Page 141 of Falling Back to You

Because you’re the designated babysitter.

JAMIE:

Total dad of the group.

AARON:

Also, you started the thread, Canada.

MAX:

Can confirm. We kept the receipts.

But Prince Charming named it.

VAN:

I stand by that creative decision.

Cal, we expect wedding invitations.

CAL:

yall are ridiculous

JAMIE:

Dad, make him invite us.

MYLES:

I wash my hands of all of you.

Chapter fifty

Cal

“You didn’t have to do this,” Noelle murmured, carefully sitting up from where she’d been lying on her couch.

“Don’t thank me yet. It might not be edible,” I teased, handing her the bowl of egg drop soup I’d whipped up.

She didn’t laugh. “Don’t dismiss it, Cal,” she whispered. “Thank you. Really. I’m sorry to have to change plans. No guy’s ever made me soup before.”

The words warmed my chest, and I dropped a kiss on her hair. “Anything for my girl. And don’t apologize. The Pumpkin Patch is exhausting on a good day. Now, what are we watching? Great British Menu reruns or I Love Lucy?”

“You pick.” She cradled the bowl to her chest.

I queued up the cooking show on her laptop before settling down beside her on the sofa. Greyson and Paisley brought Rosie over to my place for the evening to watch Khia while Noelle and I went on a date. But today was a flare day for her after yesterday’s outing. So we were doing a “date night in” at Noelle’s place instead.

After saying grace, I hit the play button, and we watched the contestants in a flurry of activity trying to wow the judges with their appetizers.

“There’s no way that gets higher than a seven,” I remarked with all the finesse of a man who was barely confident enough in his egg drop soup capabilities.

“I’m thinking six,” Noelle said, nibbling on a piece of gluten-free toast with melted cheese.

We were both correct when the judges gave two sevens and a six. After we finished dinner, I dished out two bowls of mint chocolate chip ice cream and brought them back to the couch before we started the entrée episode.

“Do you want tea?”