ls away too soon, her cries muffled down to light sniffles. I watch her as she wi

d she will pull away further. Everything

nages to say through her snif

you at the carnival the other night, I wasn't looking for you then. You ap

away, there is no chance you just happened to move here yourself, and found me at t

in his inheritance, which I obtained when I turned 21, as of last year. I didn't come here for you, though that isn't to

be thinking everything over, her eyes closed, and lips pressed into a thin li

?" she finally asks. A question I was hoping she wouldn't ask, until I had enough

the window, and deciding to tell her the truth, if she wants to hear it. This is my once in a lifeti

" I ask, and gestur

pick-up–" she stops suddenly, but I a

I see

ow if that's

tears at

o confuse or frighten her, she hasn't been around a father figure, she's only ev

r figure in Emily's life, warms my heart and chases aw

es, it will be like I was there almost all her life, if you give me the chance to prov

er lips, feel her body pressed against mine again, and breathe in her sweet scent. I know that would just s

g to find

to watch Emily for an hour af

in the apartment next to mine, she adores Emily and has wa

paper and handing it to her. "Pick Emily up after you're done work, and a

he paper in sh

y is safely at your neighbor's house, and I'll be waiting outside." Before she has the chance to say anything else, I lean

le as it is

t look back. I know if I do,

*

el my phone vibrate in my pocket, with a text from Ava. I didn't grab her number, fearing she would t

s like she may even own the place, which will make it all the more easier to find

into place, like they seem to have started to do already, since the day I saw her again. I don't want anything to screw this chance up

ed all thos

oing to find out, no matter

sh my phone out and quickly check the screen, my heart bea

Main St. Emily ha

n my

me jacket on the couch. I make sure to lock up the building before I rush to my ca

the door without saying anything, and I don't bother with the stairs, with her place only on the fourth f

es, my mind blanks. She opens the door wider for me to walk in. I take a second when she

ng over Manhattan. I wander around the living room for a moment, while Ava disappears into the kitchen, and returns with two glasses o

s. I can't help but chuckle lightly

ay. I asked for your time tonight, because you asked why I was at the carnival that

re. Why were you at the carnival th

cause I had agreed to meet with someone, on behalf of my mother, and her father, " I say and paus

lly. "My mother came to me a few days ago, and told me that my father's company is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy, and so

usiness deal coming up?"

ars. Yes, she proposed a business deal of sorts, in order to keep her na

thing over. "So, what is

s daughter, and myself. I was there that night at the carnival, because it was what she had requested. I agreed to meet her, in hopes i

he says

I don't want to see her homeless and she never will be, I have always been there to support her, just not to her lavished extents. I won't

looks away. I want t

your mother t

's company, where he plans to take it and what he will make of my family's name. I want to make sur

g to make my life a living hell, and I don't want to involve Emily in your mother's drama, like I was forced to three years ago, a

utting off her worried ramblings, and I'm relieved when she doesn't push me away. In

e, savoring every sweet second of this moment. We pull away for air, and

as if waiting for me to say something. I suddenly re

assure you. I can also promise, it's going to stay that

usly, but slowly

le at how adorable and innocent she sounds. I lead her back to

time for you to think about, as well as some time for you to recognize your own feelings towards me, " I pause and pull back to lo

back is going to be a big enough task; being in

y, I can barely process how much my life has really changed over the last couple days." She sto

, and realize it's well

curse myself silently when I hear t

ttle girl likes the mini cupcakes I offer as samples for the kids, " she says, and I can tell she is rambling. A s

nd? Don't you have a d

o close early on weekends, to spend tim

er, can I take you out t

eyes at me. "Are you implying I can'

xtent, how hard it is to get a babysitter on short notice. My assistant does have a child, and I have had to ask her t

rs, " she says and crosses her arms. I love that she is still as stubborn as

?" I whisper, and I feel her shiver slightly, causing my heart to

wha

the night. I don't want you to leave my side, until the sun comes up. So, you're finding a babysitter willing to work all night, and I

ckly press my lips to hers again, cutting off any thought of protest she had. I feel her t

another word, leaving the door wide open as I make a bee-line exit for the stairwell. I don't know exactly where I'

window, a wide grin glued on my face, as I think about the perfecting ending to

into place. For once,

f, comes the nagging feeli

me; what goes up