Page 134 of Healed Hearts

I watch her sleep for a few minutes, then go back to scrolling on my phone. It’s mindless and boring, but it’s boring being here by myself in general. I haven’t gone this long without working since Istartedworking, and I’m really not sure what to do with myself.

Wren makes a strange sound in her sleep, and I sit up straighter, tossing my phone down on the cushion next to me. I watch her for a second, and she drags in a shaky breath, before sitting straight up and bursting into tears.

“Oh, hey, pretty girl. You’re okay,” I say quickly, jumping up to climb in beside her. I’ve never seen her cry like this.

Her chest heaves as her little cheeks darken with color. “Oh, pretty girl. Come here.”

She climbs into my lap and grips my shirt with her hand as she sobs. “Daddy,” she whispers through her tears.

“Daddy will be back really soon. Okay?” I murmur, brushing her hair back off her face. I have no idea what’s going on. But she doesn’t seem to be running a fever. I almost wonder if she had a bad dream. Especially with the way she woke up.

“Daddy,” she says again.

“He’ll be back, pretty girl. I promise.”

I squeeze her a little tighter to me, rocking her gently. “No, no,” she whines, seeming to cry harder.

“Shhh, it’s okay, Wren. Daddy won’t be long. I promise. Let’s cuddle until he gets back, okay?”

She makes a frustrated little sound, and then her teary brown eyes are locked on mine. “Daddy’s here.”

I cup her cheek. “Not yet, baby. Soon.”

“No. Daddy Hold’s here,” she says.

Fuck.

Oh fuck.

Holy fucking fuck.

Now we’re both sobbing. Perfect. “Yeah, baby. Daddy Hold’s here,” I somehow manage to choke out. “I’ve got you.”

She sighs, her entire body relaxing as her sobs taper off to gasping inhales that seem to wrack her entire body every few seconds. I wish I could say my tears have tapered off. But no, I’m still sobbing. Openly. Cradling this tiny person that I love so fucking much to my chest.

She called me daddy.

Me.

Holy shit. She really called me daddy.

“I love you, Wren,” I get out.

“Love you too,” she murmurs before falling back asleep in my arms.

Chapter Forty-Two

Julian

When I push open the door to Wren’s room, I’m not at all expecting to see Holden clutching her to his chest with huge tears pouring down his cheeks. Given the way his face is splotchy and red, it’s been going on a while.

My stomach falls straight to my feet as I rush across the room. I cup his face in my hands and force his gaze to mine. “What’s wrong, Hold?”

He shakes his head, and lets out a little sob. “Nothing,” he says, sounding like he’s choking on the words.

I stare into his eyes as more tears escape. “Something, darlin’. What’s going on?”

He squeezes his eyes closed, forcing more tears to drip out. “She…” he says, stopping and inhaling a shaky breath.

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