Page 23 of Undeniable You

“Like this,” I told her, going over to clasp Juniper’s hands so ours were palm together, our fingers entwined.

“Oh, I got it. This does make more sense,” Jo said, and she replaced my hands with hers. “I fingers promise that we will have a sleepover, Juniper.”

Juniper squeezed Jo’s fingers and then let them go. “Okay, Jo Jo.”

“Say goodnight to Jo,” I told Juniper, putting my hand on the top of her head. She kept getting taller and it surprised me every single day. I wondered if she’d grow taller than me. Part of me hoped she wouldn’t so I could still have some sort of authority over her.

Jo and Juniper hugged, and I swore I thought Jo kissed Juni’s head, but I might have just imagined it.

“Have a good weekend, PJ.”

“PJ?” I asked.

“Princess Juniper,” Jo clarified. Well, wasn’t that adorable? This woman kept doing things that made me want her. Like giving my daughter cute nicknames. Why that was arousing, I wasn’t going to unpack. It just was.

Something deep inside my lower half pulsed and crap crap crap, I needed to wrench my mind out of the gutter so I could have a sweet little sleepover with my daughter in the living room.

Jo did leave and I breathed a sigh of relief. And then I couldn’t stop thinking about her going to Sapph. No doubt she’d have people constantly coming up to her and hitting on her. Sophie told me that Jo didn’t really date because she was so focused on school. That was probably the only reason. She must turn everyone down all the time. It was probably exhausting.

Juniper got my attention and reminded me about our sleepover. Right.

I’d agreed to the sleepover tonight because tomorrow I was dropping her off with my parents for most of the weekend. They’d practically begged me and I couldn’t say no. My moms wanted to get in a ton of time with Juniper before Mama’s surgery. Juniper told me that she’d learn how to be a nurse and even got out her little doctor kit and had started asking me to watch medical videos. It had been hard to find ones that were kid friendly.

As much as I was going to miss Juniper, I was also going to get some work done and rest. Take a bath without worrying that anyone was going to barge in. Watch a TV show with nudity and cursing in it in the middle of the day. I was going to eat food without anyone else asking if they could have some. I wasgoing to go at least twenty-four hours without having to tend to anyone’s needs but my own.

Complete luxury.

Juniper and I moved the coffee table out of the way and set up all the pillows and blankets we could on the floor to make a cozy nest. I made grilled cheese sandwiches and nuggets and veggies in the air fryer that we put on a huge plate and ate with lots of sauces to dip.

Juniper chose the first movie and then I chose the second. I didn’t have much to choose from until she got older and could watch some of the classic movies I had loved when I was younger. There were so many I wanted to show her that she wasn’t ready for yet.

She draped herself on top of me and yawned halfway through the second movie. I could tell she was definitely falling asleep, but that was okay. Her hair was still braided from the way Jo had done it, a few strands escaping.

I wondered if Jo was at Sapph now. If she was talking to someone pretty. If she was getting drinks bought for her. If she was turning people down who asked her to dance.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Sophie. I was shameless.

My daughter is passed out on top of me and she’s missing the masterpiece that is Shrek. How’s your night?

She didn’t respond for a few minutes and I started slowly sliding Juniper from my chest to the pillows so I could get up and pee.

Reid’s at Sapph and I guess I just go where Reid is now. I’ve become one of those people, Lare. I think I need you to smack me.

Oh. She was at Sapph. That meant she was probably with Jo. Was there a way to subtly ask if Jo was there?

Have a drink for me. Someday I’ll come out with you again.

I could go out to Sapph tomorrow night since I had babysitting, but I didn’t want to go by myself. Sophie would go with me, but I’d feel weird. No, my nights at bars were on hiatus until my daughter was older. Too many issues and complications.

Maybe I could go out somewhere else and have a drink though. That was an idea. Just take myself out to a nice restaurant and have a drink at the bar. When the hell was the last time I’d done that?

I could dress up. Put on a decent amount of makeup, not just enough so I didn’t look tired. Fix my hair. It would be nice if I had Jo’s skills to do something pretty, but I’d have to do it on my own.

I can come to you, anytime. I’ll bring drinks with me.Sophie sent. She would do that. Sophie was an amazing friend and I needed to spend more time with her. But she didn’t know that this weekend I was on my own. It was a secret and I didn’t want anyone to interfere with it. I just…didn’t want to talk to anyone. That sounded selfish but dammit, I was a single mom. I got to have selfish moments a few times a year and this was one of them.

You’re the best. Is it busy there?I was still desperately trying to figure out how to ask about Jo.

There’s live music tonight and it’s actually decent. Reid is surprisingly upbeat and it’s freaking me out. I’d say she was stoned if I didn’t know better.