Page 115 of When We Burn

I reach over and take Bee’s hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “Are you okay?”

She nods slowly. “Yeah, I am. I’m pretty sure I’m okay. I kind of wish I knew his name, though.”

“This way, it’s more mysterious,” Skyla offers. “It’s an experience that you’ll never forget and one that most people don’t get to have. If you think about it, it’s rather romantic, and that’s the truth of it.”

Bee’s smile spreads over her lips. “Yeah, it was romantic. And seriously hot.”

My phone starts to ring with an incoming FaceTime call, and when I see that it’s Bridger, I accept.

“Hey,” I say, and then smile bigger when Birdie’s sweet face comes into view. “What are you up to, pumpkin?”

“There’s alotof snow up at the resort,” she says. “We want to go sledding. Come with us, okay?”

“Cutest ever,” Alex mutters into her coffee.

“Heck yes, we should go sledding. I’m almost done here, so I’ll see yousoon, okay?”

“Daddy! She said yes!”

“I heard.” Bridger takes the phone and grins at me. “Everything okay there?”

“Everything is great, and no, I’m not going to tell you about it.”

“As long as she’s safe, that’s all I care about.”

I glance up at Bee, who just smiles at me. “Yeah, she’s safe. I’ll see you in a few. I need to change before we head out.”

“I’ll bring her home,” Alex says loudly so Bridger can hear.

“Thanks, Alex. See you soon. Love you, kitten.”

“I love you, too.”

I hang up and then look up into four sets of happy, smug eyes.

“What?”

“You two might be the cutestever,” Bee says. “You’re so good for my brother and Birdie. They adore you.”

“It’s been really fun to watch,” Alex agrees.

“And is it me, or are you more confident than you were just a few months ago?” Millie asks, and the others nod.

“Even I see it,” Skyla adds, “and I’m new to this group. Love looks beautiful on you, Dani.”

I take a deep breath and blink away the happy tears that want to come.

“It feels good, too.”

Chapter Twenty-One

BRIDGER

“I’m here,” Dani says as she walks through the door. Alex is right behind her, and Birdie immediately runs to Dani’s twin to give her a hug.

“Hey there, cutest little girl in the world,” Alex says as she squats down in front of my daughter. “How are you? How’s school?”

“Good.” Birdie starts to tell Alex all about finding dead leaves for an art project, and I tug Dani into my arms for a kiss.

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