Page 70 of After the Vows

Family – can include a fake wife if you want it to

Lucas

Icheck the time on my phone. “Natalia, come on! We’re going to be late.”

Natalia bounds down the stairs. “I’m ready.”

“Have fun!” Chloe waves from the sofa where she’s working on her laptop and watching some reality television show on failed bars while mumbling how stupid the bar owners are.

Natalia frowns. “You’re not coming?”

“It’s a family day, squirt.”

“And you’re family.”

Pain washes over Chloe’s face before she blinks and it disappears. “I’m not really family.”

Natalia stomps her foot. “Yes, you are!”

Chloe motions to me. “You have your dad with you. You two will have a great time.”

“But I want you to come.”

Chloe blows out a breath. “Sweetie, I don’t belong there.”

“Yes, you do,” I say because I’m done watching Chloe suffer. I don’t want her ever to be in pain. But family brings up a bunch of pain for her. Her mother really did a number on her.

Chloe’s gaze shoots to mine. “Excuse me?”

“You’re my wife. You belong with us.”

I’m lying but the words don’t feel untrue. I want them to be true. I want Chloe to be my wife. My real wife. I want to spend every Sunday the way we did this past week – cuddled up together under a blanket watching a movie together.

I’m falling for this beautiful wildcat who hates the word beautiful and doesn’t realize her own value. I run a hand down my beard.

My feelings don’t matter. I can’t take a risk on Chloe. She showed her true colors when she ran after we spent the night together. I can’t chance another woman abandoning my daughter. Natalia has to be my priority.

But I can’t stand the pain on her face. As long as Chloe is living in this house as my wife, I will shield her from anything that hurts her.

“Okay. Fine.” Chloe slams her laptop shut and Natalia cheers. “But I’m not participating in any sports.”

Natalia tugs her toward the door. “Don’t be silly. Parents don’t do the sports. The kids do.”

Chloe draws the back of her hand over her brow. “Phew.”

“Let’s go.” I herd them out the door.

“Someone’s Mr. Punctual,” Chloe mutters under her breath.

“Nothing wrong with being on time.”

I hold Natalia’s free hand and together we walk to the sports park with Natalia in between us, jabbering the whole time. Chloe listens and responds to my daughter’s nonsense. She never loses patience. Even when Natalia asks the same question several times, hoping for a different outcome.

Holly would have told her to shut up by now. I don’t know what I was thinking. I should have divorced Holly the first time she dumped Natalia at my parents’ house.

“Piper!” Natalia waves at her friend and yanks on my hand. I don’t let her go. There are too many people here. I don’t want my daughter getting lost in the crowd.

I accompany her to the check-in where the counselors from her summer camp wait.

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