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He frowned "It’s not like she does it all the time, and besides, it’s not boys, it’s just Jaain, but surely there can be a little lenience this ti it’s her birthday," he countered

"Oh we’ll see how lenient you want to be when he knocks her up and ruins her life!" Ruth snapped, sla her hand on the table in frustration

Michael’s eyes tightened at her words and he looked up at htly scared of him Not that he would be able to hurt me physically, but he certainly had the power to co happened, I pro ue, see to think about it before he relaxed He definitely wanted to believe that his daughter was still his little baby Denial was a powerful thing He sighed and frowned "Just don’t let it happen again, alright? This was a one-ti but I’m pretty annoyed that it happened" He looked at Ellie "Pumpkin, you know I like Jamie, but just… You need to respect that this is mine and your mother’s house and therefore our rules"

Ellie s her eyelashes to perfection and I practically saw him turn into putty in her hands "Okay, Daddy Sorry, it won’t happen again," she proreeain that’s for sure

He rolled his eyes and stepped back, seelare that was aimed in his direction frorinned "Who’s up for pancakes?" he chirped

Ellie squealed and clapped her hands excitedly "Heck yeah!"

Breakfast was beyond aard Her ry the whole time, she barely spoke apart from to throw some bitchy comment in my direction or answer a direct question when Michael tried to include her in the conversation I honestly had no idea what a great guy like Michael could see in her - she was nothing like the rest of theer; if she was still the saemental witch that she was now, or if ti about her that attracted Michael to her in the first place

After breakfast and watching Ellie open her presents froifts from me, also the day that I’d planned for us today needed to start too We had a pretty packed day to get through

When I picked her up an hour later, she skipped to ine - she seeet out of the house,over, I hoped that wasn’t the case She threw her overnight bag into the back and grinned atatthe day with ht with Stacey That was her usual lie when she stayed at ?" I asked My eyes wandered over her body appreciatively She earing skinny jeans that showed off her long legs, and a pretty little h cleage to make my heart speed up She was obviously dressed to iht I told you to wear older clothes and that you ht of her It had been days since I’d had ht for sure

She looked down at herself and frowned "This is kinda old What’s wrong with it?"

"Ellie, that’s like a designer shirt, itmy head

A smiled pulled at the corners of her ner; it didn’t cost rinned and leant in closer to her, her perfu with e her instead of getting on with our plans "It’s beautiful, just like you" She giggled and kissed me quickly, she didn’t have to say the word ‘corny’ for ainst her lips and pulled back "I have your present but I’d rather give it to you later if that’s okay?" I asked

She grinned, buckling up her seatbelt "Sure," she chirped "So where we going?"

"Surprise" I drove to the destination with her singing along to the radio happily, and ignoring her questions about where ere going and e nearly there - she was like a little kid

When I pulled up into the parking lot of the zoo she looked atto the zoo?" she asked, her eyes lighting up

I sonna be a zoo keeper for the afternoon," I replied

Her mouth dropped open in shock as her breath see by the look on her face "Seriously?"

I nodded "Yep You wanna?" Ellie loved animals; in one of her sleep-rambles she’d said that she had alanted to be a zoo keeper I was just praying that was one of the more serious unconscious conversations we’d had, as opposed to when she told me that she wanted to be the first woman to walk on the moon

Her eyes widened "Hell yeah! Really? Oh my God, thank you!" she practically screamed The loudness of her voice echoed in the cab offoron the spot excitedly "Corabbed the paperwork for her visit before cli my arm around her shoulder