Page 102 of Falling for Keeps

“Yeah, I guess I’m scared.”

“Well, I’m going to be blunt for a second.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything else.”

Ann smiles with amusement. “Kids are smart. She’s probably picked up on it already. They’re also resilient, which you and Maven are proof of. I think you need to give Penny more credit.” Ann gestures vaguely to the corn maze. “You can’t protect her from ever feeling pain again, but you can do your best and teach her to be strong.”

Each word rings with truth. My mom might have been able to keep relationships from Maven and me, but she wasn’t as serious about any of those men as I am about Emma. Penny adores Emma. If she had a problem with her, I would have heard about it already. When it comes to protecting her from pain…this entire ordeal is proof I can only do so much. Short of wrapping Penny in bubble padding and keeping her in a protective box, I’m limited. “What do I do?”

“Do you want Emma in your life? In Penny’s life?”

“Yes,” I say without even needing to think about it.

“Then you have your answer,” Tom says, patting my shoulder.

He’s right. I do. I know exactly what I need to do.

It turns out that once you decide you want a woman to become your girlfriend, it’s not an automatic thing. You have to do that part where you actually ask her the question. Free will and all that jazz.

Ever since we got home from the straw maze, it’s been one thing after another.

Straight to Emma’s house to make her magical three-ingredient pumpkin chocolate chip cookies—they’re delicious, so I’m not complaining—paint Emma’s nails, then Penny’s to match, and now they’re in Emma’s living room, braiding Penny’s hair into French braids that cross over the back and make an X on her head. It’s insane. I’ll never be able to do anything like it, but it looks cool.

“Should I pull out a doll head so you can practice?” Emma asks.

I lean back on the sofa and watch. “Nah, I’m good. I’ve given up trying to be a good dad.”

“Dad!” Penny cries, outraged. “You’re the best dad in the universe, even if you can’t braid.”

“Thanks, Nickel.”

“I’m pretty sure the effort to learn made you hit the honors list anyway,” Emma says, tying on the final elastic. She grips Penny’s shoulder. “All done!”

Penny shoots to her feet and runs to the bathroom. It’s past dinnertime, so we should be heading home, but I don’t want to leave Emma’s side. I reach for her hand, and her gaze darts to the bathroom.

“If you’re in, I’m in,” I say. “Penny probably knows about us, anyway. Kids are smart.”

Emma searches my eyes. “It’s been an emotional day for you. Maybe you should think on it before making rash decisions.”

“I’m tired of thinking about it. I’m done pretending what I feel for you isn’t real. This isn’t rash, Emma. It’s long overdue. That’s something you should know a lot about.”

“Was that a librarian joke?”

“Maybe.”

“We don’t have late fees anymore, so people don’t worry too much about due dates these days.”

“Absurd,” I murmur, shifting on the sofa to face her. “I know we have the potential to hurt each other, to hurt Penny, but I don’t want to sacrifice you to the powers of what if. I want to dive in with both feet, holding your hand, and giving it our best shot.”

“No more secrets?” she asks.

“None.”

Emma closes her eyes, nodding. “Okay.”

Penny runs into the room. “I love it, Emma!”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that.” Emma stands, pulling her in for a hug. “Celebratory cookies?”