I nod. “Always.”
EVAN
“Story time!” Stella exclaims soon after I open the door.
“She’s been waiting for you,” Jasmine says.
“Thanks for watching her.”
“Anytime.”
I grin. Isaiah’s shown me engagement ring options for her. A proposal is definitely coming soon.
“Maybe one day Stella will babysit your kids,” I say.
Her cheeks pinken, but hearts practically bounce off her eyes. “I should go.”
“Okay.”
“You want to bring me a book?” I ask Stella once we’re alone.
“Nah. I want a real story.”
I nod solemnly, then swing her over my shoulders and carry her to the couch.
She squeals happily, and I plop her next to me.
“Want a true story?” I ask.
Stella looks at me suspiciously. “You told me I’m not allowed to watch true stories.”
I blink, then remember telling her to change the channel when I saw true crime playing.
“You’re allowed to listen to me tell a true romance story,” I say.
“Sounds boring.”
“I’ll make it short.” My heart wobbles. This needs to go okay. There can’t be a world where Stella isn’t happy with me.
“So once upon a time, there was a hockey player.”
“You’re a hockey player!”
I grin. “Yes, Stella.”
“And he met another hockey player. And they were best friends for many years. And then they had a...misunderstanding and didn’t see each other for a while.”
Stella wrinkles her nose.
This is not going well. My throat dries, and I wonder why I didn’t think to get some water before I sat down.
“One of the hockey players had a beautiful daughter named Stella.”
“This is super boring, Dad. My name is Stella. Can’t you be original?”
My cheeks warm. “But then the two hockey players made up. And now they’re boyfriends!”
Her eyes widen. “And they’ll live happily ever after?”
