Page 69 of Forsaking All Others

“There are all different kinds of videos and challenges.”

“Challenges?”

“Yeah, like—oh!” Her eyes snap to mine. “We should do one.” She doesn’t give me a chance to say anything and calls across the clubhouse for her mother and Shep.

“Dad wants to do a TikTok.”

Dad just wants to sit here and spend time with his family.

“Sibling challenge!” Shep shouts as he comes racing toward us.

I lift my gaze to Holly, watching as she trails behind our boy. Her eyes lock with mine and she arches a brow.

“You know what TikTok is?”

I shake my head.

“Nope but I just watched some lady eat a pepper.”

She bites the inside of her cheek to hide her smile and my lips curve at that. Her eyes are still swollen from all the crying, and I’m sure her heart aches but that’s the thing about Holly. The world can crash around her and she still finds a way to pull herself together and be present for our kids. One would never know the last couple of days have been fucking hell on her or that an hour ago we were standing over King’s body, ridding my hands of his blood.

She takes a seat on the small sofa across from me and Tara.

“Where’s Theo?” I ask.

“He didn’t want to come off the swing, so Leftie is out there pushing him,” she says, tucking her legs under her.

She brings her attention back to our kids and my eyes move toward the door. The urge to go out there and get Theo tugs at me.

“What’s this sibling challenge?”

“So, the audio clip is going to play and it’s going to ask a bunch of random questions. You and dad will point to a kid. For example, which kid is the messiest?”

“That’s easy,” Holly says. “You’re both messy.”

“Hey,” Tara objects. “I am not messy.”

“You leave your clothes all over the place.”

“That’s just because I don’t have enough drawer space.”

Shepard turns to me and shrugs.

“I own it, I hate cleaning.”

“Me too, kid. Me too.” I wink at him before pulling myself off the couch.

“Where are you going?” Tara questions and I pause to glance back at her.

“If we’re going to do this thing then someone needs to grab your brother from the swing set. Can’t do a sibling challenge without all your siblings.”

I feel Holly’s gaze on me, but I don’t look at her.

Actions.

It’s all about the actions.

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