Page 51 of Draft Pick
“And the most important thing…sprinkles,” Addie yells, excitement filling her voice. I love seeing her like this—excited for something out of the ordinary. She knows pancakes are clearly not my speed.
I hold open the grocery bag I kept hidden, knowing she would ask and wanted to surprise her. “Why don’t you tell me?” I insist.
Bright blue eyes soar wide in thrill before leaning in. “Are you kiddin’ me right now?” Addie squeals.
“Oh, I’m serious!” I chant. “As serious as Ariel is about Flounder being her best friend!”
The gummiest smile in all the world lights up. “Best. Day. Ever.”
“Best day ever? Or best dad ever?” I hold both arms out, joking but also using any excuse to hear how much she loves me. I’ll take advantage of that until the day I die.
“Best daddy ever! Best day ever! Best everything!” Addie’s arms wrap around my legs in the firmest hold, squeezing me tight. I don’t get to enjoy the hug for very long before the doorbell rings, and Addie’s darting to the door.
“It’s Juniper!” she yells. “Finally! I’ve been waiting all morning!”
“Don’t answer it, Doodle. Let Daddy check first,” I instruct, shuffling past her to look through the peephole. I’m not sure what or who I thought it would be; I invited her here. But Juniper at my door all but stops me in my tracks.
I take a deep breath. What for, I’m not sure. But I make a quick effort to correct Addie’s verbiage right away as I swing open the door. Stepping back, I lean down toward Addie and say, “And that’s Dr. Wilde to you.”
“There’s the prettiest queen in all of Emerald City,” Juniper greets my extroverted daughter, her smile lifting to mine while she returns Addie’s hug. “Suburban Daddy.”
Why do I like that so much? My chest gets tight and feels weird when she says it. I kind of want her to say it again. But because today isn’t about me, I don’t file my official request.
“Doc.” I nod, mustering up a smile when, strangely, all I want to do is hug her. Never have I ever hugged Juniper Wilde, and it’s probably a good thing. I may end up tackling her if I did. “Thanks for coming over.”
“Of course.”
Small hands pat my side. “Aren’t you gonna invite her in, Daddy?”
“Shit. Yes. Sorry.” I slide over, making a pathway for Juniper to enter.
The two girls join hands and take off to the kitchen. I don’t miss the way Juniper sets her purse on the dining room table without instruction. She does it because it feels right.
Is she comfortable around us? I really hope so.
My mind is all over the place.
However, I’m not scattered enough to hear Addie say just above a whisper when she thinks I’m out of earshot. “Daddy says cuss words a lot. But he won’t let me say them.”
I stand back and listen, unashamed I’m eavesdropping. Juniper’s carefree laugh echoes in the kitchen. “Sometimes grown-ups say bad words. It doesn’t mean weshould, but we do. Just know your daddy loves you very much, and he does it to keep you safe.”
“Safe from what?”
“Uhhh,” Juniper stutters, and I chuckle quietly.She got her.“Safe from…other kids who say bad words. It teaches you a lesson. See, full circle moment.” She sounds proud of her on-the-spot comeback, and I’ve gotta say, she killed it.
“Hmm. If you say so, Dr. Juniper,” Addie concurs, and I take that as my sign to join them.
“Doodle,” I scold. “What did I say?” She can hardly pronounce Juniper’s name, and it’s adorable, but I’m firm on respect in our home, and the same applies to Dr. Wilde.
“But doctors don’t come to houses. Only friends do, so that makes us friends.”
Damn, she’s good. Too good.
So good that even Juniper falls for it, squatting down to Addie’s level. “We are mostdefinitelyfriends. How about, if it’s okay with your dad, you call me Dr. Wilde at the office, and anywhere else, Juniper is perfect? What do you think about that?”
Addie ponders her proposition for a moment before looking at me for approval. I nod, sealing her fate. “Deal!” she shouts.
“We make a lot of deals in this house,” I laugh, meeting them at the kitchen island. Juniper props Addie on the counter, close to panicking when she realizes she didn’t ask permission.
