Page 420 of The Doctors Will See You Now

I paused and took a deep breath. “I just thought you deserved to know that I’ve been dating someone.”

She guffawed, the sound of her insanely tickled laugh piercing me right in the eardrum. I had to pull the phone away from my ear to get some relief as she continued for the next fifteen seconds. When the space between the buildings I’d stopped next to ceased ringing, I put the phone back to my ear to hear the undoubtedly mocking words that would accompany such a laugh. “No kidding. I swear to God, whoever she is, it’s like she injected you with sunshine.”

I looked to my toes and self-consciously scuffed at the sidewalk with one. “I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It is. Of you. Of her. It’s working for you, obviously.”

“Great,” I breathed. “I’m glad you think that. Because, if it’s okay with you, I was thinking I would invite her to dinner with Lexi and me tonight, so they could meet.”

I didn’t tell Winnie I’d already invited Charlotte because, yeah. Some white lies were just better, especially if the truth painted you—read me—in a not-so-flattering light. I should have asked Winnie first. But I was sure Charlotte would understand if I had to cancel on her.

Of course, Winnie was too fucking smart to fool.

“You already invited her, didn’t you?”

I groaned. “I’m sorry. Was that a dick move?”

“Maybe. But fuck, Nick, I’m used to a lot worse from you.”

I winced at the truth of it—cowered a little at how bad it made me feel. Even though I had finally turned things around and focused on the right priorities in my life—number one being my daughter—my past mistakes were still haunting me. I deserved it, though. From Winnie, especially.

“But I’m fine with it,” she added. “You thinking like this is at least thinking like a parent. Your timing is off in a couple of aspects, but hell, that’s most of my experience of being a parent too. It’s fine if they meet. Just don’t expect Lexi to like her automatically.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “I know. But she’s got good taste. And so do I. I’m an idiot a lot, but I had a beautiful, intelligent daughter with you, so I can’t be all bad.”

Her answering laughter nearly pierced my ear. “Well, you’re right about that. I am the best.”

I shook my head after hanging up and looked on my phone for the best route to Remy’s place. It was across town and not somewhere I went a whole hell of a lot, so I wasn’t sure which train I needed to take to get closest.

Route sorted, I started to walk again before realizing my little detour was going to make Lexi and me late, and Charlotte was a Vinito’s newbie. Not only did she not know how to handle it properly and efficiently like we did, but I wanted her to experience Lexi and how fun she was while she fought to get us a seat. And I wanted Lexi to see how much Charlotte would enjoy it. A little bit of awesome meets awesome in their awesomest form.

Lexi would like Charlotte, and Charlotte would love Lexi. I knew it.

But…

It never hurt to stack the deck.

Me: Hey, sweetheart. I ran it by Winnie, and we’re good to go for Vinito’s tonight. BUT, Lexi and I are going to be a little late, so I’ll call you again with a definite time. I’ve got to get her from her uncle’s house across town, and I didn’t realize. Sorry.

Charlotte: Winnie?

I frowned. Had I really never mentioned her name before? I scanned all of our conversations like a rolodex and came up empty.

I guess I hadn’t.

I typed out a quick explanation.

Me: Lexi’s mom. Sorry. Just realized I’ve never mentioned her name before. I’ll call you when we leave for the restaurant.

I was about to put my phone away when it buzzed another time.

Charlotte: From Lexi’s uncle’s?

I nearly laughed at her curiosity and how I very much didn’t have time for it right now, but I indulged her anyway. I had a feeling there wasn’t much of anything I wouldn’t indulge Charlotte in if she asked.

Me: Yeah. Remy. He’s one of Winnie’s four brothers. Lucky me, right? LOL Really gotta go, sweetheart. Call you soon.

It only took about ten minutes to make my way back down to the subway platform and catch the train I needed and another fifteen to make it to my stop and walk the two blocks over to Remy’s door. It was a midnight blue, and I couldn’t help but think if Remy’s level of happiness to see me were a temperature color wheel, it’d just about match his door perfectly every time.