‘I will. I have wine and I’m leaving Dan in charge!’
They all laughed, save for Lily, who tugged on her daddy’s hand. ‘I wish I could sleep over.’
Samantha scooted down to give her a squeeze. ‘With three stinky boys, you really don’t, but you never know, maybe we can sort something for another time. I’d be glad of the female company.’ She looked up at Jack with a smile. ‘She’s always welcome.’
‘Yes, well...’ He cleared his throat and placed his hand on Lily’s shoulder. ‘I think you’re right, tonight’s not the night for it.’
‘But some other time, Daddy?’
‘We’ll see.’
‘That means no.’
Sophia took pity on him and said, ‘I might have an alternative idea.’
Lily looked at her, all hopeful.
‘If your daddy agrees, you could sleep at mine?’
Lily beamed, her hopeful gaze now set on her father.
There was a crash from inside the flat and Samantha winced. ‘Right, on that note, I’m leaving you guys to it. I just hope that noise has nothing to do with Dan’s latest construction model!’
She dashed inside and closed the door, leaving Sophia and Lily looking up at a shell-shocked Jack. ‘Well... I...what, tonight?’
‘Sure.’ She shrugged. ‘I have no plans, the guest room is made up, and we can watch the latest Disney film and eat ice cream, just like any good sleepover. Maybe I could even paint your nails?’
Lily let out an excited squeal and started bobbing up and down. ‘Please, Daddy, please, pretty please, pretty, pretty please.’
Sophia was pushing him. Deep down she knew it. She was toying with his trust boundaries and almost willing him to fail. Because if he failed, it would make it so much easier to keep some distance between them. To let him go in a week’s time and not wonder what if.
‘Daddy...’ Lily tugged on his hand some more. ‘Please, I’ve never had a sleepover.’
‘I’m just not sure how it would work.’
‘It’s really simple.’ Sophia smiled up at him. ‘Lily and I get the quilt off the bed, plonk ourselves in front of the TV and eat copious amounts of ice cream, pausing only to paint our nails.’
‘And me?’
Her smile became a confused frown. ‘You?’
‘Where would I fit into this sleepover?’
‘You’d like a manicure too?’ Her voice was elevated, her panic obvious.
‘Oh, yes, that would be fun!’ Lily blurted, nothing amiss in her world. ‘I could paint yours, Daddy, you could do Sphea’s, and Sphea could do mine.’
Sophia spluttered, unable to keep the weird choking sound in. This was not what she had in mind. But it clearly worked for Jack, whose face had lit up dramatically.
‘Something wrong, Sophia?’
‘No,’ she hurried out.
‘So, can we, Daddy?’
‘If Sophia is happy, then I’m all for it.’
‘But...but I only have the one spare room. You’d have to share or take the sofa.’