Page 97 of Wicked Love

He leans in. “Well, we kind of already botched that, didn’t we,” he says, so only I can hear.

I nearly choke as I try to not burst out laughing.

“Yes, first you get Poppy a pretty ring,” Becca says.

“Well, I have to convince her to like me,” Bowie says.

I roll my eyes.

Becca’s face brightens with understanding as she holds her fingers up and starts counting. She holds up her first finger and says, “My dad is very nice.“ Moving on, she counts off more reasons Bowie is the best. “My dad is tall and SO strong.” She forgoes the counting to show me her big muscle pose.

I am so giddy with warm fuzzies that I can hardly contain it.

“He takes me to fun places,” she continues. She points animatedly at Bowie like she just remembered something else. “He gives me presents. I love presents!” She gets more excited as she goes. “He reads me stories and plays dress up. I have a pink dress. I love pink!”

“He’s a good dad, isn’t he?” I say.

She nods, smiling happily. “My daddy is the best.” Then she flings herself forward, wrapping her arms around my waist. “And my Poppy is the best. I am so happy,” Becca says. “Can we take pictures?”

She lets me go and looks around, spotting Bowie’s phone on the counter. She picks it up and hands it to him.

“We take pictures!”she says excitedly.

When he tries to take one of the two of us, she points at him.

“You too, Dad,” she says. “Because we like you.”

“Oh,” he says, surprised.

He moves next to us and holds out his arm, taking a few selfies of us.

She turns to look at me. “You like my dad?”

“I do,” I say, smiling at her and not looking at Bowie while my cheeks are burning.

“Then we get married like Tru and Henley,” she says, nodding. “And Elle and Rhodes and Sadie and Weston.”

Bowie groans and gives me an apologetic look.

“I see the pictures,” Becca says.

Bowie shows her, and she claps her hands and says a loud, “Yes!” in approval.

“Join us for dinner, ladies?” Bowie says to his mom and Mrs. McGregor.

“Oh, we were just going to disappear.” Mrs. McGregor looks at Paulina pointedly.

“Um, yes…you enjoy,” Paulina says.

“You went to all this trouble,” I say. “Join us.” I look at Bowie and he looks amused but pleased.

“I’ll just go tell Mr. McGregor to join us too.” Mrs. McGregor goes off excitedly and we fill our plates before taking them to the table.

Later, after my stomach hurts from laughing and the delicious meal, Becca gets ready for bed. She comes out in her pajamas and looks at me, holding up a book. She hands it to me, looking shyer than usual.

“Would you like me to read you this story?” I ask.

“Yes.”

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