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He turned back toward her and caught her wagging her eyebrows. Honor lifted her head at the sound of her name.
“No, you do not need to wait up for me,” he said. He shook his head and continued out of the room. He headed toward the kitchen. The sounds of feet hitting the floor echoed behind him.
“So, Dad. Mom texted me,” Nova announced, following behind him.
Rhys stiffened slightly. He arrived at the kitchen and went over to the fridge. He opened it and pulled a bottle of water from it.
“And? What does she want?” he asked. He tried to not put any emotions in his voice. Sara Beth was probably trying to be nosy and find out what he was up to. He’d never understood why, after they’d divorced, she tried to keep tabs on what he was doing or if he was dating anyone.
“She asked about you and Jordan. She wanted to know if y’all were getting serious.” Nova leaned against the counter and eyed him.
The poor girl had always been in the middle of him and Sara Beth. Not that Rhys would do that to his daughter, but his ex-wife apparently had no qualms about it. From the time they’d separated, she’d always used Nova to get at him.
But now their daughter was grown, she saw through her mother. Rhys had never bad-mouthed Sara Beth in front of Nova, but he couldn’t say the same about his ex-wife. The woman was bitter, and he just didn’t get it. He had done everything in his power to give her and Nova the best life, but it had never been good enough for Sara Beth.
“Well, that’s none of her business,” he replied. He removed the cap and took a long swig of the frosty cold water. He placed the bottle down on the counter and pulled out his phone again. He shot off a quick text to Jordan.
Everything still good for tonight?
Rhys slid his phone back into his jeans pocket. Nova leaned against the counter and watched him.
“Well, I certainly can’t say that to her,” Nova mumbled.
“You want me to text her and tell her that?” he asked.
“Hell no—I mean, heck no. That will just start a war,” Nova said. “I’ll come up with something.”
“You don’t have to. Just tell your mother that she would have to ask me,” he said. He moved over to her, hating that Sara Beth always put their daughter in an awkward position. He rested his hands on her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze.
“You know she will call you.” Nova sighed.
“I know, and you would think after all these years she’d leave me the hell alone,” Rhys muttered. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead again. “Leave your mother to me. I’ll handle her.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Nova side-stepped him and went over to the fridge and opened the freezer. She took out her pint of Ben and Jerry’s before slamming the door shut.
“You’re the only one who matters to me,” Rhys admitted. He combed his fingers through his hair. Looking at his daughter, he saw that she had truly grown up. The stubborn tilt of her chin when she spoke of her mother reminded him of someone. He just couldn’t put a finger on it. “I like the fact that you and Jordan get along. It means a lot to me.”
“Jordan is perfect for you, Dad. I can’t even remember ever seeing you this happy. Even when you were dating that one chick you never brought around.”
Rhys grimaced, remembering the few women he had tried to casually date. None of them had been good enough to bring around his daughter.
“And Mom knows she’s met her match when it comes to Jordan.”
Rhys chuckled, thinking of the first time Sara Beth had met Jordan. He had never seen his ex-wife so quiet or cordial before.
Not that Jordan had done anything.
It was as if Sara Beth had known not to fuck with Jordan.
“She does make me happy,” he murmured.
“I know. We all can see it.” Nova scooped a spoonful of ice cream and shoved it into her mouth. She moved around the counter and headed back toward the door. “You have my approval. I’d love to have her as a stepmom.”
Nova giggled as she skipped out of the kitchen, leaving Rhys with his mouth gaping open. He shook his head at his daughter, but deep down he was happy that she’d approved a future with Jordan.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket, not having felt a notification vibration.
No messages.
