All Chapters of THE SINGLE DAD: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Me: Do you mind staying a little later?Sydney: Ford, have fun. Don’t worry about us. I’m heating up the dinner Craig left, and then we’re going to make cupcakes. Since we made bath bombs yesterday, Eve is pretty excited about testing one out tonight. Take your time. I’ll stay as late as you need me to.Me: What’s a bath bomb?Me: Or maybe I don’t want to know?Me: And, shit, am I screwing up all your plans tonight? I didn’t even ask if you had something going on.Sydney: Gabby and I were supposed to have a girls’ night. She spent all day cooking for it. :(Me: Fuck …Sydney: I’m kidding. I had no plans. Stop worrying. All is good.Sydney: Also, come home hungry. There will be tons of extra cupcakes.Me: I appreciate you doing this.“He’s texting with Sydney,” Dominick said. “There’s no one else, aside from Everly, who can make him smile that hard.”I glanced up from my phone.Jenner said, “Is that true? Are you texting with Sydney?”“Yeah, but—”“Oh hell, he’s in it hard.”“Stop it,”

I laughed. “Hell no.” There was only a bite of cupcake left, and I took it down, wishing I had brought my milk. “I used a decorator. The same one who did the main house.”“Ford, it’s stunning.”The colors in here were much different than in my place. The apartment was all white and tan, airy and light. The decorator had chosen the scheme intentionally, knowing I preferred a woman watching my daughter over a man.“I’m glad you like it.”“Love it,” she said, our eyes connecting. “Not like.” Her stare moved to the ceiling, where beams ran across the entire length. “She thought of everything. Important accents that make this small space feel giant and these little touches that soften it.”“Check out in here.” I walked to the bedroom door, turning on the light, and a chandelier over the bed set the whole room aglow.“Wow.”I turned toward her. “Cozy?”“And, quite honestly, a little romantic.” She headed for the en suite, frozen in the doorway. “You put in a tub? Oh my God, look at the size

That was love.I took a deep breath and said, “How about I whip up something super yummy?”Ford slowly glanced at me. “Craig didn’t leave anything?”“He did … but are you really in the mood for yogurt?”He shook his head and winced. “No.”I moved over to where they were sitting. The second I reached them, Everly took off my baseball hat, revealing my wet hair underneath, and put it on her head.“What are you guys craving?” I asked.“Pancakes!”I laughed. “Why does that not surprise me?” I winked at her and looked at Ford. “How about you?”He rubbed the side of his head. “Pancakes work for me.”“And how about something greasy, like bacon? And hash browns?”“Yes,” Ford said, “and yes.”“Then, I’ve got an idea.” I stole my hat back from her and held out my arms to Everly. “You come with me, Miss Eve. We have lots of cooking to do, and your dad will head into his office, so he can get some work done. Once we’re finished, we’ll bring him a giant breakfast. How does that sound?”“I canceled

I couldn’t eat.I wasn’t even hungry anymore—at least, not for food.“Come with you,” he said, as though he was debating.I sucked in my breath, moving the bacon to the other side, trying to act busy.“But, baby, I have to work today.”“Tell Papa you have a bellyache.”He laughed. “Papa’s not my boss.”I tried to imagine what a morning of hiking with Ford would feel like. The two of us on the trail, Everly several paces ahead. Sweat running down our faces. Sun hitting our eyes.How we’d have to move close together when we passed other hikers on the narrow path.His scent.His hand on my lower back.“Runyon Canyon?” he asked.Since I didn’t hear Everly respond, I nodded.Was he really considering?Was a morning with Ford now a real possibility?Could I call in sick?Fuck.When I’d taken this job, I’d thought it was going to be so straightforward. I would take care of Everly and go to school.There was nothing simpler than that.My feelings for Ford would stay separate. They would dull

I didn’t give a toast.I didn’t clink our glasses.I just brought the wine up to my lips and took a long, hard sip.“Are you in the mood for something sweet?” She reached for the display that now permanently held desserts in the center of my island, lifting the glass top. “Everly and I made mini pies today.”“Have I ever said no to anything you made?”She laughed. “I suppose not.”She lifted one out of the case and put the top back on. “This one is for me. Yours are in here”—she walked to the fridge and took out a separate container that she placed in front of me—“because they have to be kept cold.”Several pies were sitting inside the Tupperware.I brought one up to my nose, smelling it. “Chocolate?”“Chocolate cream.”“You didn’t?”Her eyes went wide as she nodded. “But I did. Do you want a fork?”“Nah.” I took the pie out of the small foil dish and bit into it. “Damn it, Sydney.”She did the same, holding it with her hands, chewing as she answered, “Right? It’s beyond.”“You keep t