Page 60 of Can’t Let You Go (Ivy Ridge #3)

FALLON

“ C an we have a Barbie movie night?” Lennie tugs on my arm as I make dinner. Jason’s still at work for another hour, but I picked the girls up from school today.

“I don’t see why not,” I say, shrugging as I pull her against me for a quick hug.

“Yay!” she squeals, running into the living room. I can barely hear her when she calls out to Presley, “She said yes! We get to have a movie night!”

I laugh, stirring the chicken stir fry on the stove. I pull out my phone to update Jason on our night.

Me

Apparently it’s been decided that we are having a Barbie movie night. I know how much you love them.

Jason

Lovely. As long as we watch Barbie Swan Lake, I’ll survive. And I’m calling dibs on sitting next to you.

Me

Good luck with that one, I can already hear them discussing seating arrangements. Sounds like I’m in the middle, babe.

Jason

Dangit. I knew I should’ve left an hour early. I’m missing all the important conversations. Lou texted me to confirm, are we still on for the call tomorrow night?

We’re planning on having a FaceTime call with Talia’s parents tomorrow night, especially now that things have settled down.

I haven’t heard from Brad since the court hearing.

I have a feeling the only reason he reached out in the first place is due to Trixie’s prompting, so him falling off the face of the earth again does not surprise me in the least.

My phone buzzes in my hand again.

Jason

Screw it, I’m leaving early. They’ve got it handled here anyway.

Me

Yes, I have it on the calendar. I’m excited to meet them. Supper will be ready when you get here.

Twenty minutes later, I’m calling the girls to have them set the table for us to eat. I’m finishing up preparing the meal when the front door opens and closes and Lennie shouts, “Daddy!”

“Hey, peanut,” he greets. “What are you doing?”

“Fallon told us to set the table. Supper’s almost ready. It smells really yummy.”

“My mom said we can watch Barbie movies tonight, and Lennie and I want sprinkle popcorn. Can you make some pretty please?” Presley asks.

“After we eat, then I can make some,” Jason states. “But only if you both eat really well.”

“We will!” They chorus, and their thundering footsteps rush toward me. “Mom, is dinner ready?”

“Yes, go wash your hands and we’ll sit down and eat.”

Jason saunters into the kitchen, wearing a dark dress shirt and jeans. He looks handsome as hell. “What’s that look for, sunshine?” Jason’s lip curves into a smirk, his eyes heating as he takes me in.

“Nothing specific.” I wink. “You’re looking particularly handsome today, Mr. Cunningham.”

“Is that so?”

“Mhmm,” I reply. He saunters over to me, snaking his arms around my waist. I tilt my head up, eager for a kiss. He appeases me, pressing his lips to mine in sensual touches. His tongue slides into my mouth, gently prodding and swiping. His hands cup my ass, squeezing and kneading through my jeans.

“Ewww!” the girls cry, their voices shrill. “That’s so gross Daddy!” Lennie says.

“It’s not gross,” Jason says, his voice irritated as he pulls away from me. “You’re gross.”

“I’m not gross,” she says with a hint of sass. She sets her hands on her waist, popping out her hip.

“Whatever you say, Lenners.”

“Daddy, I’m not gross.”

“You’re not gross,” Jason concedes with a smile.

“Go sit down,” I tell the girls, turning to grab the skillet with the stir fry in it. The girls rush to sit at the table, leaving Jason and me alone again .

“Why do we always get interrupted?” he asks. I turn to look at him. His forehead is wrinkled, lost in thought.

“Well, we have two kids, Jase, we’re bound to get interrupted.”

“No, I mean really think about it, sunshine. Even back in college. The night of the Christmas party, I was going to kiss you, and that dude walked in. The night I was going to ask you out, Brad appeared. Then, in the wine cellar, Josie interrupted us. Throw in the morning your mom almost caught us, and now this?” He shakes his head with a laugh.

“It seems like we’re always getting interrupted. ”

“Hold up,” I say, holding my hand out to him. “You were going to ask me out that night in the library?”

“You didn’t know?”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, I had an inkling, but I didn’t really know for sure. I had the biggest crush on you, but I never thought you reciprocated my feelings. I didn’t truly think you actually liked me, Jase.”

“I did. I do . A lot,” he says with a wink.

I smack him in the chest with a pot holder. “I like you too,” I tell him. “Now, let's go eat.”

“Mom, do you like the sprinkle popcorn?” Presley asks me after we’ve finished the first movie.

“I love it,” I tell her. We’re all bundled up in a blanket fort we made before we started the movie.

There are pillows lining the floor, with chairs holding up blankets around us.

Jason even moved the TV onto the floor so we could all lay under the blankets and watch the movie.

The girls are determined to have a sleepover in the fort rather than their beds, and I don’t see why we can’t.

Though, Jason and I might end up in bed, rather than sleeping on the floor, for the sake of our backs.

“It’s my dad’s specialty,” Lennie announces. “One time, he even got glitter to put on there. That was the best.”

“Mom?” Presley leans up on her elbow. I’m squeezed in the middle between her and Lennie, with Jason on Lennie’s other side. He looks like he’s about ready to fall asleep, but he’s holding on.

“Yeah, honey?”

“Can we stay here?”

“Tonight? Of course, we’re going to stay tonight.” I wrinkle my brow in confusion.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I mean like, always. Can we stay here forever?”

My eyes meet Jason’s over Lennie, and she’s nodding furiously. “Please? Can you stay?”

“I… I don’t know,” I say honestly. “It’s something Jason and I need to talk about.”

Jason raises his brow. We haven’t brought it up again now that things with the custody petition have settled, but I would be open to it.

“But if you stay, then you can be my mom, and my dad can be Presley’s dad.” Lennie folds her hands. “Pleaaase?”

My heart absolutely melts. I glance over at Jason again, and his gaze has softened. I don’t even have words.

“Girls, we will talk about it, but it’s up to Fallon and me, okay?” He looks at them intensely. “And if we decide it’s not the time yet, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen someday, or that you get to be too upset, right?”

They both nod frantically. I offer Jason a mouthed, thank you. We choose the next movie, and press play. Lennie is tucked into my left side. Her finger is wrapped around a lock of my hair, and she’s gently twisting it. Presley is on my right side, also tucked into me, playing with my hand.

Jason subtly reaches over, entwining my free hand in his. He squeezes it gently, and I look over, giving him a grateful smile. I’m surrounded by what I hope will someday be my new little family, and through all the stress of the last few weeks, I’m so happy, and so relaxed.