Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 141425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
But before either of us can say another word or do another thing, her phone buzzes on the coffee table. “It might be Everly,” she says, with hope in her tone. “She said they want me to do another intermission performance at an upcoming game. That could be good for business.”
“I hope it’s her then. Or Little Friends,” I say, tempted to grab it myself. The rescue told her we’d have another foster kitten any day, and I can’t wait.
“You are too cute, Cat Daddy,” she says.
“Meow,” I hum, and I adjust myself as she slides a thumb across the screen.
Then she breathes out hard and mutters, “My father.”
It’s like a bucket of ice water. Instant deflation. “Has he even contacted you since the day you went to get your skating costumes?” I bite out, trying to hold in my venom, but it’s no use.
“No. Not at all,” she says heavily. Then she takes another breath but doesn’t move to open the message.
I rub a hand across her shoulder. “You don’t have to open it if you don’t want to,” I tell her.
Her eyes are hard. Determined. “It’s okay. I want to know what he has to say to me.”
I drop a kiss to her cheek, letting her know I’m right here with her. Then she slides it open, her jaw ticking. “He wants to know where the final accounting report is that I worked on last summer. The one I emailed to him then.”
What a prick. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I swear, Sabrina, if I ever see him...”
She turns to me, lips quirked up, like this delights her. “What would you do?”
“I’d let him know that he missed out on the most incredible person ever,” I say, in no uncertain terms.
She smiles. “I almost wish you could give him a piece of your mind over text message. I think I’d like that.”
“I’d go to battle for you, baby.”
“I’d love to see it.”
“Yeah?”
She lowers her voice, like she’s sharing a secret. “It kind of excites me when you play rough—hockey, that is. So yes, I would.”
Nothing would thrill me more. “You have no idea how much I love giving you what you want.”
With soft eyes and softer lips, she gives me another kiss. But then she checks the time again and says, “I need to get the kids, and you need to go to the arena.”
I stand, but before we leave, something nags at me. “Are you going to answer him?”
“No. Let him search his email for that report instead.”
I drop a kiss to her forehead. “You’re a legend.”
I’m not the only one who likes her videos though.
The next night at dinner—we all sit down together around the kitchen island to build tacos and warble the Frozen soundtrack off-tune—Luna clears her throat while making a snowman out of beans. “I have an idea for this weekend,” she says.
“Do tell,” Sabrina says, and I love how easily she fits in.
It’s no surprise, of course. She takes care of the kids, but she’s been spending more time with us post-New York when she’s off-duty too. And each time we hang out—no touching of course—I think we’re closer to telling them we’re…together.
The thought worries me though. They’ve already had to adjust to so much—new routines, new places, new people coming and going. I don’t want to create another change they have to brace for. I want them to feel stable. Certain.
“I’ve been watching some skating videos, and I want us to shoot one together—of Sabrina. Outside. It’s so pretty when the sun is rising, and we can shoot a clip of her at an outdoor rink doing a beautiful free skate. I love those so much. The sun will reflect off the ice, and, Dad, wouldn’t that be cool?”
“Did you know that ice is slippery because your skate creates a thin layer of water, which reduces friction?” Parker interjects as he builds a spaceship from shredded cheese.
“I didn’t know that,” I answer, then look to Sabrina, picturing her skating at dawn—the sun shining brightly as she glides across the ice, the mountains and hills framing her, the trees witnessing her glory. She’s weightless, effortless, like she belongs there spinning on blades, flying through air, landing on one foot.
Yes, I love watching her videos alone at night.
But I love watching them, period.
I’ve always crushed on figure skating. Maybe it was because I was always waiting for her. “I’ll be your videographer,” I offer.
Sabrina’s never been shy. She’s never backed down. She’s always gone for it, so I’m not shocked when she says, “Let’s do it.”
And it feels like we’re not just planning for the weekend. We’re building something bigger.
40
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
Tyler
But getting the kids up before sunrise on Saturday is an ordeal. Even though one of them had the idea. Hell, me getting up before sunrise is a challenge. But I do it, and ten years of early mornings as a dad is good training. Still, Luna yawns and Parker grumbles as we load into my car, the sky still inky dark.