Page 88 of Protecting Addison
Ellory shrugged. “The same. He texted me this weekend after the play and asked how it went. I thought that was cool. He didn’t push to see me, which was a relief. Does it make me a horrible person to say that I don’t think I really want a relationship with him?”
“No, sweetie. It doesn’t. He’ll always be your dad, but sharing blood doesn’t mean you have to be friends or anything.”
“Yeah. Maybe things will get better as I get older. But right now, he just stresses me out.”
“We’ll play things by ear. But don’t ever feel as if youhaveto have a relationship with anyone simply because you think it’s the right thing to do.”
“I won’t. Thanks.”
Then, without a word, the preteen surprised MacGyver by hugging him hard, before turning and heading to the table to entertain her siblings.
“Everything okay?” Addison said, walking into the kitchen and stepping into the space in his arms that her daughter had just vacated.
“Yeah. You’re raising one hell of a woman, Addy.”
“She’s pretty awesome,” she agreed. Then she took the spatula out of his hand. “Go sit with your kids. I’ll make the next batch. You need to keep up your strength. You…exerted yourself quite a bit this morning already.”
MacGyver grinned. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Well, you skipped PT. I had to make sure that gotsomesort of workout.”
He laughed, then kissed her forehead. “I love you.”
“Love you too. Is my coffee ready?”
“Of course.” MacGyver kissed her once more, not able to keep his lips off her, then picked up his own cup of coffee and headed for the table to find out what his kids had on tap for the day.
The mornings always went by too quickly and before he knew it, the kids were ready for school. He would drop off Yana and Ellory, while Addison waited for the bus with Artem and Borysko. Turns out, the boys loved taking the school bus. They felt so grown up, and not having to drop them off and pick them up saved Addison a ton of time each day.
“You gonna be okay picking up the girls this afternoon? I know you have six dozen cookies to make and decorate for that wedding,” MacGyver asked her.
“I should be fine. I’ll let you know if I’m not.”
“All right. I can stop by the store and pick up the things on our list on my way home.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate that. We’re running low on garbage bags too, and Borysko needs some new pants. I can’t believe how much he’s grown in the last couple of months. And, you should probably know, Ellory and I need to go shopping this weekend for bras for her,” she added quietly. “She asked me last night if I’d go with her. I think she’s finally starting to hit puberty.”
MacGyver groaned. “I’m not ready. First it’s training bras, then it’s jeans with holes in them, then tampons, then giggling all the time and wanting to be on the phone with boys.”
Addison burst out laughing. “It’s good training for Yana. And if we have a girl in the future.”
“Whatever,” MacGyver said.
“Now you sound like Ellory,” Addison said, still smiling.
“Love you, woman. So much.”
“I love you too. Now get. I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’ll call if I get a break around lunch.”
“Sounds good. Drive safe.”
“Always.”
As MacGyver pulled out of the driveway, he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his wife’s ass as she walked down the sidewalk with the boys, toward the bus stop at the end of the street. He was a lucky son-of-a-bitch, and he knew it.
He dropped Yana off at her school first, and when he pulled up to Ellory’s a few minutes later, he felt compelled to reach out, stopping her from jumping out with a hand on her arm. “El?”
