Page 102 of Timelessly Ours
“Really? Well, I guess I like lilac then. But I’m not vanilla. Is there a chocolate perfume?”
He laughs. “Maybe. But wait, let’s back up. If you’re not sure you like it, then why do you wear it?”
“I felt bad for the perfume lady.”
“What perfume lady?”
“The one that sprays you when you walk into the department store. I was shopping with Cora last week and it smelled pretty enough, so I bought one.”
“Hmm.”
I turn to him, intrigued. “Do I have to have a favorite flower or scent just because I’m a woman?”
“No. I suppose not.” He drops the subject and I snuggle deeper into his chest. Loving that this is where he insists I be every night.
“Who’s ready for a slumber party?”
I'm half asleep after putting Rory to bed on Sunday night and stare blurry-eyed at my friends at the front door. “What are you guys doing here?”
Cora’s round face jerks. “What do you mean?” The boys are out of town so we’re here with sparkling cider and junk food and we’re going to watch The Lake House.
I pull the door open and step aside for them. “Okay but be quiet. I just put Rory to bed, and I’m exhausted.”
“Oh yeah, Dad told me you signed her up to your dojo.” Angel rolls her eyes.
Cora gasps. “You did? Good for you. Teach that girl some discipline.”
“And respect,” Angel adds, clearly in agreement for Rory’s need to shape up her attitude.
I smile. “I don’t know, I kinda like her the way she is.”
Angel cocks her head. “Of course you do. It’s why you two hit it off. She may as well be your kid.”
Cora side eyes me and I catch it.
Unfortunately, Angel does too. “Oh, please I know all about Nicole’s crush on my dad. It’s weird, but who am I to judge? I’m living with a guy who hated me for five years.” She shoots me a glare as she repeats my words.
“It’s not weird,” Cora argues on my behalf as I unbag junk food onto the counter. “It’s sweet and kind of perfect. Nicole is way too good to be with anyone her age. Only a real man can handle all of this.” She waves a hand in front of me as if I’m some canvas painting she’s showcasing.
I dip my toes into the conversation. “I’m sorry, so what is my brother to you exactly? Not a real man?”
“Your brother is still in his twenties and laughs anytime someone says balls. I love the guy but the snickering is not quite ‘man’ material.”
“You have a point,” I mutter, stepping back out of the conversation.
“I think Nicole can do better,” Angel mutters like I’m not in the room.
“Wait, what?” I blink up. She thinks I can do better? Not the other way around?
She sighs and digs into a carton of ice cream. “My dad is a complicated man. He’s private, grumpy, moody, and does this thing where he stares at you until you come clean about something that was probably not your fault, and—” She looks up at us, then focuses on me. “Actually, I think you two might work…”
“Really?”
She shrugs. “Sure. Just be careful, my mother is competitive.”
“Your mother?”
“Well, she might be out of his life, but I get a sense that she’s subconsciously living with the idea that if she can’t have him, no one can.” She rolls her eyes, and it’s clear that Angel has tried to convince her mother otherwise. “She’s sweet though, once you get to know her,” she adds, defensively.