Page 57 of Moonlight Feels Right
"Usually, I would agree, but maybe not in this instance. If I need to apologize…"
"You don't. I was okay with it."
"Just okay?" he asked with a small smile.
She couldn't help smiling back at him. "Maybe better than okay. But?—"
He groaned. "I really hate that word but."
She didn't have a chance to tell him it shouldn't happen again because Olivia suddenly screamed, and they both jumped to their feet.
It took a second for her to realize that Olivia hadn't screamed from fear but delight as she ran toward a slender brunette woman and threw herself into her arms.
Olivia's mother had finally returned.
Chapter Seventeen
Hunter stiffened, then moved forward, his profile tense. Emmalyn knew he'd wanted Bree to come back, but she suspected he had a lot of anger toward her and the position she'd left him in. Everyone in the courtyard had gone quiet with Olivia's scream, all eyes on the drama unfolding.
"Mommy, you're holding me too tight," Olivia complained.
Bree eased up on the hug, giving her daughter a teary smile. "Sorry. I'm just so happy to see you." She got to her feet, her gaze moving to Hunter. "I'm back."
"I see that," he said, his voice guarded.
"Mommy, I want you to meet my friends." Olivia grabbed her mom's hand as she pulled her toward the pool. "This is Henry. He goes to my school."
"Hi, Henry," Bree said.
Henry smiled but didn't say anything.
Olivia threw out a bunch more names to her mother as she pointed to various people in the courtyard, then she said more loudly, "Emmalyn," and dragged her mother in her direction. "This is my mommy."
"Hi," she said. "Olivia has told me a lot about you."
Bree gave her an uncertain look. "Hopefully, not all bad."
"Definitely not," she assured her.
"Let's go inside," Hunter interrupted in a sharp, forceful voice that reminded her of the old Hunter. "We need to talk, Bree."
"I know," Bree said, meeting his gaze.
"Emmalyn, are you coming with us?" Olivia asked.
"No, honey. You need to be with your mom. I'll see you later."
Hunter looked back at her. "I meant what I said earlier," he reminded her. "If you need me, call me."
"I'll be fine," she said, watching them walk into Hunter's apartment and shut the door.
It felt a little odd to be on the other side of that door. She'd been in the middle of everything going on, but now she was on the outside. It was where she belonged. None of this was her business, but she couldn't stop caring about Olivia because her mother was back, and the door was closed.
Paige came up to her. "So that's Olivia's mother, huh?"
"Yes."
"Hunter didn't tell me much about where she was. He just said she was grieving her husband and needed some time. Does this mean Olivia is going to leave?" Paige asked. "Henry will be so disappointed. He adores her. They've become best friends."
