Page 67 of Broken Halo

Griffin babbles, claps his hands, and starts to wiggle in my sister’s arms so she sets him down and he crawls to us. Trig rubs his face as Griffin pulls up and tries to join the mountain of people. Trig places a big hand right on top of Griffin’s head and greets him with a smile and deep voice, rough from sleep. “Hey there, little guy.”

My heart, it does something—deflates, bursts, splits into a million little pieces… Because it isn’t lost on me that Trig has barely acknowledged Griffin up until now. He wouldn’t even utter his name until I called him on it.

“Well.” Jen clears her throat again and I look up to her as she takes in the scene unfolding in front of her and I know she’s almost as affected by it as I am. “I just changed his diaper. I’m now officially off aunt-duty. I need to dry my hair. If Trig is going to make the meeting, he’d better get up. You’ll be okay today, Ellie?”

I start to answer and push up from Trig but he stops me, grabbing the back of my head and before I know it, he’s pulled me in for a kiss that I wouldn’t consider chaste, holding me here longer than necessary. I can tell he wants it to be even less chaste. If we were by ourselves and I wouldn’t protest, I’m sure I’d be on my back by now and he’d be taking advantage of the fact he still has my ripped panties in his pocket.

I pull away because Griffin starts to yank at my hair and get louder. I need to feed him, go home, and clear my head. I have appointments and can’t be late.

“I guess that means you’re going to be okay,” Jen quips and I shoot her a dirty look. She turns for her bedroom, and without looking back, says, “Call me later so you can tell me all the things you didn’t last night.”

I stand, pick up Griffin, and head to the kitchen, ignoring the man who just kissed me in front of my son and my sister. Since I’m a rock star at maneuvering life one-handed with a baby on my hip, I have a banana cut up, a cup of applesauce ready, and a Greek yogurt opened. I sit Griffin on the island and he immediately shovels pieces of banana in his mouth intermittently as I spoon him applesauce and we share the yogurt.

I hear Trig walking in before I feel his hand at my hip and his body pressed against mine. “Will you be at home tonight or are you going to hide out again? It’s no skin off my back now that I know how to get into your sister’s fortress.”

“I’m busy,” I lie as Griffin blows bubbles before giggling when I shake my head at him and can’t help but smile. I grab a towel to wipe his face and smile at my baby. “No bubbles, silly.”

Griffin fists more bananas and Trig gives me a tight squeeze.

“Ellie,” Trig warns. “I’m not in the mood to chase you around town again. Even if you go to the ranch—I’ll take on Kipp. In fact, I have a lot to say to him.”

I put my free hand to Griffin so he doesn’t topple off the counter and turn to Trig. “No. You and my dad don’t need to be anywhere near each other. I’m not kidding, Trig. I have enough to worry about. Do not seek out my dad.”

“Then I wouldn’t go to the ranch if I were you because wherever you are is where I’m going to be. Now, I’ve got to go so I can grab a shower before my meeting. I’ll call or text later so you can let me know where you are.”

His expression says a lot, most of it that he’s as serious as World War III, which is what I’m afraid it would turn into if he and my father come to blows. Not that my father can do anything to him now like he could have years ago, but I have no desire to deal with Kipp Montgomery.

I turn back to Griffin. “I might be at home.”

“Fair enough.” He reaches around and steals a piece of banana off Griffin’s plate and pops it in his mouth before pressing his lips to my head. “I’ll see you tonight and hope you don’t play hide and seek with me again.”

I ignore him and his touch.

Then he puts his hand out for Griffin. “Play hard today, man.”

Griffin gives Trig five, his little hand sticky and wet, covered in slobber and bananas. I’ve decided, above all else, I need to ignore Trig giving attention to my son. I’m not sure I can take it.

Trig wipes his hand across his undershirt and I’m finally able to breathe easy as he goes back to the family room and is out the door without another word.

I look to my son. “I’m in trouble.”

“Da-da,” he mumbles around his food and wants his spoon to feed himself.

I give it to him and don’t leave his side, correcting him like I always do. “Ma-ma.”

“Ma!” he repeats.

My smile is so big, it might break my face. “Good boy!”

He offers me a drippy spoonful of yogurt and I take it, making him belly laugh. We play this game for a couple minutes until Jen and Eli join us, both of them in a hurry to get out the door.

“We’ve got to go.” Jen pours herself a cup of coffee. “But you’d better be prepared to explain later. I don’t appreciate all the secrets.”

I roll my eyes. “Right. Like you and loverboy here aren’t the king and queen of secrets. Sure, I’ll spill all my deepest thoughts to you right away.”

Jen, unaffected by my comment, walks over and kisses Griffin in quick fashion so he doesn’t have a chance to touch her. “Love you, sweet boy. Come back and visit me soon.”

“You going to the studio today, Ellie?” Eli asks.

---