Page 76 of Mr. Almost

MASON

“Can I walk ahead of you, Daddy?”

“Sure, baby, just don’t get too far ahead of me, okay?” I say as I squeeze her hand.

“Okay!” She lets go and starts skipping ahead.

“This place is interesting. I didn’t even know it was here.” Brantley says as he looks around.

“I would talk shit, but honestly, I didn’t either,” Eli confesses, making me chuckle.

“I didn’t either, but it came up when I was looking at different things to do with kids. I want to make sure I’m introducing Ari to all kinds of things. Her education is important.”

When I walked into Olivia’s apartment earlier, she was curled up on the couch, spending time with Chloe. They were laughing and having a good time. Seeing Olivia like that made my heart happy. I wanted more of it. So after getting us all lunch and eating together, I asked if I could take Ari on an outing while they hung out. Chloe offered to leave so we could go as a family, but I told a little white lie and said I already had plans with the guys and wanted to spend more time with Ari.

Olivia agreed easily, which is a feat. She’s becoming more and more lax with me taking Ari places, and I love it.

I had no real plans, so when we left the apartment, I asked Ari what she wanted to do, and she said she wanted to smell the flowers, so I did a quick web search and found the closest indoor botanical garden. After that was decided, I asked her what she thought about calling up the guys and seeing if they wanted to join us, and she agreed. Shockingly, both Eli and Brantley were free, but Max was busy.

“They’re funny, Daddy.”

“I’m glad you think so, sweetheart.”

“Who would have thought that you would be the first dad in the group?” Brantley muses.

“I would have put money on it being you,” Eli tells him.

“No kidding.” I chuckle.

“Hey, I would make an awesome dad.” Brantley scoffs.

“I’m sure you would,” I tell him.

“How is it, though? Has it been anadjustment?”

I think about Eli’s question for a moment while we stop and I watch my daughter and smell some flowers.

“It’s as easy as breathing. Olivia has done a fucking phenomenal job raising Ari on her own. Ari didn’t even bat an eye when she met me and just accepted me on the spot. Olivia had been showing her photos of me and telling her who I was. Even when she thought I was a deadbeat dad, she made sure my daughter knew who I was. I only wish I knew about her sooner,” I tell them.

“Your fucking mother,” Brantley mumbles quietly.

I nod. “You can say that again.”

“What about Olivia? How are things going with you two?” Eli asks.

We start walking when Ari begins walking down the path again.

“Olivia has been a champ. You could tell she didn’t want me around in the beginning but didn’t show it in front of Ari, and she didn’t try to stop me. She was scared, and rightfully so, considering the number my mother did on her.”

“And now? I didn’t miss the way you kept touching her,” Brantley says.

I shrug. “I want her. Hell, I’ve thought about her and the night we spent together for years.”

“And now she’s right in front of you,” Eli says.

I nod. “Exactly.”

“Is she as good as you remembered?” Brantley asks.

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