Prior to Liam, it was hard to date while having a daughter. Some weren’t ready to be a stepdad and hated that I included Kai in our lives. I’m not sure what else they thought would happen. That we would start dating and that would be the end of Kai? No. That’s why it’s been working so well with Liam, because he’s older and ready to settle down. He’s also not jealous of Kai, like so many other men have been.
“How was work?” I ask.
“It was good. I had three back-to-back appendectomies. The last one got sick and had to cancel, which I’m kind of glad about. I had a lot of operative reports to finish.” He leans over and rests his head on my shoulder. “How was your day?”
“Good. Amari and I went and picked out a gift and cake for Kai.”
“Oh, yeah. Were you able to sneak into his house and drop off the cake?”
Kai and I have always given each other a key to our places. Many people have found that weird. I’ve never understood why. We respect each other’s boundaries, and it’s really only for emergencies.
“Yeah. I went over after dropping Amari off at the restaurant.”
“That’s good. I’m sure Amari was excited.”
Liam has always been understanding. After Kai and I initially broke up, I was always in fight-or-flight mode. And the other guys I dated didn’t help at all. I never knew what would set someone off when I mentioned my daughter’s dad. I had to walk on eggshells with the other guys I dated. Not with Liam, though. He actually asked to meet Kai before being introduced to Amari. I was shocked, to say the least.
I know Kai doesn’t particularly like him. He puts up with him because he appreciates the way Liam treats Amari and me. Deep down, I know it hurts Kai to see me with someone else. He tried for years to get me back. He was still on his bullshit binge drinking weekends, so my answer was always no. He finally stopped drinking after four years of us being apart. He thought, because he stopped drinking, I would run back to him. Again, I told him no. He still had so much more work to do for himself. Now that another four years have passed, he’s finally the man I knew he could be. He’s matured with so much confidence. There is no denying how attractive he’s become.
He hasn’t tried to win me back since the last time I told him no, four years ago, and honestly, I’m glad. We don’t need to complicate things. Sometimes I see him giving hints, but he’s always been flirtatious with me, so I never know if it’s real or not.
“What did you guys end up buying him for his birthday?” Liam asks.
“Amari picked out a jacket. She said he never wears coats.” I giggle. “It’s pretty nice. It’s an olive-green color with black lining.”
“She’s so smart and thoughtful.”
Amari is wise beyond her years. She is so thoughtful and catches onto everything. I hoped for a mini-me/best friend, and that’s what our relationship has evolved into. She’s also very close to her dad, uncle Kevin, my mom, and her aunts—Bryn and Paige. We’ve become a tight-knit group. I’m so thankful for how close we have all stayed. I believe Amari brought us all back together. I was concerned about the impact that my relationship with Kai might have on her. Although she was young, I still thought—deep down in the subconscious mind—it would have affected her. Maybe it didn’t since I left early on. But even then, Kai wasn’t the best for a while. I’m sure in a way it helped that weweren’t at each other’s throats under the same roof. Whatever it was, I’m thankful it didn’t affect her.
Apingsounds from my phone, interrupting my thoughts.
Kai: Thank you for the jacket and cake.
“Who’s that?”Liam asks.
“Kai. He’s thanking me for the gift and cake.”
He raises his head off my shoulder, yawns, and says, “I’m going to take a shower and head to bed.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you in a little.”
Me: That was all Amari.
Kai: You had a hand in it, too.
Me: You’re welcome. I hope you like your jacket. Amari said you never wear coats, so she thought to buy you one. Lol.
Kai: Such a thoughtful daughter we have.
Me: She sure is.
Kai: Smiley face emoji.
Me: Have a good night. Happy birthday.
Kai: Goodnight. Thanks again.
Now that theyday is officially done and the night sky has taken over, I curl up next to Liam, resting my head on his chest. I listen to his heartbeat, a calm, even rhythm. He wraps his arm around me, pulling me closer and placing a kiss on my forehead. A slight smile forms on my face. Forehead kisses have always been my favorite.
