Chapter 41

Obediently I cover my eyes. “Not looking. Get dressed.”

We do this every night. I sit on the edge of her bed, hands over my eyes, as she changes into her nightgown. Sometimes I’ll tease her, lower my hands but keep my eyes shut, and she’ll squeal in surprise until I put my hands up again. But tonight it’s past her usual bedtime, so I keep my hands up and my eyes shut wait until she tells me I can open them.

She’s wearing her nightgown, but she also has a picture book in her hands and a hopeful look on her face, as if I’ll read to her even after I said no. I’m not in the mood for this nonsense, to be quite honest. It’s getting late, and I’d like to savor a littlebit of the afterglow from my date with Derek, if I can. Yeah, I said date. I realize now that’s what it was—maybe not what it started out as, but definitely what it ended up being.

So I look at the book, and I look at her. Then I sigh. “Riley…”

“Please, Daddy? Please?” she begs. “Just one story.”