Chapter 16

Nicola Taylor

“Daddy!” I hear a loud scream, jolting me awake from my deep slumber. Cole and I sit up with a start, our eyes wide as we recognize the source of the scream.

Oh god, no. Why didn’t we lock the door?

There stands Arabella, her eyes as wide as saucers, clutching a stuffed bunny in her hand, wearing her hello kitty night wear. Thank god I was fully clothed, but Cole wasn’t. He slept shirtless against my better judgment.

I told him to put on a t-shirt.

“Oh god. What do I do?” Cole mutters, scrambling out of bed and pulling on a t-shirt. I want the ground to open up and swallow me; I can't deal with this embarrassment.

What if Bella tells her friends that their teacher slept in the same bed as her dad?

Oh no.

“Bella, please don’t scream again. Come in, and we will answer all of your questions,” I say, trying to sound calm as I slowly step out of the bed, fixing my dress and hair as I walk towards her.

Cole closes the door behind Bella as I bring her to the edge of the bed w