Page 24 of Best Kept Secret

She may as well as have saidincompetent.

I blinked, unsure of how to reply. Of course, I was tired. I hadn't slept properly in years. But the way she said it—like being tired made me less capable, less worthy—made my skin crawl.

"I've been tired for a long time, Fallon; it hasn't changed how I take care of my niece." I gritted my teeth to hide my irritation, and smiled.

"Mira," Fallon interrupted, her voice suddenly firm, hard. "You need to understand that this situation…you bein' here is temporary. Beau has every right to make decisions for Pari now, and if I were you, I'd focus on figuring out your next steps." She glanced at Pari, her lips twitching into something that wasn't quite a smile. "The first being leaving Beau's house, and thinking about how you can be involved from the sidelines."

It hit me like a punch to the gut.Sidelines. She was putting me in my place, reminding me that I didn't belong in this world, in this family. I wasn't Pari's mother, no matter how much I'd tried to be. Fallon wanted me to know that. Wanted me tofeelit.

My hands trembled, and I bit back the wave of emotion rising in my throat. I couldn't cry—not in front of Fallon. Not in front of someone who was already looking at me like I was broken.

Beau walked in just then, completely unaware of what had passed between us. He glanced at me, but I kept my face neutral, trying not to let him see how small I felt. How much it hurt. He had sold me out to his ex…or maybe she wascurrent. She behaved like she was. So, what was he doing kissing me?

Asha was right. He was a manwhore.

"She's finally asleep, I see," he murmured as he sat next to Pari on the bed, a look of awe on his face that this beautiful child was his. I understood that feeling well because that's how I felt every time I was with my niece.

"Yes," Fallon said, her voice smooth and professional again, the mask slipping back into place. "But…Beau, you and I should talk."

Beau looked at her, and then me. "You okay, darlin'?"

I smiled weakly. "Yes."

He seemed hesitant as if being able to tell how crushed I was. "Maybe you should take a nap as well, Mira. You didn't get much sleep last night, either."

I nodded.

"Fallon will be here for dinner, so we can talk more later." He rose and turned to the woman in question. "Can you wait in the living room, babe? I'll be right there."

Something sparked in the other woman's eyes, but she put on that smooth mask of hers and walked out, leaving me alone with Beau.

He came to me and tucked away some hair that had fallen on my face. "What has gotten you so upset? Did Fallon say something?"

I swallowed and shook my head. I knew no matter what I said, he wouldn't believe me. I was the outsider here, and I knew everything there was to learn about how people never wanted to see the truth—I'd experienced that all my life. Except for Asha and the efforts of the few caseworkers who tried their best, our truth had been buried.

"Dinner will be ready in a few hours." He kissed my forehead gently, and I could've wept because it was so warm and loving—and so freaking inappropriate, considering the woman he'd brought into his home to assess my effectiveness as a parent was his fuck buddyor more.

After he left, I sat on the bed, looking at Pari.

I felt like a ghost, like I was fading out of her life, my own life, slowly but surely, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Nothing Ishould dobecause…maybe Fallon was wrong, and I didn't have to figure out how to be on the sidelines,I already was.

Chapter 10

Beau

"She's unfit," Fallon told me.

I immediately looked toward the long hallway to make sure Mira had not overheard Fallon's pithy announcement.

"What bullshit." Granted, I hadn't seen Mira with my daughter for long, but what I had seen made one thing clear—Mira was Pari's person. When she was upset as she was now, she all but climbed into her aunt. Regardless of how difficult Pari was, I'd never seen Mira upset. Even Roxy had remarked on how level-headed Mira was and how she remained calm no matterwhat the situation was, which was remarkable, considering how young she was.

"I'm serious. She's imposing her own rules and ideas. The poor girl should have a pacifier if she wants it." Fallon leaned back on the couch, a glass of wine in hand. "It's a good thing you're her legal guardian. I think you should get Mira settledoutsideof your home. She can play auntie but not mommy."

I considered what Fallon said. I had brought her here to get her take on what was the right thing to do. Pari had been off today and, if she was getting a cold, it made sense she was cranky. I felt out of my element. The girl who'd been all happy and cheery for a week was now frowning and sulking—I didn't know how to handle it, but Mira did.

Roxy had told me that Mira was worried that Fallon was coming toassessMira's parenting abilities, and there was some truth to that. Roxy had also thought it was a bad idea to use Fallon, which I'd dismissed. Sure, Fallon and I'd had an affair, but that was years ago, and we'd been friends for longer than we'd been fucking. I knew she cared about me as I did her. There was no world in which Fallon would want to hurt me—she'd only want what was best for me.

"Mira is the only mother Pari has had, Fallon. I can't separate them."

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