“Me, too,” Poppy pops her head in between Ainsley and me.
“Jesus,” I huff out.
“Besides, I hear a certain one already caught your eye.” Poppy waggles her eyebrows.
“Who?” Lia shoots out.
“No one,” I grit, my face flaming with embarrassment.
“No way!” Lia gasps as Ainsley mouths his name.
“He is a cutie, and he could use someone with your charm in his life,” Lia adds.
“Yeah,” Poppy sighs with a shake of her head and a frown on her usually smiling face.
“Anyway,” I switch subjects. “I hear congratulations are in order.” I peer down at Lia’s stomach.
A wide smile takes over her face as she places her hand on her belly. “Yeah,” she sighs happily. “We’re still keeping it on the down-low, but we’re so freaking happy.”
After rounds of congratulations and telling Lia about the ACM Awards, I find myself scanning Clarke’s as if Gavin would magically appear. I know he won’t. He has a daughter, and drinks on a Wednesday night aren’t exactly possible. At least, not with the way I’ve witnessed him being with Penny.
He’s there for her through and through. Gavin is the kind of dad that’s present in his daughter’s life, and I admire that more than I ever thought I would. However, that leaves the lingering question: Do I fit in that life?
After spending time last night teaching him to braid and our brief text message conversation this morning, it felt like a shift happened. I got a glimpse of a different Gavin, and I haven’t been able to stop wondering who he was before he became a single dad.
Feeling courageous and confident, I turn part of my body away from my friends and grab my phone. Typing quickly, I send a short message asking how Penny’s day went with her braid.
Gavin: She was on cloud nine but it looked like a bird’s nest when I picked her up from school
Sutton: Lol that’s normal. No braid stays in its place for hours on end unless it’s magical
Gavin: Definitely not magical. She’s been making me do a bunch of braids all over her head all afternoon and evening
Sutton: You’ll be a pro before you know it then
Gavin: Thanks. I feel like I owe you a cupcake for teaching me this
Sutton: You don’t owe me anything. I was happy to help, honestly
Darn, was that a way to ask me out, and I just shut him down without even knowing it? Think quick. I type a second message and send it before chugging what’s left of my beer.
Sutton: But if the mad batter has those lemon ones, I wouldn’t say no lol
When Gavin doesn’t reply right away, I feel like I’ve somehow screwed up the slim chance I had with him. Placing my phone in my jean’s back pocket, I listen in on the current conversation about something one of Poppy’s students did today at school. From the stories she’s told, being a teacher is one hell of a job but also funny as all get out.
As I’m getting dropped off at the bed and breakfast, my phone vibrates with a new message. I smile down and find Gavin’s name on my screen.
Saying bye to Knox and Ainsley and thanking them for a ride, I skip toward the front door. Once I’m inside, I hold my breath as I open Gavin’s message.
Gavin: I could make that happen. Goodnight, Sutton
I bite down my squeal and jump up and down. Shy cowboy and all, Gavin just made it a point to see me again. High on the idea of spending time with him, I get ready for bed and dream of lemon cupcakes and a handsome cowboy.
Gavin
My braid lesson was a success with Penny. Since I told her Wednesday morning that I was going to braid her hair and I prayed to whatever hair gods exist that my braid came out decent, she hasn’t stopped asking me to do them. One braid. A bunch of thinner ones. Today’s request was pigtails. While the line isn’t quite down the center of her head, my little girl is rocking her hairstyle around town, bragging about her dad.
Everyone we’ve crossed paths with and said hello to from the feed store to the grocery store she’s told them I did her pigtails.
I proudly smile as I hold her hand and cross the street. Having a hand in making Penny this happy is my goal in life, and I can say this week she’s been happier than usual.
As we walk into Cup-O-Joe for her hot chocolate and my coffee, Penny tugs my hand and points at Sutton sitting on one of the armchairs. Before I can stop her, she runs toward Sutton.
“Look at my braids!” Penny jumps in front of her, pulling her attention away from her phone.
Sutton’s face lights up in a smile, her eyes soften as she assesses Penny’s pigtails. I can’t hear what Sutton tells her, but they both look at me standing in line when Penny points in my direction.
A gentle smile morphs on Sutton’s face, and she waves at me. I haven’t spoken to her since our Wednesday night messaging, but she's been on my mind.
In the few seconds it takes for me to put in my order, I turn around to find Penny sitting on Sutton’s lap, giggling at something Sutton tells her as she tugs on one of her pigtails. The view freezes me in place, my heart going wild as the two of them continue on in their own world.
“Excuse me.” The person behind me taps my shoulder.
“Oh, sorry, uh… Here.” I move out of the way so the teenager can order his drink.
Sutton’s eyes meet mine across the coffee shop, and her eyes crinkle with a smile before she focuses her attention on my daughter again. As if my feet were filled with lead, I move to pick up my order when the barista calls my name and walk toward them.
“Daddy, can you do braids on Sutton, too? Like that
