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Ruby is excited as she buckles herself into my Jeep. But her apprehension is also clear as she fidgets with the drawstrings on her hoodie. Up and down. Up and down.

Since yesterday, when I told her I wanted her to meet Olivia and she’s coming to play soccer and eat ice cream with us, she’s been asking me all kinds of questions about her.

Where did you meet?

What’s she like?

Does she like you?

Are you dating?

Will she like me?

Do I have to like her?

What does she do?

What does she like to do?

Is she funny?

Is she nice?

The questions were all easy to answer. Well, most of them were. I did my best to answer them as honestly as I’m able.

Liv and I have gotten to know quite a bit about each other, but I’m still learning more about her. That’s part of the fun. We can talk for hours, and I discover something new about her every day.

Meeting Ruby is a big step. On both ends. I need to see her interact with my daughter. She’s the most important woman in my life, and I’ll be hard pressed if Ruby doesn’t like Liv.

“This is the first time I’ve met one of your girlfriends.” Ruby chews on the end of her hair.

I laugh. “I haven’t had any girlfriends, Ruby. No one since your mom.”

Her dark blue eyes are round, almost accusing. “But that girl at your work, the blonde. Barbie?”

I sigh. Yeah, the bane of my existence as a newly single father. “Britney. She’s interested, but I’m not, baby. Since when are you interested in my love life?”

She shrugs and tucks her hair back from her face. “I don’t want you to be lonely.”

It sounds like a partial truth. Has her mom been pumping her for information again?

“I’m not lonely, baby. I have you.”

Ruby rolls her eyes. “It’s not the same thing, and you know it.”

I do know it, but I also haven’t been in the right place to date anyone since her mother. We’ve been divorced nearly a year, but the entire process of breaking our lives in two had me reevaluating everything in it.

Custody was the worst. I didn’t tell Ruby that she had to stay with me. That she shouldn’t go live with Lisa.

I told her that I wanted her to be safe and happy, and where, that was up to her. That I would love her no matter what.

She chose me, and it didn’t go over well.

Lisa wanted the child support.

And she’s kept my life under a microscope ever since.

Granted, that’s not why I keep turning Britney down, but it’s a good enough excuse.

“Well, I like Olivia, and I just want to make sure you like her too. I think you will.”

Her mouth flashes in a quick smile before it fades, like she doesn’t quite believe me. But Olivia is sweet. Kind. Smart. I have a feeling they’ll get on well.

It doesn’t take long to get to the field, and Olivia is already leaning against her car on her phone. Her red hair down around her shoulders, the wind teasing it across her face and throat.

Ruby turns to me. “She’s pretty, but is she your type?”

I send my daughter a look. Certainly, she’s not so shallow. “She is. Your mom was the one who was out of the ordinary for me. Believe it or not.”

Ruby peers at me in a way that I can’t quite decipher. It’s not quite disbelief. Not quite calculating. I hate how her being a teenager is affecting the way we communicate. Even if I’ve been expecting it.

“Okay,” she says, tilting her head to look at Olivia as we park.

Liv looks up as I pull in beside her, and her smile is big and bright.

“Ah.” Ruby’s eyes narrow, but it doesn’t look mean. Or upset.

“Ah, what?”

She blinks at me for a second. “Just, ah.”

“Are we going to unpack this later?” I gesture between us.

Ruby shakes her head. “No. Just…observing.”

I let that sit. Let it go. For now. I want her to come to her own conclusions, her own judgments of Olivia.

We get out of the car, and I swing around to Liv before grabbing our gear. Leaning in to kiss her on the cheek seems to surprise her. Her hand finds my arm as if she needs it to steady herself.

Yes, sweetheart, I’m publicly laying my claim on you in front of my daughter. I’m serious about you.

Her cheeks pinken, and it’s cute.

“Ever play soccer before?”

“No, but I’m willing to learn. You must be Ruby. Your dad talks about you all the time.”

Liv holds out her hand, and Ruby hesitates only a second before she takes it for a shake.

“Yeah, he’s kind of embarrassing that way.”

Liv laughs. “Don’t worry. All of it’s good. Borderline bragging even.”

I can’t help but grin at the two of them, rubbing my daughter’s back and tucking her into my side. “What can I say? I have the best daughter.”

Ruby blushes hard, but the small upturn of her mouth is a good sign. She tucks her hair behind her ear. My daughter tends to be on the shy side.

“Grab the soccer ball? I’m going to equip Liv with some shin guards.”

Ruby’s already in her cleats, guards, and shorts. She pulls her hair up into a ponytail and ventures onto the field, playing with the ball as I bend in front of Olivia to help her with the socks and guards.

Touching her like this, even as innocent as it might be, sparks that flame inside of me. Having my hands on her calves, her knees…I want so, so much more.

The dreamy, heated look in her eyes when I stand again lets me know that I’m not the only one feeling this connection.

But I can’t delve into it right here. Ruby’s presence keeps me grounded. And it’s a good thing. If I let myself go, I would likely scare Liv off. That’s the last thing I want.

In fact, Ruby is making that face at us again. Am I embarrassing her?

I try not to linger. It’s difficult.

I escort her to the field and take the ball from Ruby. We run some warm-up drills, high knees and kicking the ball back and forth. Pulling out the second ball for Ruby because she’s going to get bored pretty quick if I don’t challenge her a little.

When I toss it up, she bumps it with her knee, keeping it in the air with a few bounces and a few tricks. I grin at her, and she twinkles a little at the silent praise.

We try to teach Liv a few things, and she’s a good sport. But she’s not good, and she knows it. Her laughter seems to be infectious.

I like that she doesn’t take herself so seriously.

It warms Ruby up too, especially when she praises my daughter on her skills, asks her questions about the game and her experiences.

When Liv waves me on to play for real, I plant another kiss on her cheek and hand her the extra ball. “Keep practicing.”

Her laugh is big and bright. Everything about her seems to be larger than life and absolutely dazzling.

And I’m falling for her, watching her bond with my daughter in small ways. The ways that my ex never could. Never tried to. Lisa was never meant to be a mother, and by the time I recognized that, it was far, far too late.

The realization marked the downfall of our relationship, but I can’t regret trying to make it work. For Ruby.

Even though I ultimately failed. It doesn’t seem like a failure now because Olivia makes me feel alive. Makes me see a future I’ve been afraid to imagine for so long. A happy one. One I want.

One that I’m finally emotionally available enough to admit to wanting.

After an hour or so, I wrap my arm around Ruby’s shoulder again and lead her back to where Olivia is watching us, tossing the ball between her hands. Does she like seeing this side of me? The dad side?

It’s certainly my favorite identity.

“Let’s go get ice cream.”

Both of my girls smile at the suggestion.

“Now, you’re speaking my language.” Liv holds the soccer ball out to me. “Sweets.”

At the shop is when the real magic happens. Olivia asks Ruby questions to try to get to know her. Simple things. Starter things.

“What’s your favorite ice cream flavor so far? Your dad says you try a new one each time you come here.”

“The balsamic strawberry. It sounds weird, but it’s really good.”

“I’ll take that one,” Liv says to the kid behind the counter.

Ruby sends me an approving glance. A small one but enough to raise my hopes.

“What other kinds of sweets do you like? What’s your favorite?”

“Cake, cookies, but pie is my favorite.” Ruby takes her cone and hovers by our side while we wait for ours.

“Ooo, what kind of pie? My favorite is key lime.” Liv gets her cone next, touches my arm, and nods for Ruby to pick a spot to sit before following her to a booth in the corner.

I get my cone after a minute and join them, squeezing in with Ruby, my arm around her shoulder. She seems less tense now.

“I know how to make pie. Have you ever made one?”

Ruby shakes her head. Lisa never baked, too worried about her figure to keep sweets in the house. She’d berate me for taking Ruby out for treats after her games. Ruby loves sweets though.

“I could teach you sometime. If you’re interested.”

That perks Ruby up. “Yes. Please.”

Liv grins at her. “I have all sorts of recipes up my sleeve. It’s the perk of having a chef for a brother. A really good chef. My favorite are his cannoli though. Have you ever had one?”

“Once.” My daughter’s eyes get big. “They were really good.”

“Next time he makes them, I’ll save you one. Chocolate and pistachio.” Liv gives an elegant chef’s kiss, and Ruby giggles.

I give her shoulders a squeeze, and she looks up at me. Her glowing approval soothes something inside of me. I’m glad to have it.

They chitchat some more about baking and goodies before Olivia pries the real secret out of my daughter—her love of reading.

It’s nice to sit back and watch them bond.

When we’re long done with our ice cream, I escort them both back to our cars. Once I have Ruby closed in my Jeep, I turn to Olivia, taking the short, private moment.

“What are you doing tonight?” I take up her hand, twisting our fingers together gently.

She blinks at me. “Dinner with my parents, which means I’m not really doing anything.”

A blush blooms in her cheeks and down her throat.

“I eat with them every night. I still live at home.”

I laugh gently. I like that. It’s smart, and it also means they’re close if they eat together every night.

“Think you might want to come over after dinner?” I lean in, mouth brushing her ear. “Maybe stay the night?”

Her hands meet my chest, but she doesn’t push me back, an echo from the last time we were this close and I was kissing her.

“We don’t have to do anything serious, but I have to admit…I feel a bit like a teenager, craving a little make-out session and some cuddling?”

That’s the crux of it. I want to hold her in my arms. Just be with her nearby.

She purses her mouth, but it slowly turns into a smile. “Text me your address.”