Page 123 of Safe and Sound

Chuckling, I replied, “No. But as much as I like yours, I might have to redo it.”

While Ava got Piper into her pajamas, I eyed her bookshelf of books. When a green spine caught my eye, I pulled it out. “Spot’s Lucky Day,” I murmured.

“Dat’s one of my favs,” Piper replied back, her voice muffled as Ava pulled her pajama top over her head.

“Then we’ll read it.”

Once her pajamas were on, Ava ushered Piper into the bathroom to brush her teeth. I waited patiently for them to return. When they did, Piper threw back the covers and hopped in bed. To my surprise, she patted a spot on the bed. “Yous can sit here.”

With a nod, I eased down beside her. I then began regaling her with the story of Spot. When I finished, Piper’s eyes were heavy. “

“Aisling milis,”I whispered.

“What’s dat mean?”

“It means sweet dreams in Irish. That’s another language that I speak.”

“And whys you talks funny.”

I laughed. “Yeah, that’s why.”

“Night.”

As I rose off the bed, I hesitated. I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do or not or if Ava would appreciate me doing it. But I did it instead.

Leaning over, I kissed Piper on the top of the head. Without another word, I headed to the doorway where Ava stood. Although she kept her mouth shut, I could feel the anger flowing off of her.

Since I knew she wanted to talk to me, I started down the stairs. “Where are you going?”

“Downstairs so we can talk,” I replied.

When we got to the bottom of the stairs, Ava crossed her arms over her chest. “I thought you were running away from me.”

“No, that’s what you do.”

The instant the words left my lips I regretted them. I sure as hell wasn’t taking Thomas’s advice by groveling. No, I was poking the fuck out of the bear instead.

Smacking her palms against my chest, Ava shoved me, sending me crashing back into the opposite wall. Her nostrils flared before she stalked over to me. She eyed me contemptuously. “You fucking bastard. First, you undermine my parenting, and then you come at me with that bullshit.”

“I wasn’t trying to undermine you. I just wanted more time with Piper.”

“By playing the hero and taking her to get her cat.”

“You’re the hero for telling her she could have one.”

“Bullshit.”

“I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal about this. Maybe it was a cheap shot telling her I’d take her. But it’s not like I told her I’d get her a cat when you said she couldn’t have one.”

“You think you can just waltz in here and change the world I’ve built for Piper.”

“That’s not what I want at all. I just want a part in her world.” Swallowing hard, I added, “And in yours.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am. I meant everything I said today in my office.”

“Well, I wantnothingto do with you.”

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