Page 56 of Don't Leave Me

“She has a son named Danny. He’s ten years old. And a daughter named Bree. She’s six.”

“Aw, peanut, you already have cousins,” Charlie coos, rubbing her swollen belly. “I can't wait to meet them.”

“You want to meet Syd and the kids?” My brows raise in surprise.

“Of course I do. Charlie taught me a long time ago, family isn't always about DNA, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want my real relatives in my life. Family is all about who you let into your life. The people you turn to when everything else crumbles around you. Do you really think I wouldn’t want to meet my niece and nephew? My sister? I want to be there for all of you in the same way my family has been there for me.” He motions to the houses forming a circle with Sophia’s childhood home.

I glance over the railing, surprised at how many people are sitting on their decks, playing in the yard, or chasing a dog. They have such a massive support system. Mom died when I was younger and Dad died two years ago. I’ve only had Sydney and the kids for so long. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have so many people to lean on.

“If you’d like to, I’d love to introduce you to everyone. I know you won't remember their names and it doesn’t matter. I just want you to meet the people who are important to me.” Sophia stares into my eyes and I can tell how much this means to her.

“I’d love to, baby.”

Chapter 25

Sophia

“We’re heading to bed. Night, Mom. Night, Daddy.” Sophia gives them each a hug, then takes my hand in hers.

“Good night. Thank you again for opening your home to me even after everything that happened.” I wince, still hating how much I shocked everyone this morning. It doesn’t feel possible we’ve only been here one day.

“Stop beating yourself up, son. We talked about this,” Dad murmurs, bringing a smirk to my face. He’s the best.

“Yes, sir. Where would you like me to sleep?”

“Is Sophia’s bed not good enough?” He lifts his gaze to meet my boyfriend’s.

“You’re ok with me sleeping in her bed?” His brows reach high up on his forehead and I crack up laughing.

“Pecker, do you really think I'm an idiot? Do you expect me to believe she hasn’t slept in your bed? She was scared and you didn’t know where Jimmy was. I’d be more upset if you let her sleep in another room by herself.”

“Wes and I lived together in college with all the other guys. There were only two bedrooms on the first floor and we hadthem. Blake, Nick, Hunter, Nate, Lincoln, and Cole slept on the second floor. Do you want to know where Wes spent every night?” Mom presses a kiss to Dad’s arm that’s wrapped around her.

“Right fucking next to her. She was mine and I wasn’t going to let her forget that after she asked me to hold her one night. Plus, it made it so much easier when Charlie came to live with us.”

“When she came to live with you?” Pecker’s face scrunches in confusion.

“Damn, Soph, didn’t you tell him anything?” Dad chuckles.

“I didn’t think it mattered.” I lift my shoulders in a half-hearted shrug. Peck stares down at me waiting for me to continue. “Charlie isn't my sister, Peck. She’s my cousin, my mom’s niece. Aunt Kasey died when Charlie was four and Mom took custody of her. They weren’t even married yet.” I motion to my parents.

“We had barely even started dating. She turned our lives upside down.” Mom pinches her lips together. She still misses her sister and she’s never going to stop, but I think she’s happy she can call Charlie her daughter.

“Let’s be honest here, she turned the entire house upside down. Those men you met today,” Dad points towards the back of the house, “All of their lives would be wildly different if it weren’t for Charlie. We were all changed because of her and I don’t regret it one bit. Now, go get settled in for the night. You have to be exhausted after such a long and emotional day.” Dad waves us off without another word and turns his attention back to Mom.

She’s always been the center of his world and he doesn’t act any differently now than when they started dating according to Mom. I’ve always wanted what they have. A man who loves me with his whole heart and always puts me first. I think I might’ve found him.

I lead Peck up the stairs and down the hallway to my room. There are three empty rooms with the doors wide open and I smile. I love how Dad doesn’t expect us to sleep in separate rooms. It never even crossed his mind.

I open my door and gasp. From the floor to the ceiling, the room is packed with balloons. Each one has Jax’s face printed on it and he has a devilish grin on his face.

“I'm going to kill him!” I groan, knowing it’s going to take forever to clean this up. “Daddy! I thought you locked the door!” I yell down the stairs.

Within seconds, there are two sets of footsteps moving up the stairs until they stop behind us.

“Well, shit. It was locked this morning.” He scowls and scratches his bearded chin.

“Can we just put them in one of the spare rooms? I don’t want to hear a hundred balloons pop right now.” Mom sighs, looking really tired. I'm sure it’s been a long day for her.

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