Page 21 of Who’s Your Daddy (Dadcoms #1)

Lola

“ I t’s a heart.” I jab a finger at the ridiculous bed. With a shake of my head, I squeeze my eyes shut. When I open them again, it’s still there. I didn’t imagine it.

Groaning, Iwhirl on my apparent roommate. He looks like he swallowed his tongue.

Never in a million years would I have expected this. Sully isn’t the least bit romantic.

“There are rose petals and candles and champagne and chocolate strawberries and a bubble bath.” I fling my hand at the bubbling jacuzzi tub.

Cal’s head tilts. “It’s amazing, really.”

“This is not amazing.” Anger causes my vision to go dark around the edges.

This is weird. Uncomfortable. Not amazing.

“Not the room. I’m referring to how high and screechy your tone can get. It takes talent.”

A rumble works its way up my chest, as if it’s a living, breathing entity.

“Wow, did you just growl? ”

I might have. I could do a lot of things at the moment. Because I just walked into a romantic retreat with Callahan Murphy.

I’m freaking out a little, because as much as I don’t want to like it, I kind of do.

My eye twitches, so I press two fingers just below my eyebrow to make it stop.

“Okay. It looks as though your head might explode, so I’ll give you a minute.” Cal steps back, holding both hands up like he’s warding off a crazed animal. “Have a tubby wubby. Relax.”

Dread washes over me. Yes, dread. Not excitement. Not at all. “Not with you.”

“No, no.” Shooting me an easy smile, he slips his hands into his pockets. “No tubby wubby for me. I’m going to find a pint and give you a few. A little time apart will be good for our blooming love.”

My heart seizes. “Our what?” I shriek.

He lifts a finger to his lips. “Shhh, Lola, you’ll ruin it.” Without having to look behind him, he backs straight to the door and slips out easily, leaving me alone.

Still rooted to the spot, I scan the space. This time I’m sure I growl. How are Cal and I supposed to stay here?

With jerky movements, I pull my phone out and send a FaceTime request.

“This is your fault,” I hiss the second my best friend’s face appears on the screen.

“What?” Head tilted, Sloane leans closer to the screen. “Are those candles?”

“And roses. And chocolates and a fucking heart-shaped bed.”

“Wow, Cal.” She reels back, humor dancing in her eyes.

“No, wow, Sully. This is your fault.” I stomp a foot. “Your husband did this.”

“No way.” She scoffs. “Sully doesn’t do big gestures.”

“Cal”—I hiss— “thought we’d have two beds, Sloane. He believed there would be two squares in this room, not one heart.”

She cringes. “I don’t know what to say. ”

I flop back onto the stupid white heart mattress, and like mist from a waterfall, soft, deep red petals float around me and dust my skin.

“It’s your anniversary. Sully was trying. And you refused to spend it with him.” I sigh. I’ve tried to stay out of their issues, but I’m irritated about being stuck in this room with Cal. Plus, I feel bad for Sully.He clearly worked hard to make this happen, only to be rejected.

“I’m having dinner with him.” She worries her lip.

I jackknife to sitting.

She’s willingly seeing him? Wow. Progress.

“Really?”

“Not like that,” she says quickly, fidgeting with the ends of her hair. “Really, it’s dinner with T.J and Murphy. I want to get T.J. settled and all that.”

“Sure.” I smirk, only now taking her in.

She curled her hair and put on makeup. There’s no way that’s for T. J. With any luck, Sully has plans. Not ones that leave me in heart-shaped beds but ones that make his wife smile. She needs it.

They need it.

“It’s not?—”

“Don’t drink too much wine,” I say, cutting her off. “You’ll end up in bed with him. We both know how those Murphy men are.”

Well, if those aren’t some famous last words.