Page 45 of Mr. Almost

“And…”

“Boys don’t know how to do hair.”

I bite back my chuckle. “Some boys do. Besides, all I’m going to do is brush it, and I do that to mine every day.”

Reluctantly, she hands me her hairbrush. “If you’re sure.”

“Turn.”

Ari turns her back to me, and I start working the brush through her ends before making my way higher up. “How did you sleep last night?”

Her little shoulder shrugs. “Fine.”

“Only fine? Did you have a bad dream or something?”

“You weren’t here,” she admits softly.

Guilt hits me full force as I squeeze my eyes shut.

Shit.

I always want to be here. It only took this little girl reaching for me that first day, and I knew I was a goner. I would do anything for my little girl.

The only problem is she comes with a mom. One that I would love to reconnect with. Maybe we will progress to being a real couple one day. Only she’s not ready for that yet. She needs more time to process and learn to trust me again.

Even though it was my mother who made the decision to keep them from me, Olivia still has the trauma of hearing I didn’t want them. That I wanted her to get rid of Ari.

I rub my chest at the thought. It’s the one that I’ve been struggling with most. Knowing my mother, a woman I love, told Olivia to end my child’s life. I still haven’t fully come to grips with all of it.

Still, that damage she did created scars. Because of her, I missed out on watching Olivia’s body change, on her giving birth, and on being a part of Ari’s life until now. Even now, I can’t be with my child all the time. I have to go home because Olivia feels it is moving too fast. She’s hesitant, and as much as I hate it, I can’t blame her. She’s doing what she has to do to protect our daughter. I respect the hell out of it. Even if it sucks.

“I’m sorry. I stayed at my place last night,” I tell Ari, not wanting to tell her I would have been here, but her mom needed space.

I would never throw Olivia under the bus like that.

“I know. Mommy told me that you can’t stay here all the time because you have your own house.” She sounds sad now.

I raise my brow. “Did she now?”

Ari hums as I keep brushing through her hair even though I’m done.

“She’s right, you know. There will be nights that I can’t stay here because I’m at my place or because I’m out of town for work. Know that even on those nights, I wish I was here with you.”

Ari turns and looks at me over her shoulder with a crease between her eyebrows. “You work?”

I toss my head back and laugh.

This fucking kid.

“Yes, I work.”

“Huh, I didn’t know that. What do you do?”

“I run several businesses.”

“That sounds boring.”

“I’m sure it does, but I like it.” I chuckle.

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