Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“I need to go get Ly. I’m sure she’s worried.”
“Right,” Dad mumbles, kissing my forehead before letting me go. And then his arms go tight around Shel, who I hear let out a quiet sob.
When an arm goes around my waist, I look up at Denver and give him a watery smile, but he doesn’t smile back. He touches his mouth to mine then leads me out of the house, leaving Dad and Shel behind.
“So fucking proud of you, baby.” He stops me just outside my dad’s front door with his hands on my hips and his face close to mine. “So fucking proud.”
“Thank you.”
“You feel better?”
My eyes slide close. I do. I didn’t know I needed that until it happened and was done. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I know that part of me being able to do what I just did had to do with having Denver and my parents at my back.
“Baby?”
“I feel relieved it’s done and I don’t have to worry or think about her anymore. I will probably be sad from time to time when I look at Ly and think about what she’s missing out on, but Shel was right. Those are her regrets, not mine, and if she can live with that, then oh well. Her loss.”
“I’m here, whenever you need to talk through that.”
“I know.” I lift up on my tiptoes as he drags me up his body.
“Let’s get our girl.”
I smile as he places his lips against mine, and then we go pick up our girl, who is not traumatized by what happened and is just happy to have Denver and me together.
Chapter 12
_______________
Denver
“BEDTIME, LY,” BRE SAYS, SHUTTING off the TV and uncurling herself from my side on the couch, where I placed her after we all ate dinner before we started watching one of Lyra’s movies.
Ly, who’s lying against the other side of my chest, lifts her head to look at her mom. “But mom…?”
“No buts, baby. You know your bedtime, and you have to get up to go to Grandma Joe’s in the morning.”
“Five more minutes?” Ly tries, and I fight back a smile.
“No. Now come on.” Bre stands, and Ly lets out a huff, giving me a hug before hoping off the couch to take her mom’s hand. “I’ll be back.”
“Sure, baby.” I lift my chin and watch both girls disappear.
I go to the kitchen and clean up the dishes from dinner, wrap up the pasta bake, and place it in the fridge before I grab a beer. I lean back against the counter and take a drink while I listen to the girls upstairs, and I smile when I hear them laugh. I’ve been in this house more times than I can count, had dinner here with Bre and Ly hundreds of times since Ly was born, helped Bre clean up dishes or put Ly to bed. But in all those times, I never felt what I’m feeling right now. Happy, complete, full.
“Denver!” I hear shouted by both girls, and I move to the bottom of the stairs and find them looking down at me.
“What’s up?”
“Time to tuck me in and read a story,” Lyra says in a duh-tone, and I laugh.
“I’m coming.” I drop off my beer in the kitchen then head up the stairs. I find both girls in Lyra’s room when I hit the top floor, Lyra in bed and Bre sitting on the edge with a book in her hand. I move to the bed, kiss the top of Lyra’s head, and tuck the blankets around her.
“I love you. I’m glad you’re home.” She hugs me, and I hold her closer, tighter. Home. Christ, she and her mom have been my home forever, but now I get to be that to them too.
“Love you, gorgeous. Have sweet dreams.” I kiss her forehead once more then let her go and stand by the door. I lean against the wall and listen to Bre read, and halfway through the book, I notice Lyra’s eyes haven fallen shut and her breathing has evened out. “She’s out, baby.”
Bre looks at me then Ly and sets the book aside. She kisses her cheek then shuts off her lamp, and when she makes it across the room to me, she takes my hand as I let her lead me back downstairs. I know I’m staying the night. I’m just not sure how Bre will feel about it. My guess—she will tell me that we should wait so Lyra isn’t confused if she wakes up to find me in her mom’s bed.
“Do you want the bathroom first, or want me to go first?” she asks, and I look around, realizing we’re in her bedroom and she’s digging through her dresser for something to wear to bed.