Sweet Submission: Jenny and Max Complete Series Plus Bonus Short Story Read Online Free PDF

And Lily would be thrilled. She asked about her daddy all the time, though I could tell she was starting to figure out that this was more than a trip.
    That night, while I lay in bed, listening to Lily’s steady breathing as she slept, I read a long text message from Todd.
    Jenny, I haven’t always been the husband that you deserve. Now that you and Lily are gone, I realize just how much I took you for granted. Instead of yelling at you for burning dinner, I should’ve laughed it off and taken you and Lily out for pizza. Instead of insulting your weight after you had Lily, I should’ve encouraged you to make healthier choices. I should’ve kissed you more, hugged you more, made love to you more. Jenny, I didn’t know what I had until it was gone. Please, give me another chance.
    When I finished reading, I was in tears. Though there was no mention of his infidelities, Todd had admitted to more than ever before. I thought about the charming man I’d met in college, and how easily I’d fallen in love with him. It wasn’t until after we were married that he started to change. If he’d changed once, maybe he could change again.
    I clutched my phone to my chest, and watched Lily sleep. Instead of staying here with an emotionally damaged man, or finding a cheap apartment in a terrible school district, we could go back home to Lily’s father.
    *
    The next morning, I stood by the stove cooking eggs for Lily’s breakfast, when Max came in and grabbed something from the refrigerator. I felt a small thrill of victory when I saw it was a bottle of water and not a protein shake. Lily was in the living room watching TV, so I kept my voice low.
    “We found somewhere to go,” I said. “We’ll be gone by the end of the week.”
    The water bottle crackled in Max’s grip. “You found a place in a good neighborhood?”
    “Yes,” I said. That wasn’t a lie. Our house was in a wonderful neighborhood, with lots of parks and kids Lily’s age.
    “Good, good,” Max said. He stopped talking, and I waited for him for to leave. Instead, he just kept standing there. I turned to him with a questioning look. “You should know,” he said, stepping forward. “I do care about you and that little girl. If things were different-“
    “I know,” I said, quickly wiping the tears away from my eyes. I couldn’t bear to hear anymore. “No hard feelings, okay? Just remember to take care of yourself.”
    I turned back to the stove, and without a word, Max walked away. He sat next to Lily on the living room floor and watched cartoons with her. For just a moment, I allowed myself to visualize that this was my life, that Lily and I lived with Max, and Max and I were honest about our feelings for each other.
    Why can’t we be together? I shook the thought from my head. My decision had already been made, and I was certain it was what was best for my daughter.
    *
    I didn’t tell Lily that her daddy was coming to take us home until that morning, even though I’d known for a week. I didn’t want to get her excited, and then the plan suddenly change. Todd texted me before I woke up saying that he couldn’t wait to see us. While Lily drank her orange juice, I told her the news. She practically shook with excitement.
    “I was worried I’d never see Daddy again,” she said, cutting into her pancakes.
    “Of course you were going to see Daddy again,” I said.
    Max walked in the front door. He was gone when Lily and I woke up, and I expected not to see him again.
    “Everything packed up?” Max asked me. I nodded. “Let me know if you need any help moving boxes.”
    “Mr. Max, Daddy’s coming today,” Lily said. “I want to show him my monster alien space money. I still have it.” She patted her pockets. “Where is it?”
    “Your daddy, huh?” Max said while looking at me. “Is that true?”
    I nodded, then looked down in my lap. “Would you like some pancakes?”
    Max shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”
    After breakfast, Lily