Page 174 of Small Town Firsts

All the pep-talks in the world couldn’t have prepared me for the sight that greets me, though. I linger at the end of the hall and watch them for a few. I watch how he takes his time and talks to her like she’s an adult, not in that patronizing tone some adults use with kids. I watch as he comforts Tatum and wipes away her tears after she drops…what looks like an egg? And that apron hanging from his neck…I can hardly handle that fucking apron.

He’s patient and calm and him stepping into this dad role so flawlessly is some kind of sexy. If I wasn’t one-hundred-percentpositive he wanted jack shit to do with me, I’d climb him like a tree.

As Alden brings the plates to the table, I step out of the shadows, not wanting to be caught. “Mmm, something smells good!”

Tatum runs to me and drags me to the table. “We made eggs…uh, eggs…”

“Benedict,” Alden provides. “And Tatum helped every step of the way.”

My insides turn to mush. My girl is so much like her father it is insane—and such a blessing.

Alden looks as though he’s about to say something, but seems to rethink it and instead says, “Let’s eat!”

Tatum and I claim our usual seats, with me at the head of the table and her to my left. Alden opts to sit to my right. The three of us seated together like this—like a family—causes a flutter in my belly. Which is absurd. The man can barely tolerate my presence after the shit I pulled.

But when he pulls her plate toward him and starts cutting her food without anyone asking, I’m helpless to resist. The flutters turn into a full-blown flap as the butterflies riot in a mass swoon.

Desperate to mask the emotions simmering within me, I dig into my food with gusto. The flavors burst on my tongue, simple yet homey and delicious. “Oh,” I moan around my fork. “This is delicious.”

My girl smiles widely. “Alden showed me how to make dis. We poached da eggs, Mama!”

“You did, and they are delicious.”

“Thanks!”

The food is so good that even Tatum’s chatter falls away as we devour it. That is, until she asks, “You wants to stay and watch a movie?”

Alden’s fork audibly scrapes against his plate, and I swear he swallows so loudly the upstairs neighbors can hear it. I can tell from his rigid posture he’s not totally down with spending more time with us—though it’s probably spending time withmethat’s the issue.

Not wanting him to be the bad guy, I speak up. “Oh, Tater Tot, it’s pretty late already. You still need a bath and everything.”

She narrows her eyes at me and pouts. “But Mama! I don’t want him to go!”

She’s gearing up for a meltdown, and as stupid as it is, I’m worried it will send Alden running for the hills. What if he’s the kind of dad who’s only in it for the good and easy?No!my brain shouts.You know better than that, stupid girl!But still, the worry lingers.

“I actually have to get up pretty early tomorrow too, pretty girl. But, what if I stay for a little longer?”

“You puts me to bed?” she asks, using her sad eyes like a weapon.

Alden rubs at his throat. “Uh, sure. If it’s okay with your mom.”

Tatum speaks for me. “It is!” Alden swings his gaze to me, and I give him a subtle nod letting him know that I’m good with it.

I push back from the table and stand. “Okay, now that that’s settled, you need to get your behind into the tub!” Alden stands, too, and begins gathering up the dishes. I drop my hand on his, stopping him, and he stiffens at the contact. “I’ll get these later. You cooked.”

“I’ve got it. You take care of her.” His robotic tone causes my shoulders to sag.

Luckily, Tatum lightens the mood. “You swears you won’t go nowhere while I gets clean?”

“Yeah, pretty girl. I swear.”

Pleased with his response, Tatum skips off down the hall and I follow after. We fly through her bedtime routine, at her insistence. Once she’s dressed in her jammies and her hair is combed, she takes off in search of Alden.

We find him in the kitchen, loading the last of the dinner dishes.That man.He turns at the sound of us entering. “You squeaky clean?” he asks.

“Uh. I just clean, not squeaky!”

“Good enough for me.” He walks over to her, and she reaches her arms up for him to hold her. He scoops her up. “Now, about that bedtime book…”

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