Page 22 of Wild For You

“Only if you're ready to close those bright eyes afterward.”

“Promise,” Haley beamed, patting the space beside her on the bed.

I settled next to her andNico watched from the doorway. I reached for the book on the nightstand, its pages worn from countless adventures.

“Once upon a time, in a land far away…” My voice trailed into the realm of make-believe. I poured every ounce of affection into the story, my words a lullaby wrapping Haley in a cocoon of care and comfort.

As the story neared its end, Haley's eyelids grew heavy, her breaths deepening into the steady rhythm of sleep. I closed the book, her fingers lingering on the cover as I whispered the final words, “And they lived happily ever after.”

I rose from the bed, tucking Haley in with gentle hands. Nico stepped forward, his shadow merging with mine.

“Goodnight, my little star,” Nico breathed, kissing Haley's forehead.

We retreated to the doorway, Nico's arm finding its way around my shoulders.

“Thank you,” Nico said, sincerity etching his features. “For reading to her... for being here.”

“Thank you for letting me be.”

14

Josie

I overheard conversations on my way to work this morning.

“Michael's back.” The words were simple.

“Back? But how?” Fear coiled in my stomach—a remnant of memories better left buried. Anger followed, painting my cheeks the color of the October sky at dusk.

“Josie?” Nico’s voice was a low rumble as he stepped into the studio, his presence filling the space like a pending storm. His dark eyes searched my face, reading the turbulence there as easily as the clouds foretell rain.

“Is it true about Michael?” His question was cautious, his stance guarded.

I nodded. “Everyone's talking about it.”

“Are you okay?” Nico took a step closer, his hands itching to reach out to me, to smooth away the creases of worry that marred my brow.

A laugh, short and mirthless, escaped my lips. “Okay? I'm... It’s complicated.” My fingers twisted together, the camera strap around my neck a lifeline to normalcy.

“Josie, talk to me,” Nico implored, his voice threaded with concern. He reached for my hand, but I pulled away, a step back into the safety of distance.

“Michael coming back—it changes things, doesn't it? Do you really think your brother is going to be okay with us? Everyone is talking about us too…” My voice trailed off as I met his gaze.

“Let them talk,” Nico said. “I’m here for you, not them.”

“Are you?” The question hovered between us, an unspoken fear that perhaps Michael's return could unravel the delicate threads binding us together.

“Of course.” Nico's answer was immediate, his conviction a solid thing in the shifting sands of my world. “But are we... Are we strong enough to handle this?”

“Strong enough?” I echoed, the uncertainty in my voice betraying the turmoil within. “Nico, I don't even know what's going to happen now.”

“Whatever happens, we'll face it together,” Nico assured me, but the promise sounded brittle even to his own ears.

“Will we?” I mused, my mind a whirlwind of past and present colliding. My gaze drifted to the window once more, to the town that seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next act of the drama that had unfolded so unexpectedly.

“Josie,” Nico began, but the words faltered, his determination waning under the weight of my indecision.

“Maybe we should just…” I hesitated, the sentence unfinished, but the implication hanging heavily.

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