Page 70 of Restrained

Baz jerks away from his mom, folding his little arms. “It’s not the same!” He looks at Asher. “Don’t go.”

“I’m not going anywhere tonight, buddy. Okay?”

Baz is smart and knows what that means. “You don’t go ever.”

I see the heartbreak on Asher’s face, and it shatters me. “I have to.”

Baz jumps up from the table. “I’ll go with you then.”

Asher glares at Viv before his gaze softens when he looks at Baz. “You have to stay with your mom. She needs you.”

“No she doesn’t!” His little arms fly up, and I know he’s hurting. I know Asher is in pain. And so is Viv. “She has Swearer! And Grandma! And Lola!”

He’s so angry now, something I'm not used to seeing from my little nephew. A low growl comes from Asher’s throat when Sawyer is mentioned, but he’s strong for Sebastian and doesn’t say a word.

I want to fix this. “Baz,” I address him cautiously, and his little eyes meet mine, tears shining in them. “I think Uncle Asher needs your help. He told me he forgot how to swim. Do you think you could teach him?”

Asher looks irritated with me and the situation, but then forces a smile in Baz’s direction. “It’s true. I forgot.”

Baz drops his little arms to his side, frustrated as he huffs. “Fine. But this time you need to pay attention.”

Asher stands up, placing his hand on Baz’s small shoulder. “I will. I promise.”

Baz gestures for him to follow him in his adorable little dominant way, forgetting for the moment that Asher is most certainly leaving because he’s on a mission.

But the sting of reality is coming. And soon.

30

LOLA

My family is hurting. All of them. Again.

I swear it doesn’t matter how healed we seem to be, we’re always broken. My chest aches as I plaster a smile on my face, waving to my mom and Tony as they head out to their car. Asher is still in the pool with Baz, and Vivienne said she knows they’ll know where to find her and heads to her room.

She trusts Asher with Baz completely. And she should. He would die before he let anything happened to that kid.

And they need the time together because when Asher leaves, Baz is going to be devastated.

Lincoln left before everyone else, and dinner was awkward. No one talked much after Asher and Sebastian went out to the pool.

I’m left standing alone with Hayden as he stands behind me, and I lean against the door frame. “My family’s a mess.”

“Look at me.” I turn to look at him, my stress melting away, looking into his eyes. How does he do that? “I know you love them, but you can’t fix everything for them.”

I can try.

He reads my mind. I know he does as his hands land on my hips and he levels with me. “You can’t. They’re all adults. They have to navigate this themselves.”

“Penelope needs to get to know you.”

He smiles and drops his hands from my hips. “Show me your room.”

It’s a command, and I hate being told what to do.

Usually.

I take his hand and lead him to my bedroom, closing and locking it behind me. Baz is young and has no boundaries.

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