Page 31 of Single Daddy To Go

So I smile into the phone.

“I’m not sure if I have much of an opinion about carnivals,” I murmur.

“Katie thinks very highly of them,” he growls. “There’s this big one going on in Jersey right now, and she’s been bothering me to take her. Supposedly, they have the world’s biggest Ferris wheel. Would you like to come with?”

I grin, although he can’t see it.

“Absolutely,” I say. Like I mentioned, Rob has taken me on a bunch of crazy dates to expensive restaurants and Broadway shows but honestly, the world’s biggest Ferris wheel is just my style. I relish the chance to just hang out with him like normal people, and I love spending time with his daughter.

When the day comes, I get dressed in jeans and a sweater, and put on a little bit of makeup. Rob has told me that he prefers me without makeup, but I least want to pump my lashes up with a little bit of mascara. Guys don’t know what “natural”reallylooks like, and besides, nature can always be improved upon, right?

Unfortunately, Haley’s home that day as well and she trails me around the apartment as I get ready with tons of annoying questions. “He’s taking you to a carnival? I didn’t know CEOs did that sort of thing,” she remarks.

I shrug. “He’s a person, you know. At first Rob seems like this intimidating figure, but once you get to know him, he’s really pretty chill. The man likes reading and good food and he’s amazing with kids. He works a lot, and his job is really stressful, so when he gets off work he just wants to be a human being sometimes.”

Haley rolls her eyes and flips a lock of long red hair over one shoulder.

“Well, ifIwas dating a billionaire, I’d want to, like, fly to the Bahamas on a private jet and take a bath in champagne,” she says. “He could dress you in designer everything, but you’re going out in freaking Levi’s.”

I laugh because it’s so silly. A bath in champagne? She’s been reading too many silly girlie magazines. I think it’s part of what Rob likes about me: that I’m so down to Earth, happy to just hang out with him without all the crazy trappings.

“Well, good thing I’m going and not you,” I remark to her archly with a sweet smile while tossing my purse over my shoulder. “See ya.”

Haley watches me leave, her expression one of bewilderment. I know she’s still a little confused about what Rob sees in me, but my roomie needs to get over it. Enough is enough. It’s been three months, and I’m notthatunlovable am I?

Skipping out to the curb, I jump into the car Rob’s sent over and meet up with him and Katie at their place. We all squish into the back of the town car, with his arm companionably thrown over my shoulders. Katie’s excitedly talking about the carnival and all the clowns she’ll see. The little girl knows that I’m with her dad, but it hasn’t really rung any bells because she doesn’t know what “dating” or “boyfriend” mean.

“Let’s play a game,” I suggest during the long ride to Central Jersey.

“I love games!” Katie squeals. She’s holding a purple stuffed tiger in her lap.

“Ok,” I smile at her. “Do you remember your ABCs?”

She nods, and proceeds to sing the entire alphabet song without missing a beat, flashing me a huge self-satisfied smile when she’s finished.

“Good girl,” I say. “So, the game is that each person is going to name an animal that starts with a letter of the alphabet. So if I say ‘A’ you say...”

“Umm... Animal!” she says, shaking the purple tiger.

“That’s really good, but how about a type of animal?”

“Ant!” she offers.

“Good,” I say. “Now I’ll do B. Buffalo.”

Katie claps her hands. “Daddy’s turn,” she says.

“You get C,” I say to Rob.

“How about cat?” is his move.

“Yay!” says Katie, waving the tiger again.

We get through the whole alphabet, although we have to cheat with X and go with ox because none of us can think of any animals that start with X. But it’s a fun time, and my heart beats with pleasure that’s almost painful. We’re a little family, and I love the man’s daughter as much as I love him.

At last, we arrive at the carnival. Parking is as much of a zoo as the game we played in the car, but fortunately we don’t have to worry about that because we have a driver. I may not want diamonds and baths in champagne, but I do love how effortless everything is when I hang out with him.

We strap Katie in the stroller and join the carnival. It’s a lively atmosphere, filled with the smells of cotton candy and funnel cake, the sounds of children playing and midway operators calling out to the crowd.