Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Hugh appears beside her with a tumbler in hand. “Is that what you tell yourself each time you leave a board meeting early?”
Even though Evelyn smiles sweetly, her eyes harden. “Actually, that would be because I find the company boorish.”
His brows rise. “I assume you’re talking about the board members. Don’t worry, I feel the same.”
Her smile falls away as Hugh’s grin widens.
Kia’s gaze shifts between them before Elody tugs at her.
“Come on! Let’s look at the desserts again. There are so many!”
“Okay,” Kia says, allowing herself to be pulled away.
After a few steps, she glances over her shoulder and meets my gaze. I hate to admit how that single look hits like a lightning strike. It’s sharp, unexpected, and impossible to ignore.
I lift my glass and take a sip, giving myself a second to remember all the reasons I shouldn’t be standing here watching her walk away.
She just admitted she dropped out of college and is still trying to figure out what her next move looks like. She’s my teammate’s sister, which makes her off-limits, no matter how you slice it. And, as if that weren’t enough, my ex-in-laws are still trying to wrestle custody of my daughter away from me. The last thing I need is anything that looks remotely questionable or unstable in my personal life.
Every reason stacks up neatly in my head, logical and airtight. But none are enough to make me look away as she crosses the room with Elody tucked at her side, my daughter chattering happily.
I’ve told myself a lot of lies over the years to get through tough times. Which is exactly why I recognize what I’m doing.
Fuck.
5
Kia
By the time dessert has been cleared and people begin gathering up their coats, containers, and kids who are overtired and cranky, my head is buzzing from too much noise, laughter, and holiday cheer packed into one space.
I expected to feel like an outsider tonight, hovering on the edges of Oliver’s life, smiling politely while everyone else moved comfortably around one another. Instead, I was dragged straight into the thick of it. Elody hasn’t left my side since I stepped foot in Hugh’s penthouse. She’s fearless and affectionate, sticky-fingered from dessert, and completely hyped up on sugar.
“Okay, bug,” Laiken says, helping her into her coat. “It’s time to say goodbye.”
“No!” Elody protests, launching herself at me like a tiny missile.
With a laugh, I stumble back a step as she wraps her arms around my waist with a surprising amount of strength. Her fluffy polar bear hat presses against my stomach, and I can’t help but marvel at the instant attachment that’s formed between us.
“I had fun too,” I murmur, hugging her back.
She pulls away just enough to look up at me, her face serious in that way kids get when something really matters to them. “You have to come over tomorrow,” she pleads. “Please. We hardly got to play.”
Across from us, Laiken drags a hand through his hair, exhaling like a man bracing for a fight. “Elody—”
Instead of looking at him, her attention stays fastened to me. “You’ll really come?”
I crouch until we’re eye level. “I promised that I would,” I tell her. “But you need to be good, okay? It’s late. Soon it’ll be bedtime.”
Her gaze flicks to her father. “It’s really okay, Daddy?”
Laiken looks at me.
Really looks at me.
It isn’t invasive or flirtatious. More like he’s assessing me carefully. Measuring the cost before he agrees for a second time.
“Yeah,” he says after a long pause. “Like I said earlier. Just for an hour or so.”
That’s when I realize Laiken isn’t trying to push me away, he’s attempting to protect his daughter from disappointment.
With a squeal, Elody throws her arms in the air. “Yay!”
It’s only then that I second-guess myself. Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed so easily. Maybe spending more time with Elody isn’t in her best interest. It’s not like I belong in their world.
But the truth is, I want to see her again.
And I want—
I shut that thought down before it can finish forming.
Laiken shifts, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Let me know what time works.”
“I’ll get your number from Oliver and text you.”
Before the moment can stretch any further, my brother’s voice cuts through it. “Okay, we’re heading out!”
Elody hugs me one final time, her fingers curling into my sleeve, as if needing the reassurance. “We’ll play tomorrow?”
“We definitely will,” I murmur. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She beams before returning to Laiken, slipping her hand into his without hesitation. He lifts her easily into his arms and presses a kiss to the top of her hat. The sight melts everything inside me.
Here’s a dad who cares and shows up day after day. It makes me wish I’d found someone like that. Someone who wouldn’t have freaked out when I told him I was pregnant.