Page 15 of Before This Ends (Before)

Since the moment I met her, I’ve been infatuated. It’s hard not to be. She’s beautiful, sweet, and sexy as fuck with her long, dark hair and eyes that seem wise beyond her years. She is also absolutely off-limits.

I don’t fuck women who could complicate my life. And going there with her would be complicated. First, she’s Miranda’s best friend, so her connection is too close for comfort. Second, she knows my daughter, and I don’t bring any woman I’m with around Winter. And third, she just got out of a long-term relationship. Again, complicated.

“Hey, Emma.”

“Miranda just called and told me about what happened with Karen. I’m so sorry. I hope her son-in-law is okay.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Umm, I have a couple of clients scheduled today, but I can move them around and be over there in the next hour, if that works for you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it’s not a big deal. The two ladies I have scheduled are friends, so they’ll be cool with me rescheduling them for next week.”

“You’re a fucking lifesaver.”

“I’m just glad I can help.” She goes quiet, then adds, “I’ll call you when I reach your building so you can let me in.”

“Thanks, Emma.”

“Any time. See you in a bit.” She hangs up, and a second later, my phone rings.

It’s her number again.

“Emma?”

“Hey, sorry, I wanted to see if you’d be okay with me taking Winter to the zoo today.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I love the zoo and hardly get to go, because I don’t want to look like a weirdo walking around all alone.”

“Winter would love that,” I mutter with a smile.

“Okay, cool. See you soon. I’ll text when I’m a few minutes away.”

“See you when you get here.” I hang up, then look toward Winter’s bedroom when I hear her door open and watch her stumble out of her room, rubbing her eyes. Tucking my cell away in my pocket, I walk to where she’s standing half-asleep and pick her up.

“Morning,” she whispers, her head falling to my shoulder, her arms going around my neck.

“Morning.” I kiss the top of her head, carry her to the couch, and take a seat.

She settles against me with her face against my chest and her eyes closed. When she’s like this, she still looks like she did when she was a baby, but every day, it becomes more and more clear she’s not one anymore. Sleepy morning cuddles don’t happen as often as they used to, and I know we’re getting closer and closer to the time she’ll tell me that she wants to go live with her mom. That reality always causes my chest to cave in, so I try to soak up these moments with her when they are given to me.

“Did you sleep okay?” I ask, smoothing her hair back from her face as I look down at her.

“Yeah.” She opens her eyes and reaches her hand up to my jaw, rubbing the scruff on my cheek. “Do you have to work today?”

“Unfortunately,” I say softly, and her bottom lip pops out, making me smile while my chest aches. “But guess who’s coming to hang out with you?”

“Miss Karen?”

“Nope.”

“Uncle Clay?”

“Nope.” I smile when she frowns.

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