Page 96 of Broken Halo

“Jen called me again today. She said my mom is starting to make a fuss and blaming my father for my refusing to see them.”

I tilt her face to me. “Then you should see them. Don’t keep yourself away from your parents on my account.”

She shakes her head as her lethargic lids melt over her blues. “I just can’t. I’m so angry at him for how he’s treated you. I know I’ll get past it eventually but he needs to get used to the fact we’re together. Nothing he can say or do will change it, not this time around.”

“As many years as I’ve spent hating your father, no one can argue the fact he loves his family. He might not have gone about it the right way, but I guess, in his own twisted mind, he thought he was doing right by you.”

Her eyes are closed when she mumbles, “I’m naked and tired, Trig. Not the time for you to take my dad’s side.”

I lean in and kiss her temple. “Griff doesn’t need to be in the middle of the movers tomorrow. I’ll handle everything at your house and you stay here with him.”

I feel her smile against my bicep. “You just don’t want to change his diaper.”

I grip her bare hip and slide my hand around to her ass. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She sighs, and when she does, she sounds happy. “You love us.”

“You loved me first.”

“Probably,” she agrees, masking another yawn. “But you came along pretty quick.”

I did.

“Loving you has proven to be the hardest and easiest thing I’ve ever done, angel.”

She doesn’t say another word as her weight settles into me.

27

Long Lost

Ninety-five percent of people are good. It’s the other five percent who are noisy and create havoc. It’s basically the law of everything.

Trig

“We’re almost done.”

I look up from the email I’m typing and wonder if those words will ever ring true. I’m anxious to get this shit over with. Combining Ellie’s mansion-sized house and my condo into my mother’s home is proving to take for-fucking-ever and the more we move there, the bigger mess we’ve got because Ellie doesn’t want to get rid of any of my mom’s things.

I’m sitting on the last of the furniture—a barstool at the kitchen island in the middle of Ellie’s mostly empty space. It goes on the market next week.

“Everything out of the rooms upstairs?” I ask. Griffin needs his bed and toys. Ellie was right, the kid could walk any day now and I wouldn’t be surprised if he just takes off running. He’s proved over the last week he can climb out of that portable crib whenever he wants.

“Yes’sir.” The guy looks at his watch. “Should be done in another thirty minutes, tops. Then we’ll head on over to the other place to unload it all.”

“Thanks,” I say distractedly, looking over the mover’s shoulder at the uninvited guest who just waltzed in.

“Trig.”

I set my phone down and stand, but don’t move to shake his hand. “Kipp. This is a surprise. Ellie’s not here.”

He crosses his arms and looks around the empty house. “I know. Jen told her mama you were having the last of Ellie’s things moved today. I know this is Griffin’s naptime and there’s no way she’d interrupt that if she didn’t have to. Was hopin’ to find you here alone.”

“Not alone,” I note. “There are witnesses.”

He glares at me even though his heart doesn’t seem into it. “Jen’s on my case. Hattie’s on my case. Hell, even Cam called and told me it was time to pull my head out of my ass.”

I hitch a brow but don’t utter a word. Agreeing wouldn’t be conducive to Ellie speaking to her parents again but it’s the only reason I hold my tongue.

---