Page 46 of Big Bad Single Wolf Dad

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GREG

We spend the rest of the afternoon watching the kids as they run around, only heading for the parking lot as night falls, and the streetlights turn on. Everyone seems to be equal parts happy and exhausted, with the younger kids stumbling and giggling as we load up into the van, as the elder ones help with getting everyone situated so we can be on our way.

“Hey, don’t forget about seatbelts, girls,” Sarah reminds our daughters as she picks little Oliver up. Ollie is still young enough to need a car seat while the other kids are in boosters, and despite the fact that I have better strength and reflexes than most humans, I refuse to take a chance on my children’s safety. Just another thing Sarah and I have in common.

“Noah, do you think you could help me with these straps?” she asks. Noah nods, his hair bouncing as he moves to adjust the safety straps for Ollie. I love that she works to involve the kids, like we’ve all been a family this whole time.

A quick phone call to the house gets the staff prepared for our arrival. Being with the children is always a blast, but I’ve got separate plans for Sarah and I tonight, so I’ll have the nanny and the housekeeper watch the kids while we go out. Hopefully, some time alone together will help encourage her to open up to me, so we can make some real progress with our relationship.

I glance at Sarah again as she and Noah work together to latch Ollie into his car seat, while Mia, Lily, and Ethan all talk excitedly. Out of everyone, Sarah has been the most quiet and restrained today, but the smile she gives Noah as she brushes his hair aside is a loving one, and it makes my heart pound faster. If today wasn’t enough to convince me to keep her, that smile alone would be reason enough.

There’s got to be a way to fix whatever has gone wrong between us, and I’m determined to find it. Sarah is incredible, her kids are amazing, and if I have to take on the whole world to show her that, then that’s just what I’ll do. We’re both adults and perfectly capable of resolving our issues amicably, but that doesn’t mean I won’t fight a horde of dragons for this woman.

“Did you guys have fun at Magic Land?” I call out, as I get in the driver’s seat.

“Yeah! Magic Land!” comes a chorus of replies from the backseat. Sarah and I share a laugh and a smile at their response, and once again I’m struck by how right this all feels.

Can’t she feel it as well? Ever since I first held her hand, being with Sarah has felt more right than anything else since my wife died.

We’ve got to find a way to resolve this tension, one way or another. I want her in my life in every way – in my home, in my bed, and in my arms. But if she really would rather be with someone else, then I’ve got to respect that as well.

Even if it breaks my heart.

Shaking off my worries, I focus on the present. “If you’re okay with it, I was hoping you’d let Mia and Ethan stay over tonight. I wanted to take you out, just the two of us, if that’s alright with you.”

“Who will watch the kids?” she asks automatically. I love that about her, that none of my abilities or resources mean anything to her, not when being a good mother takes priority.

“I’ve already talked to Julia, and she’s willing to come by and keep an eye on things for us,” I answer easily. “There’s no pressure either way. I know it’s been a long day. I just wanted to spend some more time with you.”

I discreetly glance at her while keeping my concentration on the road. She looks wary, an expression I’ve seen all too often on her lately. I start to brace myself for possible rejection, but then her face relaxes, as she seems to settle some internal debate.

“What did you have in mind? I’m not exactly dressed for anything fancy,” she replies instead, gesturing to her outfit. She’s dressed for a theme park, practical and casual, but she could be wearing a clown suit and I would still think she’s one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen.

“Don’t worry,” I reply laughingly. “Trust me when I say that the place I have in mind is definitely not fancy.”

After dropping the kids off at home, we take another car and head into town. I can see that Sarah is still a little apprehensive, so I do my best to keep our conversation light and easy. We talk about how the day went and how the kids were at Magic Land, and that seems to relax her a little.

It’s nice to be able to talk like this, but I want so much more with this woman, so I’ll be patient in order to get it. I want us to have a real conversation for a change, but that won’t start unless I lay my cards out on the table.

Therefore, I’m taking her to a place where I can be comfortable and let my guard down, and I’m hoping it will encourage her to do the same. Of course, I can’t help but mess with her just a little bit, and as we walk down the darkened alley together, she squeezes my hand nervously.

“Just for the record, there are several movies where the billionaire takes his lady down a shady walk just like this, and none of them end well,” she offers with a slight chuckle.

“For the lady or the billionaire?” I joke, going along with the bit.

“Both,” Sarah replies after a moment.

This time I do laugh as we descend down a set of concrete steps, and I knock at the entrance. “Don’t worry. Despite appearances, this is a very public place.”

The door opens and the bouncer gestures us in, and I guide Sarah confidently over the threshold. I give her a moment to let her eyes adjust to her new surroundings, even as I lean down to whisper reassuringly in her ear. “You’ll always be safe with me.”

“I’m not sure ‘safety’ is what people think about here,” she responds, looking around.

The whole space is enclosed and dark, lending to the underground, cavernous theme they have going on. Multicolored lights descend from an unseen ceiling, as lanes of waxed wood are separated by man-made geodes and colored crystals that reflect off the lights. Various glow-in-the-dark pins are set up by whirling machines, only to clatter and be knocked down just as quickly.

I signal to the guy at the counter, and he snaps to attention. After I give him our information, I turn back to Sarah. “Are you saying you don’t like this?”

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