Page 25 of War

Chuckling, I drop a kiss on the top of her head and savor the soothing scent of her baby shampoo. Then I pat the seat beside me. “Want to play with us?”

With a wave of her hand, she rounds the table. “I’ll let Josie sit by you.” The smile she wears is knowing as she eases into a chair across from me.

Of course she’s noticed our bond. All night, my girl has been by my side, and that’s right where I want her. Josie plops into the empty chair, immediately resting her head on my shoulder, and I nuzzle mine against hers, relishing the precious time I’ve been given with both girls.

“You’re a natural mother,” Chandler booms as he approaches.

Behind him, both War and Xander are watching me. War’s gaze is intense, making my stomach do an odd little flip. Is he angry? I blink and avert my attention, not liking the way his scrutiny weighs on me. Instead, I focus on Xander. Instantly, I realize that was a mistake, because he’s radiating a warmth I’ve never seen.

“She is, isn’t she?” he says, his tone brimming with pride. He settles beside Chandler, always seeking his approval. “You want to have one of our own, sweetheart?”

My stomach bottoms out, and there’s no stopping the scowl that overtakes my face. Because I’m a glutton for punishment, I peer over at War, only to find his eyes lit up like he’s delighted by my reaction.

That only makes my frown deepen.

Xander knows I don’t want children of my own, and he knows why.

If heartbreak were a living, breathing thing, it would be beating wildly beside me. Always. He knows that.

Truly the only time I feel even remotely whole, remotely alive, like I can walk and breathe at the same time, is when I’m with Josie. So I turn my focus on her, willing my racing heart to settle. As I drink herin, my fractured nerves realign and my breathing evens out. “My love bug right here is enough for me.”

Josie tips her head back, beaming, completely unaware of the tension building inside me. The little one on my lap throws her head back, walloping me in the chest and forcing a surprised laugh from me.

I kiss her nose. “And you, my little love. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you.”

These two are perfect. What I would create would never be perfect, because broken people don’t create beautiful things.

“Of course,” Dory prods, picking up her glass of wine. “She’s still so young, Xander. You both are.”

Chandler huffs, as if this is a topic he has any say in, smoothing a hand over the front of his sweater. “Xander and Tyler are the same age, and Tyler is raising three kids.” With a long sip of whiskey, he arches a brow at his stepson. “A beautiful wife, a baby. They’re the next steps. Xander knows this. Our clients love that our company is family-owned. That my son works with me.”

Jaw rigid and eyes icy, War pulls out the chair beside Brayden, the move making its legs scrape harshly on the hardwood floor. “Are we going to play?”

Tension thrums at the table, even as we all turn our focus to the children’s game. In my periphery, I catch Xander staring at War. His expression almost a sneer. It’s unsettling, that action. I’ve never seen this side of him.

Chandler often challenges Xander, but it’s always related to work. As if he’s pushing him to strive for more. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him interact with both of his sons, and I swear it felt like he was pitting them against one another just now. Telling Xander to get in line, using War’s new status as a father to do so while simultaneously touting Xander’s position in the family business.

Did he ever hope War would go into finance too? Did he encourage his passion for hockey, or did he try to push him in a different direction?

Silently, I survey one man, then the next, assessing all three of them,trying to read between the lines. Though it seems that not a single adult at this table is an open book.

Dory smiles dotingly at her son, then focuses on her cards again. Does she notice that Chandler is pitting the boys against one another? Does she even care? I haven’t so much as seen her address War, and it’s…troubling.

Chandler is wearing a self-satisfied smirk as he sips his whiskey and scrolls on his phone. Even Xander is hard to read right now. He put me in this terrible position, bringing up a topic he knows is traumatic for me. It’s a subject I’ve been honest about since day one, yet now, he’s acting as though I haven’t made my intentions clear. And what the heck is with the way he’s got his chest practically puffed out, like he’s peacocking for his father?

Then there is Tyler Warren. He might be the easiest to read. He may be wearing a blank expression, but the anger rolling off him is palpable. I’m still staring when Brayden nudges him and holds his phone out, showing him something that’s probably sports related, based on the topics the kid has brought up tonight. Only then does War’s body slump and his face soften. It’s clear he cares.

How is it possible that in this room filled with people I once thought so highly of, Tyler Warren is the one I feel most connected to in this moment?

“Can we play already?” Josie whines.

War chuckles. “Okay, fighter. Can I be on your team? I’m not very good.”

I roll my eyes and look down at my cards.

“Got something to say, Ava?” War’s tone has my eyes flying up, and my stupid cheeks go warm when I see the amusement in his eyes. I need to stop being so easy to read. It’s clear the jerk loves to goad me.

Josie scoots closer to him. “’Kay, but no telling everyone what cards I have.” She pulls hers close to her chest and peers up at him with the same knowing look he wears when he stares at everyone else. It’s so strange seeing the two of them together. It’s like they fit. I’m equally annoyed and intrigued by it. How does a tattooed bad boyfitwith the sweetest little girl to ever live?

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