Page 28 of A Game Plan for Love

“He’s not.”

What?

I’ve missed thirty seconds of a conversation between Addie and her daughter, but the girl levels her mom with a stare so similar to Addie it makes my chest warm. She sighs before turning back to me.

“I’ve been told you look like a prince,” Addie comments, a sour expression on her face, almost like it pains her to admit it.

A laugh tumbles from my chest, and I can’t deter my smug smile. “Have you?”

“Mhm.” She bites her lip as a hand tugs on her shirt. Addie peers down at her daughter, an exacerbated look on her face, though love shines in her eyes. “Why don’t you ask Declan, Nora?”

Nora.

Something bangs in my chest at the sound of her name.

“Did you have a question?” I soften my voice and crouch down, placing the bouquet on the hallway floor.

Her head bobs, dark ringlets bouncing. Tiny fingers play with the edges of her tuu-tuu.

She’s the most adorable small human I’ve ever seen in my life. Her arms are covered in faded temporary tattoos, and her top is covered in stickers and sparkles.

“If you’re a prince,” she asks quietly, “and my mommy is a princess, and you get married, would I be a princess, too?”

I choke on the question, covering it with a cough. Addie watches on with furrowed brows, lip between her teeth.

The pounding in my chest quickens at her nervous, open expression. I doubt she planned on telling me she had a daughter on our first date, and I can guarantee this was not the ideal scenario for her to introduce us—if she decided to do so.

What she doesn’t realize is I couldn’t care less. The knowledge makes me like hermore.

I offer Nora my most charming smile—my prince smile. “I thought you were a princess?” I let faux confusion fall over my face. “That’s why I brought these.” I pick up the flowers. “I was told I must bring flowers if I want to take a princess on a date.”

Her round blue eyes grow comically large as she takes the large bouquet of daisies.

“We’re going on a date?!” she screams.

“If your mom says yes…”

I look up at Addie, and her expression is striking. Surprised, but so fucking beautiful my chest aches. She flounders, mouth opening and closing.

We need to talk about a car seat, but Addie can drive if it’s easiest, and we can skip the upscale restaurant for something more family-friendly. Food is food. I don’t care where we eat as long as Addie is there, and Nora.

Nora pulls at her mom’s shirt, and when Addie nods, she begins to jump up and down with a massive smile.

“Princess dresses!”

It seems Nora only has one volume and it’s at full max, but she’s so cute I can only smile as she bursts my eardrum.

Her smile is infectious as I’m welcomed into the small apartment. Toys are scattered along the floor, and stickers are plastered on the beige walls. We move deeper into the apartment, and the love and happiness filling the space is evident. Artwork hangs along the wall, and there are dozens of photos of Addie and Nora mounted in mismatched frames. A pile of vinyl records sits beside a worn-down record player, with dozens of more lining shelves.

My chest pangs at the sight of a home so full of love.

What could it have been like if I had grown up somewhere like this?

“Why don’t you get dressed while I talk to Declan?”

Nora is gone in a flash, and when she’s out of sight, Addie’s shoulders sag.

“My babysitter canceled,” she whispers. “I’m sorry.”

---