Page 88 of Healed Hearts

“Alrighty, baby girl. Let’s get going then.”

I’m sitting on the couch, in my own little world, trying very hard to keep myself from bursting into tears. It’s quite embarrassing, actually. Roman and Beck buying Wren a giant tent, complete with a new sleeping bag, pillow, and enough toys that it may as well be Christmas, has me emotional. And what does that say about me and the life I’m used to? The solitude I’m used to?

It’s not even that alone. It’s also the huge amount of snacks spread across the kitchen counter—everything from healthy options like fresh fruits and veggies, to snack cakes and candy. They also got her a variety of juices and chocolate milk. Beck shrugged when Holden’s eyes bugged out, simply saying that he didn’t know what she would like. When he turned shocked eyes to Roman, he had also shrugged. Who the fuck are these men? Honestly. This is fucking with my head.

And on top of all that, they haven’t left the living room once. In fact, the current reason I’m trying to avoid sobbing like a childis that Beck and Roman are piled in the tent with her, trying to teach her how to play a board game. She has not a single idea what’s happening, but she’s so happy.

“You okay?” Holden’s soft voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I take a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m alright. This is kinda… overwhelming.”

Holden drops his head to my arm, scooting closer until his leg is touching mine. It brings a grin to my face. “I can understand that. It was overwhelming for me too. Meeting Roman, that is. He’s always protected me—from the very first day. And then Beck. Well… as you found out last night, he’s an entirely different type of protective.” My stomach twists at the reminder of everything that happened. It’s been one hell of a weekend. “Wanna hop in there and play with them?”

“I really kind of do.” It’s strange. Normally, I’m all Wren has. So that she’s currently occupied with someone else has me feeling a little untethered.

“Great.” He tries for a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I don’t even have time to ask him what’s wrong because he’s jumping off the couch and diving into the tent.

I stand up at a slower pace and climb in after them. This is a big-ass tent, to be honest.

“Daddy!” Wren shouts, crawling away from Beck and Roman and the game she was playing to climb into my lap. “Come play?”

“Is it alright if I join in? I don’t want to interrupt.”

Beck smiles. “Of course. I’m schooling the kid on all the ways to cheat at Hungry Hungry Hippos.”

Roman rolls his eyes. “You can’t cheat at Hungry Hungry Hippos, Beck. Be serious.”

I glance at Holden, expecting him to be smirking, or snarking, or literallyanythingat their back and forth, but he’s not. He’s staring off into space, a blankness to his eyes that I haven’t seenbefore—not even last night. “Hold, you wanna play?” Roman asks, turning his attention to Holden.

He clearly notices the same thing I do, but Holden gives himself a little shake and smiles brightly. It still doesn’t reach his eyes. “Of course. Can I play too, Wren?”

Wren nods frantically. “Yes.”

Beck gasps. “Oh no, Wren. This is only a four player game. Do you wanna come play with me? We can definitely beat Uncle Ro.”

She giggles, sliding off my lap to make her way back to him as Holden and I move closer.

For the next hour, we play the game together. I watch Wren—her joy, her excitement. But I also watch Holden. There is no joy or excitement. He laughs in the right places; he jokes and tickles Wren. He tries his hardest to win. Spoiler alert—Beck and Wren are undefeated. Not that any of us are upset. But there’s something missing.

Beck seems unaware, but Roman keeps shooting me worried looks when Holden isn’t looking. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s noticed the fire and spark is missing from his eyes. He looks almost a little anxious. I’m not sure if it’s because of Wren, or because of what happened last night, but the man who was joking with me about his back dimples is not in the room with us.

“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Wren says, after what has to be our seventy-fifth round.

Beck’s eyes light up like a kid at Christmas. “Can I take her to get snacks?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, of course.”

“Hey, Wren. Do you wanna watch a movie? We still need to watch Mulan,” Holden says.

“Sure!” Her tone is pure excitement. I think she’d like just about anything that Holden likes. She’s obsessed with him. Butwith the way she’s been clinging to Beck all night, it seems he may have knocked Roman out of the top uncle spot.

Everyone climbs from the tent. Roman and Beck take off to the kitchen with Wren. Before crossing over the threshold, Roman shoots me a pointed look. One step ahead of him, though.

“What’s wrong, darlin’?”

Holden turns to me. “Huh? Oh, nothing. I’m okay.”

I cock my head at him. I’m not sure about that. “Are you sure?”

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