Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
She hurried out to take him from Callie, holding him against her and crooning as she swayed him from side to side. “How was he?” Her eyes were wide and apologetic.
“He was great,” I assured her. “We’ll leave this with you”—I placed the car seat at her feet—“and go.”
“We have to say hi to Walker.” Callie threw me a confused look before darting past Monroe with uncharacteristic rudeness.
“Callie!”
But it was too late.
She was already in.
Roe whispered, “He just stopped by. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
It was not fine.
She knew that, too, and patted my arm before I followed her into the house to retrieve my daughter.
We found her standing with Walker at the kitchen island, leaning into him as if she belonged at his side. “Mom, look who I found!”
I know she expected me to smile, cross the room, and press a kiss to Walker’s lips like she’d seen me do a hundred times in the last few weeks. Guilt crushed me as I refused to meet his gaze. The sight of him with Callie was already too hard to bear.
“Hi,” he greeted me, voice gruff.
“Hey.” My attention moved to Brodan who leaned against the island, observing all. “We’re just bringing Nox back.”
“So I can see.” He pushed off the island with a handsome grin and took his son in his arms. Nox smiled big and gummy for his dad. “I like the nickname, by the way.” Brodan shot me an approving smile.
My return grin felt strained. “Glad to be of service.”
“And thank you for today.”
“I hope you guys had a good time.” I looked between Monroe and Brodan.
My friends shared a tender look of love, and Roe turned to me. “It was quiet, but lovely. Thank you.”
“No problem.” I turned to Callie, still not raising my eyes to Walker’s face. “But we need to hit the road, baby girl.”
Callie scowled at me. “I want to stay for a bit.”
“Callie—”
“It’s fine,” Roe assured.
“Want to say hello to Uncle Walk, wee man?” Brodan asked quietly, as he bridged the distance between them.
Walker didn’t miss a beat, taking Nox in his arms and settling him against his chest like he’d done it a million times. I let my eyes finally rest on his handsome face as he stared down at the little boy with affection. “You being cool, wee man?” he asked with hilarious seriousness. “You cool for Uncle Walk?”
Nox flashed his gums again.
What was it about kids and this man? They loved him.
My heart clenched in my chest because Callie was right. He was caring, protective, invested … He’d make a damn fine father.
That hurt too.
Lowering my gaze to Callie, my tone brokered no argument. “Callie, let’s go.”
Her expression was uncharacteristically mulish as she asked Walker, “Are you coming with us?”
A frown furrowed Walker’s eyebrows, and then I was subjected to his scowling confusion. Realization lightened his eyes. He knew now I hadn’t told Callie the truth about us yet.
“Walker’s working later, so no,” I lied. “Let’s go. Now.”
Finally registering my tone, Callie said a painfully sad goodbye to Walker and Nox, then Roe and Brodan, and followed me out of the house like I was leading her to prison.
I didn’t look back at Walker, though I felt his eyes on me until we disappeared down the hall. Monroe hugged me and murmured another apology in my ear, but I shook it off. It wasn’t her fault.
Walker was a part of my friend group.
We were going to have to get used to being around each other.
Or I was going to have to get a new friend group.
That thought cut deep, too, so I threw it away.
We were barely in the car thirty seconds when Callie asked belligerently, “Why were you rude to Walker?”
“I wasn’t rude.”
“You were too. Is there something going on?”
“Nothing is going on,” I lied. Another wrong to add to my list.
My girl grew quiet. And sullen. Because she wasn’t stupid, and she knew I was lying. Guilt crushed me for not protecting her from this. From the inevitability of me and Walker’s demise. She was the last person I ever wanted to hurt or disappoint. Tomorrow, when I felt stronger for her, I would tell her the truth.
Thirty-Seven
WALKER
The street fair with all the fucking fairy lights, the faux snow-dusted, red-and-green stall coverings, the winter-bundled customers, and the smell of crisp, smoky air, mulled wine, and hot doughnuts should have put me in a good mood. I was not above being moved by how fucking quaint and idyllic my new home was at Christmas.
But right now, it was a vehicle of torture.
An excuse to watch Sloane like a prick of a stalker.
Her stall was set up between all the others. An array of baked goods I knew tasted almost as good as the woman who’d baked them. Callie stood at her side, adorable as ever, all bundled up in her hat and scarf.