AllFreeNovel
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“Not a hair out of place on a single head,” she reassures me, shaking my hand. “Now if you don’t mind, I have a bit of cleaning up to do.”
We leave the office and Quilo carries Ade across the car park and back to Betty. She climbs in the back and we drive home in silence.
When we get back, Quilo follows us inside and makes us all a drink. Ade follows him quietly. She’s never normally this quiet. And she’s definitely avoiding me.
“Do you want another hug, Ade?” he asks. She nods. He scoops her up into his arms and cuddles her, relaxing for a moment before pulling away.
“I thought I needed a hug, but really I just need pancakes or pizza. Or both.”
He laughs and puts her down. “How about I make some pancakes and order some pizza while you and your mom talk?”
Ade pulls a face and reluctantly agrees. She follows me back to the lounge and sits on the sofa. We stare at one another and I have no idea what to say to her.
“Would you like to do some yoga with me?” I eventually offer. Yoga calms me. It grounds me and makes me feel better. I thought it might do the same for Ade.
She scowls at me before jumping to her feet.
“I don’t want to do yoga! I want to eat pizza in my room and cry!”
She bursts into tears and races off, slamming her bedroom door before I can reply. For a moment, all the lights in the house flicker, but then they settle.
“Holy crap, what was that?” I say, more to myself than anything else.
“Sounds like she’s got some big feelings she can’t quite process there. Want me to talk to her?” Quilo offers.
My instinct is to say no, but...I’ve never seen Ade like this before. I hesitate. Maybe I should let him try?
“Are you sure you don’t mind? I’m so sorry. You definitely didn’t sign up for this today when you came by the studio.”
“Hey, none of that. The moment I saw you I wanted to know you better and when this bond was activated between us and I realized you were my mate, Ade became a daughter to me. I’m all in, for anything and everything this family wants to throw at me.”
I give him a sweet kiss, moved by his sincerity. He opens Ade’s door, blows me a kiss as he steps inside, and closes it behind him.
And then I wait.
