Novel Palace
62
Everly held up her palm, her five fingers spread wide. “This many.” The living room light picked up the shimmer on her nails, her goddamn hands like little mirrors. “I’m not a baby no more.” She twirled again, shook her hips. “No, no, nooo.” Her arms lifted, moving from side to side, her hips matching the motion.
Sydney was doing the identical dance, singing the same song.
When she connected eyes with me, I said, “Here I am, ready to lose it over Eve turning five, and you’re celebrating with her.” As she flopped onto the couch beside me, I put my arm around her shoulders. “How dare you,” I growled.
Her cheeks flushed, as though she could read my mind.
A quick glance at Everly told me she wasn’t paying attention, giving me a few seconds to lower my hand and rub between Sydney’s ass, whispering, “I should punish you for that.”
A part of her body I hadn’t taken yet.
But I planned to.
Soon.
Just like I planned to tell my daughter that Sydney and I were together.
I wanted to make sure this was going to work between Sydney and me before we sat Everly down and talked to her about us.
A month into our relationship, and things couldn’t be better.
So, that talk was going to happen shortly.
“Age is a battle you’re not going to win,” Sydney said, laughing. “So, you need to get used to the idea that your little girl is getting older, whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t like it.”
She smiled. “I think you should dance with Everly and let her know exactly how you feel.”
“Dance, Daddy! Dance!”Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
Sydney rose from the couch and grabbed Eve’s hand, the two of them picking up right where they had left off.
“No, no, nooo. I’m not a baby no more. No, no, nooo.”
I joined in.
I couldn’t help myself; they were too fucking cute.
I moved in between them, linking hands with both, the three of us dancing in a circle, singing their new song until I heard, “Now, this is a sight I never thought I’d walk in on.”
I glanced toward the kitchen, where Dominick and Kendall were making their way into the family room.
“Where’s my birthday girl?” my older brother said as he knelt on the floor, opening his arms, waiting for Everly to run to him.
Which happened seconds later.
“Uncle D!”
He lifted her into the air, kissing her cheek.
“It’s my birthday, Uncle D. I’m not a baby no more. No, no, nooo.”
He laughed. “Have you told your father that? Because I think he’d disagree.”
“Uncle D, Daddy knows I’m this many years old.” She held up her hand.
“Is that right?” He paused. “So, if you’re not our baby anymore, then what are you?”
Everly smiled and bounced. “A big girl.”
“I don’t approve,” Dominick said, kissing her forehead. “I remember when you were so small that you fit in both my hands. Now”-he shook his head-“you’re almost as tall as me.”
Everly snorted. “You’re a giant, like Daddy.”
“You know what else I am?”
Everly’s eyes went wide. “No?”
“I’m a tickle monster.”
“Auntie Kendall,” Everly screamed as Dominick tickled her, her laughter filling my entire house. “Ahhh! Auntie Kendall, saaave meee.”
“Dominick, give me our girl,” Kendall said, holding out her arms. The moment she scooped Everly from Dominick, she added, “I’ve missed you like crazy. Why haven’t I seen you in a few weeks?” She fixed Everly’s tutu and moved some hair off her forehead.
“I’ve been sooo busy,” Everly replied, breathless.
Kendall laughed. “Can we have a sleepover soon?”
Eve played with the side of Kendall’s hair and replied, “Yes!”
“I want a sleepover too,” Jenner said as he joined the party, his hands full of gifts. “Because I believe it’s our turn to have Eve for the weekend.”
“Uncle Jenner!”
“Did you leave any pink at the store?” I asked him.
Jo was right beside Jenner, her hands also full of pink bags.
“There’s another load still in the car that we weren’t able to carry in,” Jo responded, smiling.
“Jesus, you guys,” I groaned. “You’re spoiling her.”
Everyone looked at me and laughed.
“Whatever you say, Daddy,” Jenner mocked, rolling his eyes. He dropped the bags and held out his hands. “Give me my girl.”
He took Everly from Kendall and danced around the living room with her while Jo went back outside to get the rest of the gifts.
“She loves them so much,” Sydney said to me as we watched Everly in Jenner’s arms, beaming from all the attention.
“She lives for them,” I agreed, my gaze turning to Sydney. “And she lives for you.” I ground my teeth together. “Fuck, I want to kiss you right now.”
My brothers knew.
My parents knew.
Hannah, of course, knew.
We weren’t a secret.
But today was all about Everly, and until we talked to my daughter about what was going on, I wasn’t going to kiss Sydney in front of her, filling Eve with questions.
“You have no idea how badly I want that,” Sydney whispered back.
“Look who I found,” Jo said.
Her announcement caused my focus to break away from Sydney, and I glanced toward the entrance of the living room, where my parents were walking in.
More gifts weren’t just overflowing from Jo’s hands, but my parents’ too.
“Mimi! Papa!”
“Look at my beautiful birthday girl,” my mother said, crouching onto her knees so she could hug Everly.
My family was going to keep my daughter occupied for the next several minutes. That meant, for the short time being, I could do what I wanted.
I could do what had been on my goddamn mind since Sydney and Everly had walked downstairs after Eve finished getting ready.
I put my hand on Sydney’s back and growled, “Come with me.”
The kitchen wasn’t safe.
Neither was the powder room or my bedroom or any of the rooms near the living room.