Page 217 of Prickly Romance

“Are you okay, Dejonae?” Kenya touches my arm.

“I’m fine.” My voice cracks. “I’ll deliver these to Niko and then head back outside.”

Kenya nods, her concerned eyes watching me long after I walk away.

Niko sees me approaching and a giant grin spreads over her face. She leaves her friends and flies toward me. I have to lean back before I get slapped in the face with her tablet as she throws her arms around me for a hug.

“Hi, baby.” I rub her back and sink my head into her neck. My heart rearranges in my chest.

I’m not her mother.

I know that.

But I would honestly die for this little girl.

And I am.

Because being separated from Sazuki feels like I’m dying slowly.

Still, if it means that she has her biological mother in her life and she gets to see her father and mother connecting again then… maybe…

I fight the tears because I really can’t finish the thought.

“Is this the tablet you use to talk to your friends?” I ease her hand back and divert her attention to the device before she senses how torn up I am inside.

Niko nods and shows me the tablet.

There’s a half-written sentence on it, which tells me I interrupted her in the middle of a conversation. I notice a side tab with pre-written responses too. It must make things easier for her when she’s talking with her friends.

Smoothly, she clips the tablet under her arm and uses her hands to sign with me. “I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be,” I sign. “You’re going to do great.”

Beth approaches us. She waves at me, remembering me from the last time I visited the farmhouse. Her hazel eyes brim with intelligence and she moves gracefully.

“Hi, Miss Dejonae.”

“Hey, Beth.”

Beth taps Niko’s shoulder to get her attention. “Pictures,” she gestures. With her mouth, she explains, “Belle’s mom wants to take pictures.”

From the slight frown, I can tell that Beth isn’t into all that fuss.

Bailey runs up to her. “Come on, guys. It’s almost time for Belle’s dance.”

Niko wanders off with her flowers and her friends. I watch her get absorbed into the fray, perfectly content. Perfectly safe.

Shebelongs.

It hurts even as it heals.

Niko might have needed me before she met them, but she’s surrounded by so much love and care now.

Maybe I don’t need to be in her life anymore.

Maybe it’ll be okay if I just disappear.

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