“Knock, knock,” I said. “Food delivery.”
“What service,” Dylan said, reaching out and taking the tray from me.
I crawled in but sat near the door, ready to make my exit when the fun and games were over.
We ate together, and each bite was harder to swallow than the one before as we interacted like a family and yet, we weren’t one. At least, I wasn’t a part of it.
When the food was done and it was time to clean up, I told Dylan I’d clean up the dishes while he gave Maisie her bath.
“Thank you, Tessa, really. I don’t know how I’d manage without you.”
I liked being appreciated. At least he recognized my contribution, even if he didn’t care for me like I did for him.
“Listen, don’t go when you’re done. I’d like to talk to you after I get Maisie to bed, if you have time. Do you have a date or something?” His expression looked apprehensive at that last question.
“No. I have no plans tonight.”
“Tomorrow night?”
I shook my head. Jared hadn’t called since the night we’d hung out, so apparently I didn’t have the opportunity, as Dylan might describe it. Just as well, since I didn’t have the desire for him either.
“No,” I said, wondering about his interest in my personal life. Maybe he just wanted to know I had a new guy to help alleviate his guilt about what had happened between us. “I can stay.” I figured he either wanted to give me an update on the custody case or perhaps fire me since it was so weird to work for him since I’d given him my virginity.
“Great. Thanks.”
I did the dishes and finished cleaning up the living room. I sang quietly along with Dylan and Maisie as he played his guitar as she took a bath. Later I snuck down the hallway to listen as Maisie chatted about her day and Dylan read her a couple of stories.
Eventually, I headed back to the living area to wait for them to finish. When he first emerged from the hall, he looked very serene. It wasn’t an expression I saw much anymore, and I missed it. When he saw me, he swallowed, and looked a bit nervous.
My belly said uh oh, even though I had no idea what was up.
“Do you want something to drink. I think I might have some wine hidden away somewhere.”
I shook my head. “No, thank you. Is something wrong, Dylan?” I wanted to get this over with. The anticipation was making me antsy.
“Mind if I get a drink?”
It’s your house, I thought. “No. Go ahead.”
I watched as he went into the kitchen and got the bottle from the top cupboard. He poured a drink, downed it, and poured two fingers more.
He came and sat on the couch, but with space between us. “I got served custody papers today.”
My heart fell. “Oh Dylan, I’m sorry. I was thinking maybe she changed her mind.”
“You and me both.” He sipped his drink, looking at me over the rim of the glass.
“I wish there was something I could do to help.” I wanted to reach over and touch him to soothe his distress, but since that went so badly the last time, I clasped my hands in my lap.
“Do you mean that?”
I nodded, wondering if there was something he had in mind. “Yes. What can I do to help?”
He stared at me for a long moment. “You could marry me.”
My brain must have hiccupped, because I thought he’d just asked me to marry him. “What?”
He closed his eyes as if he regretted his words, but when they opened I saw determination. “I’m told that Veronica’s case is made stronger by the fact that she’s married and can offer two parents in the home. I know it’s nuts, but I can’t let her get full custody of Maisie. If two parents will sway the judge, then I’ll give her two parents. But as you know, I have no prospects for that.”
When I was in that phase in my teenage years of imagining a fairy tale life, I used to imagine being proposed to. I hadn’t thought it would be like this.
“What I need is someone I can trust, who cares for Maisie, and who I could believably convince people I’d marry.”
“Because we … you know …” I pointed to the couch.
“Because we’ve known each other for a year. It’s cliché, but I wouldn’t be the first single dad to marry the babysitter.”
It was a crazy request. One I should have already respectfully declined.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, Tessa. I feel like an asshole doing it, but I love that little girl more than anything.”
“I know.” I smiled, because as much as it hurt me that he didn’t love me, it warmed my heart to know he’d do anything for Maisie. Even marry a woman he didn’t love or want to have sex with.
“And listen, because I know it’s a lot, I’m willing to help you in return. I’ll pay for your last year of school.”
My mouth gaped. “What?”
He nodded. “I’ll pay for school. As my wife, it wouldn’t be right to pay you to babysit, but I can pay for that. Plus, you’ll save on rent.”
Oh yeah, if we were married, I’d need to live with him. “I’d live with you?”
He looked down for a moment. “We’d need to live together to make it seem real. Everyone needs to believe it, even Maisie, which means we’d need to share my room, but, I promise, Tessa.” He held up his hand like he was taking an oath. “I won’t touch you.”
Of all the things that had come out of his mouth over the last few minutes, that one hurt. It was a reminder that he wasn’t attracted to me.
He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I just—”
“Yes.”
His gaze shot to mine. “What?”
I didn’t know what I was doing. “Yes, I’ll marry you to help you keep Maisie.”
He let out a
