Page 120 of A Game Plan for Love

Nora stands beside Declan and takes his hand. They both radiate joy, and when the limo honks, Nora squeals and runs to the door.

“Hug Mom goodbye,” Declan says, and she bounds back, wrapping her arms around my legs.

“Love you!”

And with that, the two pieces of my heart walk out the door and leave me to my cheeseburger and unpacking.

Declan

Oh, god, I’m going to cry. Again.

Fairy lights illuminate the gymnasium of Nora’s elementary school, and a DJ is set up in the corner, selecting songs that have left me a blubbering mess.

The current song?Butterfly Fly Away.

Nora’s plastic heels dig into my toes as we sway back and forth on the makeshift dance floor. Her arms are wrapped around me, and I press back the tears.

One day, she’s going to grow up and move away, and the mere thought is destroying me. Is this how Addie felt witnessing her milestones?

It’s soul-crushing and exhilarating.

The acoustic guitar echoes around the room, and my heart constricts when Nora’s head tips up, and she focuses on the tears in my eyes.

“Are you sad?”

I shake my head.

How do I tell her I’m imagining the day she doesn’t need me anymore, and it’s crushing my heart?

She blinks a few times, inspecting me. Her brows crunch, and she grip around my waist tightens.

“Nora, can I ask you something?” I’ve been so nervous for this moment—partially for the dance, but mostly to ask her this question. Her head bobs, and I gulp before asking, “How would you feel if I asked your mom to marry me?”

Bright blue eyes light up like fireworks on a clear night. “Right now?”

“Well, no.”

The plan is to take both of my girls on a picnic when summer finally appears and to ask Addie beneath my favorite tree—the spot where it all began.

“Why not?”

Nora pulls away as the song fades, and her hands hit her hips. Her curly hair bounces, and her lips purse.

No, no, no. I know this look.

“You can ask her now,” she declares, taking my hand and pulling me toward the door.

“That’s not how it really works.”

I try to keep my voice soft, but there’s an undertone of panic as she drags me to the limo.

This is not the time. I haven’t prepared what I wanted to say, or talked to Addie about the idea of marriage. I only wanted to ask Nora first.

“Why don’t we get some ice cream on the way home?”

Maybe that will distract her from her mission. This was not a part of my new game plan. Step one was to convince them to move in. It went splendidly. The next phase was to slowly drop hints about marriage until Addie brought up the idea and told me what our plan would be.

My daughter isruiningmy agenda.

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