Roping Melanie by Melissa Ellen
26
Nash
Waking up to Melanie in my arms was the best damn feeling in my life. This woman had no idea what she did to me. How crazy she made me. It had been hell being away from her and Avery, and it would be hell when I left tomorrow once again, but I didn’t have much choice. If I wanted to win the championship this year, I had to go.
I kissed her head before slipping out of the bed to get a pot of coffee started. I dressed, then headed for the kitchen only to stop short in the entryway. Avery was already awake, sitting on the couch in her PJs with her blanket and tablet. She was watching a cartoon as she ate from a box of Cheerios.
Before I could think of what to do, her eyes turned to me. “Morning, Daddy,” she said as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
I roughed a hand through my hair and glanced down the hall. Melanie had said to act normal and not make a big deal out of it. “Morning, ladybug. Whatcha watching?”
“My Little Pony. Want to watch with me?”
“Um, sure. Let me put on the coffee, and then I’ll join you.”
“Okay.” She turned her attention back to her tablet.
I walked into the kitchen to find the coffee. Once I’d searched through half the cupboards and set a pot to brew, I joined Avery on the couch, pulling her into my lap.
“How long have you been up?” I asked her as she worked at getting us both equally covered with her pink and purple starred fleece blanket.
She gave me her little shoulder shrug in response.
I chuckled and kissed the back of her head. I pretended to watch the show, when really all I wanted to do was stare at my little girl and commit every second of this time together to memory.
“Are rodeos fun?” Avery asked, seemingly out of nowhere.
“Uh, yeah. They’re lots of fun to go to. There are all kinds of animals to see, snacks, and games.”
“Are there ponies?”
Ah. Now it made sense. “Yep, there are even ponies. Sometimes they have pony rides.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Will you take me to the rodeo with you?”
“I’d love to take you with me someday.”
Avery gave me one of her big toothy smiles and then turned back to her show. Somewhere along the way, I got roped into the My Little Pony plot and started asking questions about things I’d missed. Avery was more than happy to fill me in, telling me every detail about every character.
She was in the middle of explaining which one was her favorite when Melanie shuffled down the hallway in her pajamas and a robe, her hair in a messy knot on the top of her head.
“Morning, sunshine,” I said, giving her a big grin.
“Morning, Momma!” Avery chimed in and then immediately turned her attention back to the tablet.
Melanie’s sleepy gaze bounced from me to Avery and then back to me. “Morning,” she finally said, walking toward us. She cupped Avery’s head, giving her a kiss on top and then looked over at me. Without hesitation she kissed my lips before standing upright.
“There’s coffee ready if you want,” I said, loving how natural it all felt to be here with them like this.
“Thanks. You didn’t want a cup?” she asked, noticing the lack of one.
“I’ve been a little preoccupied.”
“I see,” she smiled. “I can make you one. How do you like it?”
“Black.”
She nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. A few moments later, she was back, placing a steaming mug of coffee on the table beside me.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Do you like scrambled eggs? I was going to make some breakfast.”
“I’ll eat anything. You need some help?”
She looked over at Avery and shook her head. “No. I’ve got it.”
I nodded and Melanie disappeared through the kitchen doorway once again. She seemed off suddenly, and I wasn’t sure what was going on. After last night, I thought things were good.
I watched the cartoon with Avery a little while longer, before telling her I needed to help her mom with breakfast. She climbed off my lap, and I gave her hair a little ruffle before picking up my coffee and heading to the kitchen.