Page 35 of Chasing his Ex

“The movie is waiting for you. Would you like something to eat?”

Emmy’s eyes widen as she looks at the fridge full of cake. “Can I look?” she asks.

Finn jumps up and holds his arms out to her. Emmy jumps into his arms, and the two of them look at the goodies in the fridge. The smile rises on my face as I watch her taking her time deciding what she wants. Finn turns around and laughs at me.

I shrug my shoulders. I know exactly what she’s like.

“Look at this cake, Mommy. It’s so pretty.”

She’s picked a yellow cake, which is her favorite color, and the grin on her face is quite special.

“And a sandwich,” Finn says. “I did try to balance it.”

I smile at him. “Thank you.”

As Emmy eats her cake, Finn glances at me, and I at him. Emmy is oblivious as she tucks in.

“Emmy,” I begin slowly. “You know Jacob doesn’t live with his daddy?”

“No, only when his mom lets him,” she says, the cake balancing precariously in her fingers as she goes to take another bite.

“I’m sure that isn’t the case,” I say. “His daddy is a doctor, so he sees him on different days, that’s all.”

Emmy shrugs a shoulder. “I like his daddy because he lets him go to the park.”

“Would you like a daddy who takes you to the park?” I ask.

“Aunt Stella takes me,” she says, staring at the cake and taking a bite before I ask another question. She stops and looks at me. “Jacob said I don’t have a daddy, not like he does.”

I swallow, my eyes dropping closed for a moment. “You do.”

Her eyes flick to Finn. She knows; she already feels him. Finn’s mouth curls up lightly … nervously.

“And you're going to meet daddy’s family, your family.”

“Is Finn my daddy? Is that why his eyes are like mine?”

“Would you like Finn to be your daddy?”

“Of course, he buys me nice cakes.”

I shake my head. “If we didn’t stop for cake, would you be happy if I said Finn was your daddy?”

“Yessss...” she drawls. “He’s nice.”

“He is,” I say, taking a breath, but sometimes my daughter is a nightmare. “Can Finn... Daddy have a cuddle?”

“I gave him snuggles before he was my daddy because I like him,” she says. “Do you cuddle Daddy?”

I burst out laughing, not realizing this would be so difficult. “Yes, I cuddle Daddy too.”

Chapter 17

Finn

The number of cars parked in front of the garages and along the driveway makes me wonder if we’ve come on the wrong weekend.

Ava fidgets in her seat as I remove my seatbelt. She stares at the house for a little too long, and I rub my hand over hers. “It’ll be over before you know it.”

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