Page 58 of Cruel Fate

“I hadn’t either, until Maryanne brought me. It feels silly to do kid things as an adult, but I think you need to give yourself permission to let go once in a while.”

I feed her a bite of tart, and she licks whipped cream off her lip. My cock twitches, but if she spends the night, I just want to sleep, show her I can appreciate her just being here. “Is foster care hard?”

Stella blinks in thought. “It can be. There are good families and bad families. Families who treat you like a part of their family, and dads who look at you like a snack.”

I stiffen.

“But mostly it’s lonely, uncertain. You know nothing’s going to last. You don’t let yourself get close to anyone because what’s the point? I didn’t dare bond with any of my foster parents—one day you could walk out of school and your social worker is there instead of your foster mom and she has a garbage bag full of your things and you have to hold back your tears because you didn’t get to say goodbye to anyone...not properly, and now you don’t have another chance.”

Tears drip down Stella’s cheeks, and I lift her into my lap.

I know a thing or two about not being able to say goodbye, but she’s done it too many times.

She rests her head on my shoulder and as she breathes against my neck, I sip my coffee, stare into the flames in the fireplace, and vow Stella and I will never have to say goodbye.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Stella

He holds me all night. He doesn’t ask if I want to have sex, content to cuddle me and smooth my hair.

I tell him stories about some of the foster homes I stayed in, tell him about Quinn, and share my visit with her while we lay in the dark in his huge bed. I almost didn’t stay the night, but after the day we had, going home sounded lonely, and it didn’t take much of Zane’s persuading to get me to give in.

We’re naked, but he’s soft against me. He’s in the mood to talk, quiet, and I like this side of him.

“You have a few friends from your past then.” Zane lays on his side facing me, and I do the same. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I devour the planes of his face.

“Not many. It’s not like living in the same house all your life, going to the same schools and growing up with the same people, then when you’re adults, friending each other on social media and going out on the weekends. Do you have a lot of childhood friends?”

“Not many besides Ash.”

Zane mentions his name, and a chill runs down my back. I’ll never like him, and I bet the feeling is mutual.

“I’ll introduce you to some of them at the party.”

He sighs, and it reminds me of the pressure he’s under. Visiting a petting zoo isn’t going to make all of his problems disappear, but maybe if I can help him relax sometimes, that will help.

“Have you heard any news about the crash?” There’s no way I’ll mention what Quinn said to Zane. The FBI is looking into it, and if his parents really were involved in something nasty, they’ll find out.

“No. I’m going to hire a private investigator. They can bend the rules and cut through red tape the FBI can’t.”

“That sounds expensive.”

“It will be, but if they can find something, it’ll be worth it. It’s been six months, and the FBI can’t even tell me the full list of the passengers on the plane.”

Quinn’s suspicions suddenly ring true. Maybe the FBI has nothing to offer because they aren’t looking.

I cup his cheek, his stubble scratching my skin. “You should get some sleep.”

Zane turns his head and kisses my palm. “Goodnight, Stella. Thank you for an amazing day.”

“Anytime.”

His eyes close.

The next thing I know, the sun is shining, and Zane’s snoring lightly beside me.

I have to pee so badly I could burst, and I carefully roll out of bed as not to wake him. He needs his sleep. He didn’t have any nightmares last night, and I’m grateful. His parents’ deaths won’t be anything he’ll ever forget, but if I can give him someone to talk to and lessen the pain, I’ll listen to him for the rest of my life.

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