Page 40 of Fake It True

Chapter Thirty-Three

LEO

“Where is Casey?” Dora asked. Her eyes were hopeful as she looked ahead at the counter in Firehouse Café.

“I don’t think she’s working today,” I answered when we stopped in front of the counter.

As I glanced down at Dora when she placed her hands on the counter, I marveled that it seemed like she was growing almost every day. Her chin was now above the counter. Her eyes scanned the chalkboard above. My heart almost ached when she mouthed the words to herself. Shelovedto read.

She didn’t even like me to read her bedtime stories. She preferred to read them herself. The library was one of her favorite places to go.

The door to the kitchen swung open, and Janet came walking out. Her eyes caught mine first before she looked down at Dora, her smile stretching wide. “Hello, Miss Dora.” Janet leaned down, resting her elbows on the counter so she was close to eye level with Dora. “How are you today?”

Dora giggled. “Good. How are you?” She swayed on her feet, swinging her arms.

Janet tapped her fingertips on the counter as she straightened up, appearing to seriously consider Dora’squestion. “I’m doing well today.” She glanced toward me. “And, how are you, Leo?”

“I’m also doing well.” I grinned at her, placing my hands on Dora’s shoulders.

“What can I get you two?”

I ordered a coffee, and Dora ordered hot chocolate. “Can I get a donut?” Her eyes bounced up to mine.

“You sure can.”

She carefully selected one, while I got a whole box for the guys at the station.

“Where is Casey?” Dora asked Janet as I was paying a few minutes later.

“She’s not working until this afternoon,” Janet replied.

“Oh.” Dora’s brow squinched with disappointment.

I couldn’t quite pin it down, but Casey seemed to be pulling back a little and I wasn’t sure how to interpret that.

I wanted a chance to talk to her about it, but I had Dora every night before Friday. We were still in the only Friday nights together phase. I honestly wanted to change that, but I wasn’t sure when the timing was right. We actually had an appointment with our therapist today. I planned to bring it up to get her feedback.

Chapter Thirty-Four

LEO

Our therapist looked between us. Every so often, I almost burst out laughing at these appointments. It all started as a joke. Casey didn’t even talk much about why she dragged me in there to be her fake fiancé. Now that we were actually a couple and we’d fessed up to our therapist about how the whole thing started, I honestly thought, if her parents showed up in town, I could roll with it and pretend like we were engaged.

There’d been a time in my life when the idea of being engaged to anyone would’ve given me hives. Ever since Dora had come into my life, I truly hadn’t had time to think about relationships. And yet, I wanted my engagement to Casey to be more than fake.

“So, you’re trying to figure out the timing for when Casey can actually spend the night at your house when Dora is there?” Delaney prompted.

I took a slow breath. “I am. By the way, I feel like there should be an instruction manual for parenting. There are so many unknown factors. Whenever I ask people for feedback, everybody gives me a different answer.” I lifted my gaze to Delaney. “You’re the expert. Tell me what to do, how to handle this part.”

She laughed softly, and I started to laugh with her. When I glanced toward Casey and saw her hands twisting in her lap, I knew something was amiss.

“What’s going on with you, Casey? You seem nervous and I don’t sense it’s about when to stay over at Leo’s house.” Delaney’s gaze instantly sobered.

Casey’s breath drew in quickly. She turned to look at me, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I think it’s okay if we don’t know yet and we wait. I didn’t know how to talk to you about this, but Nathaniel’s still out on bail. My parents think he’s going to win the case. He sent me a message that felt threatening. I just… I don’t want anything to happen to Dora.”

Anger and fear slammed into my chest. It felt like someone had literally punched me, directly over my heart. “Casey, he can’t hurt Dora or me. He’s in North Carolina.”

She twisted her hands again. “My parents don’t believe he’s had any involvement. I don’t know how to get them to understand, or believe me.”

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