Page 18 of War

SIX

AVA

Josie peersup at me as we wait for the elevator. “Do you promise to come visit me?”

From her other side, Maria nods. “I’m sure we can arrange a time to visit with Ava in the next week or so.”

Relief washes over me. God, I hate that Maria is setting boundaries regarding my visits with Josie, that she has to act as a buffer between War and me. That if I want to see my girl, I’ll have to do it atTyler Warren’shome.

How in god’s name did this happen? Did I hit my head and wake up in an alternate universe? One where War almost seemednice. Caring. Not toward me, of course, but toward Josie.

And the strangest part of the night? Discovering that he’s trying toadopther.I still can’t wrap my head around the news. Maybe I really did hit my head. I must have fallen on the ice at the arena. Maybe I’m still lying there, unconscious. That’s the only reasonable explanation.

Josie tugs on my hand. “I want to show you my room. It’s so pretty. We have our own pond. That’s where the ice-skating rink is. And we have a movie theater. It’s like the one you and your sister always wanted.”

Warmth rushes through me at Josie’s words, at the knowledge thatshe remembers such a small detail about me. I’ve been to the house. This past summer with Xander. The home is beautiful, I remember that. After discovering that War and Xander were related that day, I was in shock and remember little else. “We’ll set something up, okay?”

She throws her arms around my waist and hugs me tight. “Thank you, Ava. I love you.”

Maria meets my eyes as I hold Josie close.

“I love you too.” To Maria I mouth, “We need to talk.”

In response, all I get is a frown and a simple nod.

I’m trying to decode her reaction when War reappears. “You ready to head home, fighter?”

At the sound of his voice, I turn, and as I do, I’m metaphorically knocked on my ass at the sight. Cuddled against Tyler’s chest is a chubby little girl with the lightest of blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. She’s got her thumb in her mouth, and her blue eyes are saucers as she studies me just like I do her.

“Sissy,” Josie coos, reaching for the little girl’s toes. “This is my sister, Scarlett,” she says, peering back at me.

War shifts, the movement making it impossible not to take him in. He obviously rushed here from the charity event. He’s dressed in a button-down shirt and suit pants—the standard pregame-slash-charity event uniform—but he has no jacket, and his sleeves have been rolled up his forearms. Between the little girl he’s cradling and the ink peeking out?—

No, Ava.No way am I looking at Tyler Freaking Warren and thinking he’s hot. He’s a thorn in my side. A genuinely bad guy.

Who is adopting two little girls…

“See something you like?” That cocky son of a B taunts, his blue eyes glittering with mischief.

God, I hate him.

“She’s beautiful.” I pull my shoulders back, unwilling to let him rattle me. “How old is she?”

“Two,” he says, just as Maria chimes in with the same response.

I use that excuse to turn toward Maria. “Could you call me once you get home and settled?”

“Yes. Thank you for coming.” She pulls me into her arms and whispers, “I’ll explain everything soon.”

Sighing, I pull back and give her a nod. I can’t imagine any kind of explanation that will make this make sense, but I’ll gladly let her try.

“Wait, so you're telling me War—as in the Bolts bad boy captain and instigator—is adopting Josie?” Lennox blinks rapidly, bright eyes full of shock.

Hannah and Sara dragged me back to my apartment once War and his…family?…went their way and we went ours. Since the elevator, I’ve been basically catatonic. I don’t remember the car ride or entering my apartment. I’m pretty sure Hannah dug my keys out of my purse, but I can’t be sure.

Sara settles beside me on the couch, holding a mug out in front of me. “Made you tea.”

I offer her a weak smile and pull the mug to my chest, soaking in the warmth of it.

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