Page 24 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
He puffs up proudly. “He can make people appear.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Whoa! That’s a pretty cool power.”
Nico nods vigorously. “Uh-huh! One time, my grandma was lost at the airport, and Daddy said ‘poof’…,” he throws his hands up dramatically, “… and then she was there!”
I bite back a laugh. “Sounds like averyimpressive trick. Did he sayabracadabra?”
“Huh uh and we helped with magic words too.”
I blink. “Whoa. Mia honey, did that happen?”
Mia thinks for a minute and nods. I press a hand to my heart. “Wow. That’s..., honestly amazing. He is like a superhero.”
Nico nods sagely. “Uh-huh.” He tugs on my sleeve. “What’s your power?”
I glance around, pretending to make sure no one is listening. “I can guess things.”
His eyes grow even bigger. “Like… guess what I’m thinking??”
“Exactly,” I say, tapping my temple. “I can tell what you’re thinking right now.”
He gasps, grabbing Mia’s shoulders. “She’s gonna read my brain!!”
I squint at him, putting on my best ‘mystical’ face. “Hmm… let me see… you’re thinking about…, two things… ,Nemo and that cake over there,” I say, pointing to the cake on the table in the corner.
His jaw drops. “HOW DID YOU KNOW??”
I wiggle my fingers. “Magic.”
Mia’s little mouth forms a perfect ‘O’.
Nico stares at me, then whirls around. “Daddy!! She knows things!”
Blake, who’s mid-conversation with someone, glances over with a small smirk. “Does she now?”
Nico nods furiously. “Yes!! She knew I was thinking about dinosaurs!”
Blake’s smirk deepens. “Well, that is impressive.”
Mia tugs my sleeve shyly. “Can you guess my thoughts too? My favorite color”
I grin. “Let’s see…, I know all girls love pink, but because you are a special girl, your favorite color is different. You love the color…, purple.”
She gasps, covering her mouth with both hands like I just unlocked the secrets of the universe. “Correct!”
Nico jumps up and down. “Do it again! Do it again!!”
I chuckle, tilting my head, thinking. “You know,” I say, lowering my voice conspiratorially, “I happen to be an expert at building secret forts.”
Mia lifts her head, and Nico’s brows furrow in curiosity.
I press on. “I bet if we hurry, we can build the best one before anyone notices.” I wiggle my fingers like I’m letting them in ona top-secret mission. “But I’ll need some brave assistants. Think you guys can handle it?”
“Yeah.”
I grin. “Alright, Mia, Nico, and Mason, we are a team. Lily is our cheerleader. So, let’s go.”
Within minutes, I’ve got them setting up under a big tree with some extra chairs and tablecloths from the house. My niece and nephew are fully on board, while Nico and Mia slowly start to loosen up. By the time I drape the final piece over the "fort," Mia is giggling softly, and Nico is explaining, very seriously, how forts need escape routes.
