Page 180 of Small Town Firsts

“Fifteen more minutes, Tater Tot.”

“How long is dat?”

I point to the alarm clock on my nightstand. “When that last number is a five, it will be time to go.”

She nods, positioning herself so that she can stare at the clock until it’s time to leave. I shake my head at her determination and fall back into my book. I’m at a good part in my book—you know, agoooodpart—when Tatum gleefully announces, “Time to go! It’s time to go! Hurry, Mama!”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe we should wait a little longer,” I say, teasingly.

“No! No Mama! We have to go now! What if him thinks we’re not coming and he weaves?”

Her desire to see him simultaneously breaks and heals my heart. I know for certain that when we tell her who Alden really is, she’s going to be the happiest girl on the planet. “I’m only joking. Let’s go!”

Tatum yelps with joy and throws her arms around my neck before jumping off of the bed and haulingyou know whatfor the front door. I, on the other hand, move at a normal speed, pausing to slip on my shoes. I detour to Tatum’s room to grab her shoes as well, along with a small bag filled with essentials for going out with a toddler.

“Forget something, Tater Tot?” I ask, dangling her shoes from the tips of my fingers.

“Oh! Yeah! Thanks, Mama!”

I squat and help her into her shoes, and then we’re out the door and on our way.

CHAPTER 29

ALDEN

Ever since leavingtheir house on Tuesday night, I’ve been anxious to see my girl again. Especially now that I’m one-hundred-percent certain she’s mine—well, 99.9998%.

So anxious, in fact, I arrived to the playground ten minutes early. Do you know the kind of looks you get being a single, childless dude loitering near the swings? Let me tell you…they’re not good.

The thought of fleeing to my car is tempting, but I don’t. Honestly, some petty part of me is excited to see the looks on these people’s face when my daughter shows up.My daughter. Damn, that feels…good. Strange still, but so good.

Things with Natalie and I are running smoother every day. And by smoother, I mean I’ve quit acting like a split-personality asshole. I still have a smidge of resentment I’m harboring, but, it’s more like a tiny, dying ember than the raging inferno it was.

So, yeah, progress.

I’m fiddling around on my phone when the sound of familiar, excited laughter floats my way. I look up just in time to see my Tatum barreling toward me. “Alden!” she screams, and I wrap her in a hug, breathing in her sweet, still baby-ish scent.

“Hey, pretty girl. How have you been?”

“I’s good.” She does a twirl, causing the little cape attached to her shirt to flare out. “I’s a super-he-whoa!”

Natalie claims the seat next to me, smiling at Tatum’s pure, unfiltered cuteness.

“A superhero, huh? What’s your code name?”

She looks at me like I’m crazy.

“You know, Peter Parker called himself Spiderman. Bruce Wayne was Batman. Who’s Tatum…Reynolds?” Calling her by that last name burns in my gut. I wonder if Natalie would ever be open to having it changed to Warner?

“Uh. Hmm. I’s Super Pwincess Sparkle!”

Natalie leans into my shoulder, stifling her laugh. The intimacy of our position sends a million little sparks racing through my veins. The urge to casually sling my arm around her is so strong. I combat it by directing all of my attention to my little girl.

“I think that’s perfect.” Natalie moves back to her side of the bench, and I mourn the loss.

She smiles. “Yay! I gonna go pway? ‘Kay, Mama?”

“Sure. Stay in the little kid area.” Tatum runs away, cape flapping in the wind, and Natalie turns to me. “Thanks again for meeting us here.”

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