Page 121 of Fierce-Dane

“But you didn’t want to do it at first,” Sloane said. “We had to remind her she could grow it back.”

“I get to meet your family?” Shiloh asked. “I wanted to look nice for that.”

“You do,” he said, rubbing her shoulder. “And they are going to like you whether your hair is short or long. Don’t worry about that.”

“Dad,” Tiffani yelled from her room. She had some lungs on her.

“Sorry,” he said to Sloane. “I’ll be right back.”

Sloane and Shiloh arrived a few minutes ago and they’dbe going to his sister’s house for Willow's first birthday party. Chloe had put the pressure on him hard to make sure Sloane and Shiloh attended.

That their parents wanted to meet his girlfriend in an official capacity—which he had been putting off since his mother found out more background on her—and Chloe wanted to meet Shiloh.

But in doing this, the place would be packed with people.

Royce’s family, his family, friends and some coworkers. Coworkers that were like family.

The Fierces.

He’d been told there was no way the Fierces couldn’t be invited.

First, they were the ones who set them up, in a manner of speaking. And second, they were business partners with Royce.

He knew that Diane and Carolyn had been in to see Sloane several times in the past few months and his name had come up, but this was going to be the first time he’d seen them with his girlfriend by his side.

He’d get through it like he always did.

He rounded the corner just as Tiffani shouted his name again and almost blew out his eardrums.

“I’m right here,” he said. “What’s going on?”

Her bed was loaded with clothing. He wanted to grind his teeth. There was no reason for this.

Some was kept here, the rest she’d brought with her. They tried not to have the kids pack too much, but it didn’t work that way anymore with Tiffani. She wanted what she wanted when she wanted it. He supposed that was a combination of being a girl and getting older.

“I don’t know what dress to wear.”

“I didn’t know you were going to wear a dress,” he said. He didn’t want Shiloh to feel bad. She had jeans on and sneakers. He wasn’t sure Shiloh even owned a dress and wouldn’t ask.

“I thought I should,” Tiffani said, shrugging. “Mom told me to make sure I was the prettiest girl there and that I should wear a dress.”

He knew in his mind this was Mel manipulating things. There had been more than one comment over the past several weeks coming out of Tiffani’s mouth about things that would make her stand out or get his attention. Or maybe put her above Shiloh.

He’d only had the kids together one other night since their first meeting. It hadn’t been easy because he hadn’t had his kids over the weekend for a few weeks and during the week with school, activities and homework, there wasn’t time. He didn’t even see Sloane for a few days either.

He didn’t want to tell Tiffani what to wear if she got it in her head to wear a dress, but he’d try to use some logic if he could.

“You know Uncle Royce built a swing set for Willow for her birthday, right?” he asked.

“Yes,” Tiffani said.

“Do you want to be climbing on it in a dress? You might get scratched up or dirty a pretty dress. You’d have to put shorts on under it too so you aren’t flashing anyone. And wear sneakers. Sneakers do look cute with dresses, but do you have the right sneakers to wear with any of these?”

Tiffani’s jaw dropped as if she couldn’t believe he thought of that or maybe she hadn’t.

She stomped her foot. “No,” she said. “Mom told me to bring shoes with the dresses.”

“I’m wearing jeans,” he said. “I think everyone will havejeans on, but I know you like to be different. How about we look in your closet and see what else you could wear if you don’t have the right sneakers?”