Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Abi followed on Mae’s heels, voluntarily coming to stand by his side. Her quiet stare, focusing on him, spoke volumes as she wrapped an arm around his waist and pressed herself against his side. “Are you hurt?” she asked.
He was standing, wasn’t he?
He tried to understand the question until he felt her palm at his back, gently touching the ripped T-shirt.
“Only a bit of road rash. I’m fine.”
“We weren’t supposed to listen,” Mae said, drawing Dev’s attention to her. She had tears in her eyes and voice as she placed her head on his shoulder.
“But you did?” Dev asked.
The girls calmed him in the same way Cash did.
Everything that truly mattered in the world was right here by his side, inside this hospital room. He shared a look with Cash whose face softened. The ugly emotions fell away as he took two steps backward, drawing the girls with him to take the only seat in the room. “Tell me what you heard.”
“That Fox isn’t alive anymore,” Mae answered. She lifted her head. Big tears spilled down her cheeks. “Abi said that unalive didn’t mean dead, but I think she’s wrong.”
“And you were there when it happened,” Abi added, her big eyes, his eyes to be exact, pinned on him. “They tried to hurt you too.”
“They weren’t after me, and I’m good,” Dev explained, instantly reassuring both of them. “Not hurt at all except that big oaf over there tackled me, because he was worried about my safety too. He ran across the parkin’ lot. I was standin’ there, mindin’ my own business and that wall of a man came out of nowhere and landed right on top of me. It hurt me real bad.” The humor might have been lost on the girls, but all three sets of eyes landed on Cash who gave a small smile and nodded.
“That’s true. I did,” Cash agreed, coming to stand in front of them. He reached out and ran a hand over Abi’s shoulder then patted Mae’s back. “I like your dad. I wanna keep him around.”
Abi smiled and went to Cash’s side, giving him the same side hug she had given Dev. He hoped it was out of appreciation for saving his life, not the abuse from the tackle.
“You need football pads if Cash plans to tackle you,” Abi said, a grin growing. Man, he loved that smile.
She also gave the levity he needed to pull a chuckle free. “And maybe some clue he’s coming at me so I can brace myself. I was standing there one moment then laying on my back the next. He could have hurt me bad.”
In another place and time, he’d think how badly he’d wanted a tender moment like this as a family. All four of them together in a better situation.
“Can you ask Abi about the teacher who called you?” Cash asked Dev in that same gentle tone he used with his girls as Abi’s hand slid into Cash’s, pressing her fingers around his, wanting to be held.
Then her brows set, her gaze dropped to the floor. Another fierce trait she got from his side of the family. “She told you about me and you.” Clearly a secret she hadn’t wanted out.
The quiet thing she did so well made it hard to guess what she was thinking. Didn’t matter. The call was real, and the girls were good, at least for the time being. Dev looked up at Cash as he drew Abi to his side again, wrapping an arm around her. “It’s legit.”
The door pushed open, this time his mother burst inside. She came straight for him. “You’re all right. Thank God.”
He amended his previous thought. Now he had everything he loved inside this room.
She circled him in her arms, squeezing both the girls into the tight hug.
“Momo, I can’t breathe,” Mae complained when she didn’t let go quickly enough. Dev got all his mother’s hair, hairspray, and perfume in his face. She reared back, grasping Dev’s cheeks between her palms, staring intently at him. Tears swam in her eyes before taking him in her arms again.
“Where’s Shanna?” Cash asked.
Shit, he forgot about his sister. She should be in the room too to make the moment perfect.
“She was stopped in the hall,” his mom said and took a deep calming breath. She ran her hands down her thighs, swallowing another long breath.
“Can I have a private word with Devin?” she said to Cash.
“Sure. Have y’all had any snacks?” Cash asked the girls in probably the friendliest voice Dev had ever heard. “Why don’t we go find some? I bet there’s some vending machines around here. We can give your dad and Momo time to talk then be right back.”
Mae’s head popped up in excitement. “I like Skittles. They’re my favorite food.” She lifted her arms and leaned toward Cash.