Page 33 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

LUKE

O ne day, I went from needing time to asking Dayna to be my girlfriend.

I felt her slipping from me and when she told me the reason she broke up with me all those years ago, I couldn’t let her get away again.

She did something so selfless, I fell more in love with her.

The way she was concerned about how to help me raise Sadie made me realize she’s the only one I’d want Sadie to be around.

Too much time has passed between us to wait to start our lives together.

What she had to endure at the hands of my father makes my blood boil. I don’t know what to do. Liam is going to be livid when I tell him. I send a message for him to call me tomorrow so we can talk. When I set my phone back down it buzzes.

Dayna: Hi I’m home, I miss you two already!

When I get to my bedroom and lay on my bed, I respond to her. I wish she didn’t have to leave. I need to talk to Sadie and see how she feels about me and Dayna. Eventually, she’s going to find out. I’d rather be the one to tell her though.

I’m glad you’re home. I miss you too.

I was thinking of telling Sadie about us.

Dayna: Gosh, I hope she’s okay with us.

I think it’ll be easier for her to know now than her catching you straddling my lap.

Dayna: Yeah, that would be a terrible way to find out.

I’ll speak to her before we pick you up.

Dayna: Ok, let me know how it goes please.

I will. Sweet Dreams, Baby.

Dayna: Good Night, Luke.

It’s 3 o’clock in the morning and I’m wide awake.

I’m so nervous to talk to Sadie. I know she likes Dayna.

What if she doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea of us being together?

I don’t know how I’d tell Dayna. I reach for my phone on my nightstand and unplug it.

I scroll to her name and tap call. It rings a couple times before I hear her sleepy voice.

“Is everything okay?” She said in the cutest voice.

“I couldn’t sleep, and I wanted to hear your voice. It’s quite attractive if I may add.”

“Luke…you never lied to me before. Don’t start lying to me now. What time is it?” Dayna says playfully as she quietly yawns at the end. This is only making me wish she was in my arms .

“It’s about 3 AM” I say as I adjust my pillow.

“Close your eyes Luke, I’ll be right here.” I hear her say softly.

“I wish you were here.”

The sounds of Dayna’s even breaths on the phone has me feeling comfortable enough to let go of my worries momentarily. I turn to my side, putting my phone between my face and my pillow. I feel myself getting drowsy.

Waking up a couple hours later and my phone must have disconnected with Dayna because I have a message from her.

I didn’t want to wake you by calling you back. I hope you got some rest.

It was the best three hours of sleep I’ve had.

With it being 7:30 AM, I took a shower and put on a black flannel with a white shirt and diem jeans. I got Sadie and I a pair of matching Vans and I slipped those on. I put on my glasses and head downstairs to get a quick breakfast ready for us.

I got the oatmeal prepped on the kitchen counter with the boiling water on the stove.

I’m just waiting for Sadie to wake up. As I’m sipping my coffee and grading my student’s classwork from this past week when I hear tiny footsteps ascending towards me.

She has a confused look on her face. “What’s the matter, Sadie Girl?

” She looks around and then looks up at me.

“Where’s Dayna?” This girl is full of surprises.

“She went home last night while you were sleeping.”

She’s scrunching her eyebrows as if she doesn’t like my answer. “Are you ready for breakfast?” I pushed out a barstool for her to sit on. “I made some oatmeal, do you want any raspberries?”

“Can I add them in myself?”

“Sure, princess.” I walk to the refrigerator to get the carton of raspberries out. I set it on the counter next to her and I take a seat next to her. She adds some raspberries to her oatmeal before she plops them on each finger and shows me her wiggly hand with a giggle.

With breakfast served and she’s sitting next to me, my heart is beating really fucking fast against my chest. I clear my throat and hope my daughter takes it well.

“Hey, Sadie, I want to talk to you about something important. I want to ask you about Dayna. How would you feel if she was my girlfriend?”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, it means we would be spending more time together. We can go on dates but I think most of our time will be here, home, with you.”

“Oh.” She turns her head to look at her bowl. She’s not giving me anything to work with and I’m getting nervous. She sits quietly eating her breakfast. I’m shaking my leg just waiting for her to say something else, anything.

“Would you date her like Ariel and Prince Eric?” Sadie finally says and I let out a nervous chuckle.

“Yes, kind of like that. How do you feel about it?”

“She’s really nice to me, and her face turns really red every time you smile at her. Are you going to marry her like Prince Eric married Ariel? They have a baby, is Dayna going to have a baby too? Am I going to be a big sister?”

Note to self do not drink anything when asking Sadie a question. I nearly choke on my coffee. I’m gasping as I’m trying to get coffee out of my nose. Marriage and a baby?

Goddamn.

I stand up to clean the mess, there are now coffee stains all over my lesson plans.

“No, Sadie Girl, right now I just want to know how you would feel if she was my girlfriend. The rest of those questions will have to wait.”

I see the wheels turning and I’m patiently impatiently.

“I like when she talks about Mommy with me and she makes me remember happy things about her. I like her hugs and my heart doesn’t hurt so much when she’s around.” Sadie points to the center of her chest .

The impact Dayna has had on Sadie in just a short amount of time shows how extraordinary she truly is. I am so relieved Sadie sees Dayna the way I see her.

“So you’re okay with her and I being together?”

“Yes, Daddy.” I nearly knock her over as I scoop her up in my arms. She’s giggling so loudly, I feel it in my soul, this is going to be good for us.

“Would you like to go to the park and play catch? Dayna is going to come with us.”

“Can we go right now?” I set her down on her feet and kissed the top of her head.

“Of course, go get ready, we’re going to pick her up at 9.”

I pull out my phone to send Dayna a quick message.

She’s okay with us.

Dayna: I’ve been so nervous this whole time. I’m ready whenever you two are.

We’re leaving in a few minutes.

“Throw it to me, Ariel!” Sadie shouts in Dayna’s direction. I can’t help but let out a loud, hefty laugh, “I’ll tell you later.” With a confused face, Dayna throws the ball towards her.

The grassy park is the perfect place for playing catch. The sun is out, and it’s a fresh Saturday morning. There’s a lot of families running around and kids playing soccer.

“Daddy, throw a pop up towards me!” Sadie shouts with her mitten and hand to her face.

I throw the softball in the air and Sadie starts running towards it.

It’s in the air and she’s focused on the ball.

Dayna is cheering her on. “Go Sadie!” She reaches the ball and makes contact.

She jumps in the most dramatic way possible and she catches it.

“And the crowd goes wild for Sadie Beckett!” She says as she shows me her mitten with the softball inside. “It sure does, Princess!”

After what seems like hours and my arm is beginning to hurt, I ring in my girls. “Are you two ready for lunch? I’m thinking of making Turkey Bacon Avocado sandwiches.”

“That sounds delicious!”

We gather our things and Sadie reaches for both of our hands and starts guiding us to the parking lot. The three of us together. Such a surreal moment. Dayna’s whiskey-colored eyes meet mine and I just know this is a start of a new experience for her.

Dayna breaks eye contact and reaches for her phone in the back pocket of her jeans.

Her face is twisted into an expression of confusion staring at the screen.

She double taps the side button and ignores the call.

Her phone rings again and now this time she looks annoyed.

“I have to take this. I’m sorry.” Dayna’s hand slips from Sadie’s reluctantly.

She walks away with her phone at her ear, her body language is all wrong.

I can see she’s visibly upset. I open the door for Sadie and leave her door open while we wait for Dayna.

She’s using her hands to talk, probably to try to make her point.

After a few minutes of back and forth, she hangs up the phone and puts it in her back pocket.

Walking back to my truck she stops in front of me at the passenger side door.

“What’s the matter?” I say as I stroke her cheek softly.

“It was Dean. He was asking me where I was last night because Cara is out of town for the next week visiting with her brother— and sister-in-law, so he couldn’t ask her. Not that she would tell him, she can’t stand him anymore.” Her and I both.

“I told him it was none of his business where I was and he said he saw my car parked outside your house. I don’t get why he can’t just leave me alone.

Our— his house isn’t even on your side of town.

” I bring her in for a hug and hold her tight.

Hearing the way she said our house brings the reality of her and Dean front and center.

They shared a life together and had a house.

The thought of his hands on her body makes my blood boil .

She’s so tense and so frustrated, I can feel the moment she starts to relax when I pull her in my arms. She’s hugging me back twice as hard.

“I’ve got you, Baby.” Rubbing her back smoothly up and down and her head fits perfectly under my chin.

“We are having such a great morning, don’t let him ruin it.”