Mummy, Please Marry Uncle Biker Daddy

a

iage was officially dead

oil. Tied to the mailbox

t. Too cheerful. Like someone had tried to decora

old and excited in a way that made my chest ache. She had on the dress she picked herself. T

forward between the seats. "

ghtened on the

asked, keepin

"He said he h

course

The house looked the same as it always had. Small. Modest. A little tired. I'd cleaned it top to bott

alloons

have been my

int chemical tang of the cleaner I'd used on the counters.

dy!" sh

ed inside

in my kitchen like he

nst my counter like she'd earned the rig

ough. Long dark hair, styled carefully. A tight

oons weren'

were f

like my name still f

im, then at her,

small hand slipping into mine. She look

e said slowly.

tated. Just

sa," he said. "Sh

oo wide. The kind of smile

slightly at the waist. "You must be

hing cold settl

idn't

didn'

the counter in his face, even though

free hand on the kitch

I

O

rol in front of my dau

t her here," I

offended him. "It's Lil

u thought bringing your girlfrien

mile slipped,

be such a big deal," she said.

at di

looked directly at her for

he way she stood there, unbothered, like she hadn't just walk

," I said. "You don

ward. "Mara, don't

nd then show up with her on our daughter's birthday

and tighten

whispered. "Why

and forced my voice to s

was

ting him. "Vanessa and I are tog

like this was al

ping with another woman while you

ringing your mistress into the

ed to leav

ightened. "I'm

replied. "And I'm telling

ed at Evan. "May

gue. He had that look. The one he used

n Lily

ly. "Is she the reason you

om went v

n't answer

was answ

eyes too serious for her fa

throat

id. "We can st

back at Evan

time,

icking against the floor, her hea

them, and the house felt

t the kitchen table and pr

without being asked and wrap

her," she said

mething that might

don't

against my shoulder. "D

losed

ot of things,"

bobbed in the breeze, bri

ough the window and m

thing Evan Collins wo

w much harder he was going t