Page 47 of Reconcile

Audrey chooses to listen then and runs over. “No puke!”

Piper laughs as I release her hand. “That’s right, Audrey. Keep him in line.” Her eyes pin me. “No soda.”

“But the candy is fine.”

“Sawyer...” she admonishes, but she’s smiling.

“Go have fun, Piper. We’ll be fine.”

She smiles and grabs her purse, pulling her keys out. “Thank you.”

“He isn’t picking you up?”

She moves toward the door, and Audrey and I follow. “No, I thought it would be better if I met him there. That way I don’t have to explain all this...” She waves her hand around the house.

“Hmmm...” I still think he should pick her up, but I keep quiet. “Have fun.”

She bends down and hugs Audrey. “You guys have fun too.” She squeezes our daughter tightly. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Mommy.”

Piper stands, taking a deep breath and another long look at Audrey before saying to me, “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

She walks out the door, and my heart feels like it might shatter into a hundred pieces, but I focus on hanging out with Audrey.

That’s what I want. More time with my kid. And to earn the right to be called her father.

Even if watching Piper walking away kills me.

29

PIPER

“Ican’t believe you’re really here.”

I smile at Caleb from my side of the dinner table. “I know. I’m happy I finally found some time to go out.”

He grins. He’s a good-looking guy. Handsome face, tall, good smile. Still, my mind is back at the house, wondering what Sawyer and Audrey are up to. It was hard to leave...

And maybe not just Audrey.

I can’t deny I’ve seen Sawyer in a different light lately, and it’s scary as hell.

“So, are you from here originally?”

Right. I’m on a date.“No, I’m from Kansas City.”

“Kansas or Missouri?” He tilts his head to the side with the question, and I find it endearing. It’s like he’s genuinely interested in my answer.

“Kansas.”

“Nice.”

I laugh and take a drink of my water. “What about you?”

“California, born and raised.”

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