“Who is it?” I ask, my brow furrowed.
Everly’s voice whispers so loudly, I can hear it clear as day. “Don’t tell him, Marcia. It has to be a surprise.”
I hear Marcia laugh and then say, “It’s a surprise, sir.”
“Send them in.” I sit back, my heart full because I’m excited to see my kid. Unfortunately, my stomach is in knots because I’m also about to see Cassandra for the first time since Friday night.
“Tis I!” Everly peals as she bursts through my office door. She dead sprints through my expansive space and around my large mahogany desk to throw herself into my arms.
“What a surprise!” I exclaim, my hand cupping the back of her head and noticing she has two bubble braids in today. I pull her away from me to get a look at her as she sits on my lap. Her long legs dangle to the side in a way that makes me sad because she’s growing up way too fast. She beams at me. “We brought you a picnic lunch!”
“Did you now?” I reply and see movement in the doorway.
I glance over to see Cassandra standing there looking somewhat awkward but just as cute as Everly. Both of them are dressed in floral sundresses, and Cassandra’s dark hair is pulled back into two short bubble braids to match Everly’s.
They look fucking adorable.
“Hi, Cassandra.” I try to sound casual instead of sexually frustrated by the sight of her.
“Dad, will you ever call her Cozy?” Everly whines.
I smile nervously. “She looks like a Cassandra to me.”
Cassandra clears her throat and glances down at her feet. “The lunch surprise was Everly’s idea, so why don’t I let the two of you have a daddy-daughter lunch date alone. There’s a coffee shop across the street I can go to. Just text me when you’re done.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, hating that she’s trying so hard to get away from me. “I don’t mind you joining.”
“Yeah, Cozy. Eat with us! You made most of it.”
Cassandra gets a nervous look in her eyes and murmurs, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
The corners of my mouth lift. “Well, if you made it then you have to join us.”
She sighs heavily but nods. Everly cheers like this is the best day of her life, and all we’re doing is eating lunch. Do less, indeed.
The three of us walk out of my office building to a little park beside a dog park. I have a perfect view of this area from my office window, and every time I look out there, I have to fight the urge to buy Everly a puppy. She’s always wanted one but knowing the time I have with her is limited, a dog would be sorely neglected when Everly’s not with me.
Everly grabs a plaid blanket out of the large tote Cassandra holds open and spreads it out on the grass even though there are perfectly good picnic tables not far away. I slip out of my suit jacket and lay awkwardly on the blanket, propped on my elbow with my legs stretched out. Cassandra kicks her flip-flops off and sits as far away from me on the blanket as she can get, her pink-painted toes hanging off the blanket and into the grass.
“I did this part,” Everly says, pulling out a small vase with daisies that grow on the bank by the creek. She sets it down on the blanket and then retrieves some paper placemats with pictures drawn on each one. She points at the first one. “This is Cozy and me on the deck playing tennis.” They’re just sitting. “This is me and you having supper with Michael.” Dad can’t cook, nice touch. “And this is you saving Cozy’s life!” She laughs and rests her hand on my shoulder, sighing like it’s the funniest story in the world.
I shoot a wooden smile to Cassandra, who is distracted with the sandwiches she’s placing on the placemats. She pops open a Tupperware of fruit and something else I can’t quite discern.
“Great drawings, Everly,” I declare with a smile. “You’ll have to draw a picture of this picnic. Everything looks great.”
Everly settles in the space between us, sitting criss-cross and biting into her sandwich enthusiastically.
“Is it okay?” Cassandra asks nervously.
Everly’s brows shoot up. “It’s delicious!”
Cassandra looks relieved.
Around a mouthful, I inquire, “What have you guys been up to this morning?”
“Cozy showed me the charcuterie board she’s working on, and it’s so cool, Dad!”
“Oh? Did you find some wood that worked? I told you I can chop something if you need it.”
“I’m good,” Cassandra says, avoiding eye contact with me.
“She let me sand it, but I got a splinter.” Everly thrusts her finger into my face, and I can’t tell where the splinter was, but I grab it and kiss it away anyway.
My brows furrow as I look over at Cassandra. Last week, this would have been something she texted me about. Now this week, she can barely make eye contact with me. Goddammit, I fucked shit up.
“But don’t worry,” Everly continues. “Cozy got the splinter out, and I didn’t even cry.”
I set my half-eaten sandwich down and nod. “Well, that sounds like a busy day already. What’s the plan for the afternoon?”
“Probably swimming,” Everly peals excitedly and then looks over her shoulder. “Cozy, can I go play at the park?”
Cassandra’s eyes lift. “You should ask your dad, Sea Monster. It’s his lunch date.”
“Yeah, go play, kid,” I answer, my heart sinking a little over how Everly defaulted to Cassandra for permission instead of me. It’s to be expected when she’s in charge all day, but it still stings. I want that dynamic to change between Everly and me before the summer is over.
Cassandra and I sit in awkward silence as we watch Everly run on the playground from one obstacle to the next. I consider broaching the subject of Friday night, but that seems inappropriate. Plus, what else is there to say really?
I’m sorry I’m a horn ball fuck up who attacked you like I’ve never had sex in my entire life? I sigh heavily. Somehow, I was able to stop it before we had sex which is a painful reminder I’m going to have to live with every second I’m with her. Especially after getting a taste of her pouty lips and how she felt in my arms.
Frustrated with my stupid fucking thoughts, I open the second Tupperware. It looks like some sort of potato soup that’s…cold? I shrug and stick my fork in it to give it a try.
When the mushy particles hit my mouth, I instantly freeze and can feel Cassandra’s gaze on me. Fighting the urge to gag, I point at the container and mumble, “What is this?”
“It’s supposed to be potato salad,” Cassandra offers, her eyes watching me intently. “Is it not good?”
I press my lips together and nod, my face contorting in agony as I turn to look at her.
“Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad. I followed my mom’s recipe.” She grabs a fork and takes a drippy bite, instantly hunching over in shock. Her cheeks puff out as she garbles, “Oh, my God.”
I nod sadly.
“Oh, my God!” She quickly grabs a napkin to spit into. “I must have put in too much apple cider vinegar. That tastes like poison!” She hands me a napkin, but I’ve already swallowed. It was a sad swallow.
Her eyes are severe when she realizes what I’ve done. “That was a mistake.”