Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Angela tried to take her. She’s been gone for years, but she showed up today and wanted to take her.
Why?
Why now?
I knew that I saw her at that concert. When Bridger and I were dancing, and I was people-watching, I knew it was her that I saw, but then she was gone, and I thought I was seeing things.
This is my fault. I should have said something to Bridger, right then and there. At least then he would have known she was in town, and we all could have been on alert.
“Jesus, why didn’t I say something?”
I hear the door close softly, and then Bridger’s kneeling in front of me, pulling my hands away from my face and placing them on his chest before he cups my cheek.
“Say what to who, baby?”
“It’s my fault.” I’m shaking my head.
“Dani. Look at me.”
My eyes find his, and he’s not angry with me at all.
“Say what to who?” he asks again.
“When we were at the concert.” I lick my lips, and I want to close my eyes again, but he’s holding me firmly in place, keeping his gaze on mine. “I thought I saw her there. It was a split second, and I would have sworn I saw her in the crowd, but then she was gone, and I thought I was seeing things, and then we were dancing and kissing, and I didn’t give it another thought, but I should have said something, because—”
“Breathe.” He tips his forehead to my own and drags his hands up and down my arms. “Baby, there were more than ten thousand people at that event. It’s likely she was there, but you didn’t do anything wrong.”
My eyes fill at that because it feels like I did do something wrong.
“You didn’t. This is a free country, and Angela can come in and out of town as she pleases. And she does. This isn’t the first time she’s been around, but it is the first time that she’s tried to see my daughter, and that pisses me off. It makes me irate that she scared Birdie and you. That you had to deal with her at all. She has no right to Birdie, at any time, and my attorney is filing a restraining order with the court right now, before they leave for the day. He assures me that after what she pulled at the school, it won’t be denied.”
“Good.” My shoulders sag a little. “That’s good. I’m sorry. Wait, where’s Birdie?”
“My parents are here.” He winces. “It’s bad timing, but they just got to town and they wanted to see her, so they’re hanging out with her right now while I check on you.”
“You should go hang out with your family, Bridge. I’m okay. Actually, maybe I’ll go to my place for a while and unwind a bit. I could use some alone time.”
“No.”
His voice is hard, and now he looks mad.
“What? Why not?”
“Because you’re not alone, and you’ll never be alone again. If you need to fall apart, you’ll do it with me, and then we’ll put the pieces back together as a team. If you’re pissed or sad or hurt, you’ll tell me and let me help you. I don’t want you running away from me, kitten. I’m the one you always ran to before, and that’s how it’s going to be now.”
Without another thought, I move into him, wrap my arms around his neck, and hug him so tightly that there isn’t a millimeter of space between us.
“My mom asked to take Birdie out for dinner,” he murmurs in my ear. “And I’m going to let her so you and I can talk.”
“Bridge, I—”
“Let me do this. We both need it.”
With a deep sigh, I nod, and he pulls back, wiping the tears off my cheeks I didn’t even realize had fallen.
“You get dressed, and come out whenever you want.”
“Okay.” My voice is a whisper, and he kisses the top of my head so tenderly, it makes me swoon.
Once the door is closed behind him, I wiggle into the leggings and then pull his T-shirt over my head and tie it in a knot at my waist, then I walk out to the living room in time to see his parents pulling out of the driveway, and I join Bridger at the door, waving at them.
“Were they mad?” I ask as I wrap an arm around his waist.
“No, they completely understood, and they’re thrilled to have Birdie all to themselves.” He lifts me in his arms, sits in the corner of the couch, and cuddles me to him. “Now, about what Angela said to you.”
My head comes up. “Wait, you heard that?”
“Most of it.”
“Look, it’s nothing that she hasn’t said to me before when we were kids.”
“For fuck’s sake.”
“Well, that’s not true. The last part about me begging you was new, but the rest—”