Page 34 of Because You Loved Me

I ignore Kiki’s teasing smile. “Really? A castle?” I crouch down to Skyler’s level. “Out of what?”

“Boxes,” Skyler says.

“Levi said we could use some of the old boxes that are in the attic. I hope that was okay.” Kiki puts her hands behind her back, but before they disappear I notice she didn’t cover up her tattoo today.

“Sure. They’re just sitting up there.” I take Skyler’s hand. “Show me the castle.”

She drags me into the family room. “There, Daddy!” She points to a large cardboard conglomeration of boxes that have been taped together. Bricks, windowsills, and other decorations have been drawn on the walls with crayon. Three turrets stand tall on the castle, complete with battlements and windows cut out. A drawbridge is attached to the front, spanning what looks like a moat of blue blankets. The castle door is cut out and Skyler crawls through, entering the homemade castle. She shuts the door and peeks out one of the windows. “Take my picture, Daddy!”

I pull out my phone and snap a couple of pictures of Skyler in the castle. I zoom out and take a few more, getting the whole castle in the picture.

“Isn’t it great?” Skyler says, grinning.

“It’s amazing,” I say, glancing at Kiki. “You did this?”

She shrugs. “Levi helped.”

I know how artistic Levi is. He didn’t do this. I let my gaze travel over Kiki. She’s wearing a faded Honey Nut Cheerio’s shirt from the 80’s, the smiling bee promising lots of honey baked into every little O. The cut off jeans shorts are probably the same ones from the other day. Her hair is pulled up in another messy bun, exposing her neck. It makes me want to touch her neck to see if her skin there is as soft as it looks. What would it feel like to kiss her there?

I shake my head. What’s wrong with me? I can’t put the moves on Kiki. Not only is that wildly inappropriate, me being her boss and all, but I can’t get tangled up in a relationship even if she wasn’t my employee. I’ve sworn off dating, and for good reason. Skyler is now old enough to grow attached to people. If I start to date Kiki, Skyler would be devastated if we broke up. She’s already asking if Kiki will leave. I can’t jeopardize Skyler’s little heart.

Levi enters the room. “Isn’t this fantastic? Kiki could make these and sell them.”

Kiki’s face flushes. “No, that’s silly.”

Levi shakes his head. “It’s not silly. You made that thing in less than two hours. I wouldn’t even know where to start. You could totally get large pieces of cardboard and create these in bulk. Parents would pay good money for something like that.”

Kiki laughs and pats Levi’s arm. “If you say so.”

Levi looks at me and makes a face. “What’s with the jeans?”

Embarrassment engulfs me. “What? I can’t wear jeans?”

Levi looks between me and Kiki, who grins like she’s got the world’s biggest secret, and he slowly nods. “Ah.” He stretches it out like he’s figured out I have a crush on Kiki, which is ridiculous, because I don’t.

“What do you mean? There is no ‘ah.’ I just wanted to wear jeans today. It’s nothing.”

Levi winks and hits my arm with his fist. “Sure, bro.”

He leaves the room, and Kiki busts out laughing. “I think he’s on to you.”

I’m suddenly terrified that she thinks I have a thing for her, too. “What do you mean?”

“He knows you wore jeans because I challenged you.” Kiki squints at me. “Why, what did you think I meant?”

My mouth is full of cotton and my brain refuses to work. “Uhhh,” I say, like someone unplugged my core processor.

“Daddy, come inside my castle!” Skyler peeks over one of the walls.

Thankful for the distraction, I slide my phone into my back pocket and go to her. “I don’t think I fit.”

“Climb over the wall.” Skyler motions for me to join her.

I step over one of the walls and crouch down. “What are we doing in here?”

“We’re waiting for the dragon to attack us.” Skyler squats down.

“Rawr!” Kiki’s got Skyler’s alligator puppet, only she made cardboard wings for it. She comes at the castle. “Where is the beautiful princess? I want to eat her for dinner.”

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