not a chance,” Jason responds, brushing her dark hair out of her eyes.
“Goodnight, Jason,” my own daughter says, surprising me. “Thank you for letting Lennie stay over.”
Jason stands from his knees, leaning over to tug on my daughter's ponytail. “Anytime, kiddo. I know you two are good friends.”
My heart clenches at the smile Presley gives him. She deserves a father in her life. She does have one, but he chose to fall off the face of the earth.
Presley looks like she wants to say something else, but she changes her mind at the last minute. “Goodnight, Mom,” she says to me instead, glancing at where I stand at the foot of her bed.
