Page 121 of Passed Ball

Harlowe glances down at me, her fingers still moving idly through my hair. "So . . . how are you holding up?"

I take a moment, letting the weight of the evening settle in my chest. "Better than I've been in a long time, actually."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." A faint smile tugs at my lips. "Telling her was the right thing to do. It's like I can finally breathe again. Like I can start healing."

My fierce protector doesn't respond right away. Instead, she gives my hair a light tug, enough to draw my attention. "About damn time, Vi."

Chapter 51

Xavier

The screen from my phone lights up the otherwise dim nursery. Shifting Holland in my arms to balance her bottle against my chest, I reach for the phone. When I see Vivi's name lighting up my screen anxiety cuts through me because it's three in the morning.

"Vivi. Is everything okay?" Her face is barely illuminated by the light from her phone, but it's enough that I can see she's smiling and happy. Somehow she looks lighter, more carefree than I think I've ever seen her.

"Mhmmm," she murmurs, sounding sleepy. "I just missed you." There's a drawn out yawn before she adds, "I couldn't sleep. Not without hearing your voice."

I hear it there at the end, a tiny slur in her words. "We talked earlier," I remind her. "Did Harlowe let you drink too much wine?"

"Actually I blame my mom," she says slowly.

The mention of her family strikes a nerve. "Did your conversation not go well?"

"Actually, it went okay. I mean it sucked. But we got through it. I needed to get through it. And I think I'm going to be okay," she adds absently. "She just left a bottle with Harlowe and I after we talked."

I try to make out where she is but it's too dark to see beyond her. It's not until she shifts, laying her head on her arm that I see the carpet.

"You're fucking adorable, but why are you lying on the ground?"

"Because it's late. And I wanted to talk to you." She shrugs one shoulder like that explains it. "Is my Estrela eating?" She puts more of an accent on the nickname than normal.

"She is."

"I miss her. I miss you too. How are you doing?"

When we talked earlier I was stressed about the outcome of the hearing, and I knew she could tell.

"Torn. I just want this to be over. But that means Holland doesn't have a mother in her life and even if it's for the best it still hurts." I glance down at her in my arms. "I wish she didn't have to deal with any of this."

"Me too," she says genuinely. "But she's got you. And you have a great support system. Holland will be okay. You'll be okay." Vivi bites her lip like there's more she wants to say.

And from thousands of miles away I'm willing the words out of her.

Say it, sweetheart. Let me hear it.

Her eyes lift to the screen. She might be tipsy but they are clear, filled with meaning when she says, "And you've both got me."

I groan, making Holland startle. "I want to kiss you right now."

"That sounds nice." She sighs. "You're a good kisser. And you're shirtless. That's my favorite way to kiss you."

"No phone sex. I'm right here, Vi," someone says in the background, sounding half asleep.

"Harlowe?" I ask, knowing it's got to be her best friend.

"Nice to meet you, Ginger Daddy," the distant voice answers, making me snort out an unexpected laugh.

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