“Love you, too.”
“Tell Knox and Corie happy anniversary for me. In the midst of everything, I didn’t get a chance.”
Bellamy nods. “I will,” she says, just as my ride pulls up. She waits until I’m in the back seat before going back into the restaurant.
I debate texting or calling Will to let him know I’m on my way back, but I’m sure he has his hands full with both girls, so I decide against it. Instead, I close my eyes and try like hell to put the beginning of this night behind me.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m walking to the side entry door of Will’s garage and typing in the code he gave me. I realize it’s not as late as we thought it would be once I step inside the garage, but it’s too late to change course now. A motion light comes on and lights my way to the door. I knock softly, but nothing happens, so I try the handle, and it turns, allowing me to push open the door and step inside.
I’m greeted with giggles, which instantly forms a smile on my lips. Closing the door to the garage, I step out of the mudroom and into the kitchen. I let the giggles guide my way, and once at the edge of the living room, I take in the scene.
There’s a princess movie playing on the big screen, toys strung everywhere, and both girls are dressed in pink dresses, their heads crowned with tiaras. What has me biting my cheek to keep from laughing is that Will also has a bright pink tiara on his head.
“Manda!” Coral screeches when she spots me and takes off running, the tulle of her princess dress that she has on over her pajamas flying behind her. I bend over and catch her as she jumps into my arms. “We pway pwincess.” She points to her dress.
“I can see that. You’re very beautiful.” I kiss her cheek.
“Mia and Papa.” She points to where Will has Mia on his hip, both of them wearing matching smiles.
“Looks like this is where the party’s at.”
Will grins. “You know it,” he says, before asking, “Is everything okay?”
“It is now. The date was a disaster. I left. The guys kicked him from the table.”
Will furrows his brow. “What happened?”
I wave my hand that’s not holding Coral in the air. “It’s already forgotten. Too judgy and wasn’t a fan of single moms.” I shrug.
“Idiot,” Will mumbles.
“I’ll trade you,” I tell him, nodding to Mia.
“What? No, we just got this party started.”
“Well, Mia and I are going to head home. I’m going to order us some greasy pizza and relax.”
“Did you hear that, Mia? Mommy wants some of our pizza.” He bops her on the nose, making her laugh, before turning his gaze back to mine. “I ordered a large, more than what the three of us can eat. Stay. Eat dinner.”
Before I can answer, the doorbell rings. I move toward him and reach for Mia, keeping Coral on my hip. She flashes me a grin, then turns her head as she grips on to Will’s T-shirt as if her life depends on it.
“There’s my girl,” he praises her. “Let’s go get the pizza,” he tells her, turning on his heel and moving toward the front door to get dinner.
“Come on into the kitchen,” he says, the smell of pizza filling the air as he moves past us.
Following him into the kitchen, I see a mess on the counter and the two high-chair trays. “I thought the girls had already eaten.”
“They did. I made them grilled cheese and SpaghettiOs, and then we had some applesauce.”
“And y’all need to eat again?” I ask, chuckling.
“I need to eat, and if they wanted a bite or two, I was going to share. Now that you’re here, you can help me eat this.” He nods toward the pizza as he places it on the large kitchen island.
“I can watch them while you eat. I’m sure you need a break.”
“What? A break? No way. Sit.” He nods toward the table. “Mia’s in the big high chair, and Coral is in the smaller one strapped to the chair,” he explains, and I get to work placing Coral in her chair. She immediately picks up a leftover puff, shoving it into her mouth.
“Come to Mommy,” I say as I approach Will and Mia. She turns her head again, and I’m not gonna lie, it hurts my heart just a little.