Page 29 of Big Balls
“I’ll be there in fifteen.” Sebastian disconnects the call without another word, leaving me staring at my phone.
Katy wrinkles her nose at me. “You better not mess this up.”
I force a smile onto my mouth. “I wouldn’t dream of it, sugar. I’m good at every single thing I do, and this is no exception.”
So what if I’m not in the habit of apologizing regularly? It’s just like any other risky play I make. I have to figure out the best approach then move in for the kill. Don’t stop until I get the results I want. This is literally what I’m best at. It’s going to be fine.
I take a hot shower and put on one of my best suits, because I learned a long time ago that it’s important to dress for the success that you want to achieve. I always wear the uniform that will get me the most respect.
And while I met Zoe and she was a fangirl, this is not a Big Balls/fan type interaction. This is me going to woo her back into my life—I meanKaty’slife.
Whatever it is, it’s definitely a suit and tie occasion. When I’m dressed, I head downstairs to find Sebastian at my kitchen counter with my little girl. They both have tiny cups of espresso in front of them.
“Not again,” I say, shaking my head.
“Daddy,” squeals Katy, launching herself into my arms and pulling my tie askew. “You look very pretty.”
Sebastian gives me another of his shark smiles. “Almost like you’re going on a date.”
I kiss my daughter on the head and deposit her on the ground. Behind her back, I flip off Sebastian.
His smile widens. “What’s the problem, Big Balls? Afraid your usual charms aren’t going to be enough to win the girl over?”
Katy spins to face me. “Take her some flowers.”
I scoff. “Flowers? Why would I take her flowers?”
Sebastian smiles, transcending shark and heading for killer whale, wide and toothy. “Because you’re dressed up for a date. Thus, you should bring some date-type accessories with you. Flowers. A small gift.” He shrugs as if all of this should be self-evident to me, a man who never apologizes to anyone.
Katy claps her hands together. “Like a puppy!”
I rub my forehead, where I can already feel new stress wrinkles forming. “No, Katy. We aren’t getting anyone a puppy. I’m going to Zoe’s, and I’m going to say whatever it is she wants to hear in order to come back to us.”
She shakes her head. “Not with that attitude, mister.”
Sebastian’s smile is about to break his face. Or maybe I will. One or the other. He takes a sip of his espresso, then sets the tiny cup down.
“Let’s be honest here, sir.” Sebastian steeples his fingers together, and I watch in horror as my little girl does the exact same movement.
I sigh. “What? Go ahead and say it, because I know it’s killing you not to.”
“You need to win her back. Convince her that you’re not that terrible person who yelled at her and made a scene at the hospital where she was weeping at your daughter’s bedside.”
I flinch, and Katy turns a positively murderous stare at me. “Daddy,” she says, clearly appalled. I hadn’t told her that particular part of the story.
“Look, I know I didn’t handle it well.” Understatement of the year, obviously, but I wish Sebastian hadn’t ratted me out to my kid about how I behaved with Zoe. “I was very upset.”
Katy nods. “Auntie Zoe will understand. But maybe you should take her a puppy, just in case.”
Sebastian raises his tiny espresso cup to clink against Katy’s. “Hear hear. Now let’s let your good-for-nothing daddy get to groveling, and then you and I can go do some shopping once we’re done with our coffee.”
Katy gives him her best smile, the one she only uses when she is trying to wheedle her way into getting you to do something for her. “Maybe we should look at puppies, Uncle Bash.”
And with that, I have to leave. I can’t possibly wait a moment longer to get Zoe back. I tug on my jacket and straighten my tie and head out the door with a wave.
But at the end of the long, curly driveway leading down from my home, I see a very recognizable lime green car parked just outside the gate. Looks like I don’t have time to get flowers, either.
I get out of the car and open the gate, walking slowly toward Zoe’s window. I don’t know why I’m so nervous all of the sudden. I suppose I thought I’d have the entire way over to her place to practice what I was going to say.
