“Where?” Max asks, not letting up. “I might own the building.”
I bark out an unattractive laugh. “You didn’t own this building…trust me.”
Max eyes me harshly. “Why won’t you tell me where you lived?”
“Why do you need to know?” I snap back, holding his gaze equally harsh.
“Daddy! You’re still here!” Everly’s voice peals as she pads barefoot down the spindle staircase. Her feet thud across the hardwood before she launches herself into his arms. “Are you working from home again this week?”
“No, Everly…I’m just…running late.” His head twitches like he’s just realized what time it is. He gives Everly a tight squeeze and adds, “But I’m glad I got a hug before I left.”
“Me too! Are you sure you can’t stay for breakfast? I taught Cozy how to make pancakes.”
“Did you?” he says with a laugh. “I’m afraid I don’t have time. But you two have fun today.”
He sets Everly down and presses a kiss to the top of her head. His eyes find mine for a split second before the muscle in his jaw tics, and he makes his way out of the house.
Everly flops down on the couch beside me and immediately nuzzles herself under my arm. “What are we going to do today, Cozy?”
“Oh,” I gasp and turn wide eyes to Everly. “I have a really fun activity planned for us today.”
“What?” she squeals, turning on her side to look at me with all the childhood enthusiasm a kid can muster at six thirty in the morning.
“Today, we’re going to practice the art…of sitting.”
Everly’s trill of laughter fills the house as she falls into my lap and makes herself comfortable. She’s going to be good at this, I can tell.
My cell phone rings as I sit on a Zoom call for a bakery franchise branch we’re opening in Colorado Springs. I see the name Kate flash on the screen. Knowing the leader on this account can handle this meeting, I click off my camera and mute my mic to answer the call.
“I’m just curious enough to still accept your calls, Kate Smith,” I say with a smile I hope she can hear.
“Aw, Max…don’t you know I’m like a ball-obsessed rat terrier? If you just keep chucking balls at my face, I’ll eventually leave you alone.”
“That’s…an interesting analogy.”
“I’m a writer, Max,” she deadpans.
Chuckling, I ask, “What can I do for you, Kate?”
“Can I get Cozy’s phone number? Your nanny?”
“Um…sure.” I frown curiously. “Do you need a sitter for Tucker? I’m not sure she really does babysitting gigs, but I suppose you can ask her.”
“No, we don’t need a sitter. I want to commission her to make me some charcuterie boards.”
“Oh.” My brows lift in surprise. “How many are you thinking?”
“Hopefully tons,” Kate replies excitedly. “I have this big idea that I could actually use your advice on since you’re a man about town.”
“Okay…”
“I want to open a bookstore where we sell unique book boxes to readers. They’ll include signed books and some unique gift items, like a mini charcuterie board that’s themed with the book, some swag, and like…a T-shirt or something. I also want to get Norah and the bakery involved. But all the proceeds will go to charity. I know you’re on the board of Rainbow Project, so I figured you could give me some tips on setting up a 501c? Maybe get me in touch with your lawyer?”
“Yeah, I could definitely help you out with this. This sounds really cool, Kate,” I state seriously. She’s always such a jokester, but this shows a whole new side to her.
“Thanks, I have a whole mission statement and a business plan…maybe we could meet at Norah’s bakery sometime this week and go over it?”
“Absolutely. I’ll have Marcia check my schedule and text you some times that work for me.”
“Excellent!” Kate peals excitedly. “And text me Cozy’s number.”
“I will for sure. I can’t imagine she wouldn’t be up for this. She seems to love making those boards.”
“That’s good to hear because if this takes off like I think it could, I might have a full-time job offer for her.”
“Really?” I tug my tie and consider that concept.
“Yeah, but don’t worry, nothing will get going until well after the summer, and your ex-wife is back. I promise I won’t steal Cozy from you. She’ll be totally done with you before we’re ready to launch.”
After I end the call with Kate, I can’t help but marvel over the fact that nearly a month of summer has already passed. It’s shocking how quickly I’ve gotten used to having Cassandra and Everly at home every day. The thought of both of them leaving at the end of summer is…depressing.
A notification pings on my phone, and I see a photo of Everly lying out on one of the pool chairs with green muck on her face. She has her hands propped behind her head and a goofy smile on her face.
Cassandra: Rise and grind, baby. The Sea Monster has shown her true colors. Next stop…she’s going to pumice my feet.
Me: I don’t know what that is, but it sounds dirty.
Cassandra: The sexy dirty or the actual dirty?
Me: Yes to both.
Cassandra: And another kink is unlocked for the Zaddy.
Me: Zaddy?
Cassandra: Pretend you never read that.
Me: Too late. I googled.
Cassandra: Please tell me you’re joking.
Me: It says a wealthy, handsome, older male. I’m not that much older than you.
Cassandra: It’s the gray hairs in your scruff.
Me: I have grays?
Cassandra: Just a few. Don’t worry, they blend in with the blond. And they look good! Sexy. Distinguished. Total Zaddy vibes.
Me: I’m sending screenshots of this conversation to your sister.
Cassandra: You’re a mean Zaddy!
I’m smiling at my phone like a love-sick puppy when I hear my colleague calling out my name repeatedly through my computer speaker. “Max, are you there? The client has a question for you. Max?”
Blowing out a huge breath, I smooth my tie down to compose myself before flipping my camera back on and unmuting my mic. Zaddy or not, I have a company to run.
“Hello?” Dakota’s groggy voice mumbles into the phone line. I glance at the clock and cringe when I see it’s five thirty in the morning.
“Dakota,” I hiss, needing her to wake the hell up and match my energy…which is acting like I’m on my tenth cup of coffee when in fact I haven’t had a sip. “Do you remember that 90s movie with Alicia Silverstone and Cary Elwes? It’s called The Crush. He’s a writer and moves into their guesthouse, and the teen daughter becomes obsessed with him, builds a shrine of him, and like…tries to kill his girlfriend with a swarm of bees in a dark room?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m Alicia Silverstone’s character.” My voice cracks as I jam my hand through my bedhead. “I’m currently up in my loft bedroom gaping out the window like a pervert watching Max swim laps in the pool. It’s still kind of dark out, but I can see him, Dakota. I am officially the stalker in this situation now.”