She left a quick kiss on my lips before we gathered our dishes and went inside. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at Black Elm Suites, and as I requested, Olivia and Knixon were waiting out front.
I got out and went around to the passenger side to help Knixon get inside. She was tall for her age, but probably still should’ve been in a booster seat. Unfortunately, I hadn’t thought to pick up one.
“You having a good day, Knixon?” I asked.
She smiled and nodded. I’d yet to hear her voice, but it was cool since I was a stranger to her. Once she was secured behindSkye, I closed the door and saw Olivia still standing there with her arms folded across her chest, frowning.
“What’s the problem?” I asked her, doing my best to hide my annoyance.
“I didn’t realize we would have company. Am I supposed to sit in the back?”
“Would you prefer I strap you to the roof, trunk, or hood?”
Skye barely contained a laugh.
“Fine.”
Olivia huffed and stomped her silly ass around to the other side of my car. When she got in, she had the audacity to slam my door. Before she could put her seat belt on, I snatched the door back open.
“Get out,” I barked.
“What?”
“Get out.”
“You’re serious right now?”
“Olivia, my patience with you is nonexistent.”
She huffed again as she stepped out.
“Get in my car like you got some damn sense, and don’t slam my fucking door again.”
Her expression showed that she was shocked, but she did as I asked. I got behind the wheel, looked in the rearview mirror, and pulled onto the street. My grip on the steering wheel was tight as I tried to calm myself.
Skye reached across the console and placed her hand on my thigh. It was crazy how something as simple as her touch calmed my nerves. I glanced at her, and she was already looking at me. When I winked, she blushed and looked away.
Olivia smacked her lips before saying, “Ugh, can you turn the radio on or something?”
“Nah, we good,” I said.
When we arrived at our destination, I walked around to the passenger side to help Skye out, then did the same for Knixon. She’d fallen asleep in that short a time, so I picked her up, and she rested her head on my shoulder.
“Let’s go, Olivia, and don’t slam my damn door.”
She smacked her lips again, as if anybody present cared about her attitude. I held Skye’s hand while carrying Knixon on the other side. We walked ahead of Olivia because she acted like she had a stick up her ass.
Once inside, I registered with the person at the front desk, then sat next to Skye, still holding Knixon. Olivia sat across from us with her arms folded across her chest and a frown on her face.
“She looks just like you, Knox. This is just a formality,” Skye whispered as she looked at Knixon in my arms.
“I think so, too, but I need it confirmed.”
“You’re doing the right thing.”
“Thank you, baby.”
I was called back a few minutes later. The test was pretty simple, and after verifying my identity, my and Knixon’s mouths were swabbed. I signed a few documents, and it was done.