Page 108 of His Greatest Treasure

She’s glaring at Avery now, her thin brows scrunched and lips downturned. I grapple with what the right thing to do is here and look at Avery for help or guidance, but a sullen, defeated expression is what I find instead.

Clearing my throat, I answer Nova so she doesn’t have to. “I have to go to see my mom for a few hours, peanut. She needs my help, and moms always come before ice cream.”

“But I want you to come with us,” she persists.

“We’ll get ice cream soon. When you’re up for getting a sore tummy from all the gummy frogs, okay?”

“If I get frogs today, will you come?”

My heart splinters down the centre. “Not this time.”

“Don’t argue on this, Nova. Please,” Avery pleads while pushing off the floor and gliding her hands down her ass to dust herself off. “I’ll be right back, okay? Why don’t you get dressed?”

“I am dressed.”

“You can’t wear that out, you’ll trip on it. And it’s not yours.”

“It’s not yours either! I found it on your bed.”

It’s hard not to beat my chest in satisfaction at that bit of knowledge. I’d give the both of them every sweatshirt and hoodie I own if they wanted me to. I’ve got so many of them that I didn’t notice Avery stealing one and bringing it here.

“If you listen to your mom and change into something your size, you can keep that sweatshirt, okay?” I offer.

Her entire face lights up. “Really? It would be mine and not Mom’s?”

“It would be yours.”

“Okay!”

She bounds out of bed and rushes to her dresser before starting to search through her clothes. I follow Avery out of the room and watch as she shuts the door behind us.

In the hallway, the silence between us is louder, more obvious. My nerves are buzzing, that terrible fucking feeling growing in intensity.

“What did he say to you out there?” she asks on a weighted exhale, sounding as if she’s been struggling to hold that question in.

“Nothing that matters.”

“Don’t try to placate me, Oliver. Tell me the truth. How bad was it?”

I reach for her, cupping her shoulders and holding her in place when she tries to start pacing. “Hey, princess. Take a breath with me. You’re getting worked up, and he doesn’t deserve this reaction from you.”

Her eyes focus on me, the crinkle between her brows softening. “What did he say about me, Oliver?”

“It was all bullshit. Repeating it won’t do anything but hurt you.”

“Tell me. Tell me so I know what to prepare for once he makes good on his threat and tries to take my baby away from me.”

My muscles harden to stone. “He’s not taking Nova from you.”

“You heard him. He thinks I’ve been sneaking around with you, and he . . . He wants to change our custody agreement. I won’t give him more time with her. Not more than he alreadyhas,” she rambles, face paling further with every word until she’s as white as the paint on the walls.

“Avery,” I murmur, reaching up to brush her cheek with my knuckle. The skin pinkens, but it’s not enough to settle me. “He’s not going to take any more time with her. I won’t let that happen.Wewon’t. He’s just upset.”

She shakes her head, forcing me to drop my hand too soon. Losing the heat from her skin feels wrong. Makes me colder than before I touched her.

“I have to fix this,” she whispers vacantly.

Arms wrapping tightly around her middle, she licks her lips and jolts back a step away from me. I keep my feet planted to the floor, even as I scream at myself to move toward her.

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