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I got up reluctantly and left her all naked and drowsy on the bed, kickingKara I’d pick her up early from her sleepover

On the ride to Will’s, I couldn’t get his little sister out of my head It had been years since I’d had that much fun with someone It was easy—and shit didn’t come easy to me, ever

I’d been single since Mia died It wasn’t like I was opposed to finding someone, exactly, but I’d just never found soh responsibility on odda to bring another person into our life if I thought they’d leave My kid had lost enough already

As I pulled into the driveway at Will’s and shut off my bike, I called one over every reason why I shouldn’t er than they were, I kneithout a shadow of a doubt that I was in too far with her already No excuse, rational or otherwise, was going to stopit further In short, I was fucked

Molly answered when I knocked on the door and waved me inside

“Hey, Mack,” she said sweetly “The girls are just finishing breakfast”

She led the way into the kitchen anda pair of reindeer printed pajama bottoms I couldn’t hold back my snicker

“They’re co at me “Don’t say a word”

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” I replied with a laugh, walking over to Kara so I could give her a kiss on the head

“Hey, Dad,” she said, tilting her head back to look at me upside down “I’m almost done”

“No worries,” I told her with a smile

“Mack, you want some coffee?” Molly asked

What I’d really like was a shot of whiskey, but I nodded as I walked toward the adults “That’d be great, thanks”

“Thanks for letting Kara sleep over,” Molly said as she handed ht”

“She behave?” I asked

“They were perfect angels,” Molly replied,Will choke on his coffee

“If by perfect angels, youwith shitty karaoke, then yeah Fit ’es and halos”

I smiled as Molly rolled her eyes at Will

“They had fun,” Molly said firmly “And Kara’s always a sweetheart”

“Good,” I replied My girl was a good kid, but I’d had groups of pre-teen girls at my house before, and I’d seen the way mob mentality made them rabid They were loud and obnoxious and sometimes mean as hell I should’ve known it wouldn’t be that ith Kara, Charlie and Rebel, though Putting three sweet, easygoing girls together didn’t usually have the same affect