‘We stayed up late and watched a movie and ate ice cream,’ she whispers.
I can’t help but grin. ‘Did you?’ I say just as Willow walks in, her eyes still bleary from sleep.
‘Dad?’ she says, her smile widening as she runs over and wraps her arms around my waist. ‘Kenzie said you weren’t coming home until next week?’
‘I finished early,’ I say. ‘And I missed you guys.’
‘I missed you too,’ says Harper, and just as I’m about to say something else I hear the fast-moving patter of adult feet crashing down the stairs.
‘I’m so sorry I’m late, Mr Ledger,’ says Mackenzie as she bursts into the room, wearing a stunning deep red floral dress that floats around her bare knees like a bellflower, and a messy high ponytail with a blush even deeper than her attire. ‘My alarm didn’t wake me. I don’t know what happened. I’m really sorry. It will never happen again.’
My chest thumps with guilt, and for a moment I can’t say anything at all, time itself slowing down as she rushes past, and then her eyes catch mine and she brandishes that smile and a mischievous look in her eyes that makes my heart beat faster than a drum solo.
‘You’re late?’ I repeat.
‘You want some breakfast?’ she says ignoring my question whilst leaning across me to collect my half-finished beer bottle sporting a knowing grin as her mouth motors. ‘Maybe a coffee? Yes, we’re late. I don’t think Willow is going to make it to practice.’
‘I’ll take a coffee,’ I say as Thea appears, her head already buried in a book, but to my surprise, she looks up and briefly smiles.
‘Dad,’ she nods before parking herself at the far end of the dining room table.
‘Miss Miller?’ I say, frowning before glancing toward Mackenzie, who looks at me with wide eyes. ‘I made my rules clear.’
‘I know, I know, and I’m so sorry. Girls? Why aren’t you dressed?’ she says as if she’s only just noticed Willow, whilst Thea just looks on puzzled before nosing back into her book.
‘Is it school today?’ says Willow, defeat in her voice already.
‘Yes, and we’re late,’ hisses Mackenzie. My middle daughter’s shoulders slump and she trudges out of the room again and begins walking back up the stairs.
I look up at the clock and frown. ‘Miss Miller?’ I say.
‘I know, I’m sorry, I don’t… I don’t have an excuse,’ but there’s something about her voice that says she isn’t entirely sorry, and that lilt is making my chest buzz.
The frying pan sizzles loudly as I finally come to my senses but a moment later the smell of fresh bacon and eggs drifts over me and I damn near grin like some shit-eating rookie firing a howitzer.
Did I imagine last night?
Was it a dream? Did I just walk in, lay my head down on the breakfast bar and fall asleep?
No.
It happened. I’m sure of it. And the way Mackenzie is acting, makes it seem like she…
‘You want some bacon too?’ she says, everything about her is a million miles an hour right now. ‘You must have had a long drive?’
‘Sure,’ I grin, my eyes drifting down to her ass, the one I spanked last night. She sees me looking and smiles and my chest thumps.
Beside me Harpy is munching away happily, looking back and forth between us with a beaming smile, and then Mackenzie sees Thea still sat on the couch and she claps her hands and rushes toward her.
‘Hustle lady, we gotta move in ten,’ she snips pointing at the door.
‘Mackenzie,’ she says, tilting her head without taking her eyes off the page. ‘It’s Saturday.’
I grin and watch as the penny drops. I’d already seen the date on the clock.
Mackenzie just stares and then blinks, nodding slowly as the realisation hits her.
I start to laugh, pushing a slice of still sizzling bacon into my mouth and chasing it down with a gulp of coffee. Harpy begins to giggle too, and after a few seconds, Mackenzie cracks a grin and places her head in her palms.