Page 83 of Break the Barrier
Swallowing, she licks her lips and places her other hand ontop of our clasped ones, tracing one of my knuckles with her fingers. “There’s a lot of good things happening at once.”
I give her a minute, and when she doesn’t continue, I smile a little. “That’s a good thing.”
“I know,” she rushes out, glancing back at the house and then at me again. “It’s been my experience, though, that all good things come to an end.”
“You’re worried about things ending?” Why does that send a panic through my chest?
“I’m worried…” She pauses, and I can see her working to find the right words to say. By some miracle, I’m able to keep my mouth shut. She turns to me, and her eyes latch onto mine. I see a mixture of worry and hope behind them. “I don’t want this to end, and that scares me. When we started this, it was fine because it was business. But now, I’m with you, and Lue is involved and your family…I don’t want anyone getting hurt.” She releases a breath. “And selfishly, I don’t want to get hurt either.”
When she’s finished, I find myself staring at her with a smile on my face. “Well, I can’t promise that we won’t hurt each other,” I start, and that does nothing to ease her worries. “But let me promise you this. I’m in this, Thea. Whether or not this started as business or not, I’m not looking at it that way anymore. If I’m being honest.” I shrug. “I haven’t looked at it that way in a long time. I’ve liked you for years, I’ve wanted to know you and be…I don’t know, something with you. Now that I have that, I don’t see myself letting you go.”
I’ve always been honest with her about my feelings, I saw no reason not to. She needs honesty so she can have trust. So she can put her faith in me too.
“So,” I start, breaking up the heavy moment and letting herdiscreetly clear her throat and get herself together. She doesn’t seem great about letting people see her emotions, though I’ve felt privileged enough to see a lot of that from her. “I say we take this one day at a time and let it lead us to something great.” I pull her hand to my lips and press a soft kiss there. “I have a pretty good feeling about it.”
She finally looks over at me and gives me one of her brilliant smiles, it’s the one she uses when she’s trying not to let anyone know how she really feels, and it’s adorable as hell. “Okay.”
The rest of the day we spent with my family. Dani and CT show up for an after-wedding cookout and look like they’ve had a magical night themselves. I smirk at CT’s smile and Dani’s crimson cheeks.
Cal, CT and Graham’s father, stands and holds up his drink for a toast. We all fall silent at the gesture.
“Today is a good day.” He nods his head, his eyes slightly shiny as he looks at his sons with their partners. “We’ve had some trying times in our lives here on earth, we’ve fought and lost, we’ve fought and won, but at the end of the day, all of this boils down to one thing: family.” He nods at his boys. “Your mom taught me that. Before her, I didn’t have a good sense of what it meant. But she…” He swallows, thinking of his late wife. “She brought magic into our lives, into my life. CT, Graham, my Donna would be so proud of the men you’ve become.”
I look over and see Graham’s head ducked, Quinn with her hands on his shoulders, CT stares at his dad, and Dani dabs at her eyes.
“Well, shoot, I didn’t mean to be so sappy.” Everyone laughs lightly, and I see even Thea has a mist in her eyes. My mom is openly crying, as is Dani’s mom.
It’s easy to forget what a life force Donna Trevors was assomeone who was wrapped up in raising my kid alone, but losing her was tough on everyone here.
Thea reaches over and clasps my hand in hers, her arm going around Lue’s shoulders. Lue was only seven when we lost Donna, but she was still affected by it.
“Anyway, Dani, welcome officially to the family. May we continue to grow and thrive together.”
We all raise our drinks to toast, and the Trevors boys stand, making their way to their dad. I look over at my little family, and a jolt goes through me.
They’re my family.
Lue…and Thea.
I lean over, pressing a kiss to Thea’s cheek and grabbing Lue’s hand. She gives us a wide grin, and I send up a silent prayer that she never loses her shine or her optimism. We need more of that in this world.
She runs off to be with the other kids who show up, some of the local people come that we’ve known since school, like Aveline from the bakery and her family. Some of Graham and CT’s friends show up, and I get dragged into conversation with them, reluctantly letting Thea go talk with some of the girls. They quickly pull her into conversation, and I watch out of the corner of my eye as her tension slowly melts away.
My mom joins their group, and I watch, barely giving one-word answers to the guys as she talks with Thea, her hand on her shoulder. Thea listens intently, and I have half a mind to go interrupt, but I don’t.
If she’s going to be in my life, she needs to have a relationship with those in my life, and the less I’m involved, I’m guessing, the better.
Thea laughs at something my mother says and then nods.
Finished with their conversation, Mom heads over to me, and I slip an arm around her shoulder.
“Can I chat with you a minute?”
I frown and nod, following her down the steps and off the porch. I give Thea a nod when she smiles at me, assuring her I’ll be right back.
When we’re out of earshot, I ask her what’s wrong.
“Nothing’s wrong, son. I was just wondering if I could steal Lue tonight.”
