Page 20 of Saving Grace
“Figured that was your truck out front,” Gavin says as he kicks off his sneakers and slips into his boots. “Where’re the girls?”
I lift the monitor to show him a sleeping Kaia. “Leila is in the shower, sounds like. She’s supposed to be relaxing.”
He nods. “How’d you manage that?”
“Didn’t give her a choice.”
He chuckles. “Bet she loved that.”
“She dozed off while breastfeeding. Declan said you wanted to talk to me?”
“Yeah. Moreso just checking in. I know this was unexpected.”
I shrug. “We’ll piece it all together as we go.”
“How’s your recovery going?” he asks, gesturing to my left side.
“Eh. Is what it is. Not healing like the doc wants it to and needs another round of surgery, but I said no.”
He nods again, his chin tucked, but his eyes cut up to me. “And the other thing?”
Not gonna lie. It’ll never quit hurting when the people in my life show any disappointment in me.
“Clean. Swear it. I wouldn’t come around otherwise.”
“Good, good.” He steps toward the key rack on the wall and pulls off a singular key before tossing it to me. “I’m in and out. Going to meet your brother and shoot the shit, maybe hit the trails. Kaia wakes up at four every morning like clockwork. In case you’re interested.” He turns the knob to open the door again.
“That’s it?” I ask. I more than deserve at least a punch to the face from this guy, but instead he just nods.
“For now.” And with that, Gavin slips back out the door, closing it gently.
I stare at the door, convinced I imagined that encounter. But when I squeeze my fist, the house key cuts into my palm.
***
The big man upstairs must have a warped sense of humor. Not ten minutes after the strange encounter with Gavin, a door in the hallway creaks and a soft voice whispers, “Hey, Drew?”
Poking my head around, I see Leila’s head peeking around the edge of the door. “You okay?”
“Um, I may have forgotten to grab a towel.”
Of course, she did because I just folded five of them. Stepping into the laundry room, I pick the fluffiest one and take it to her, making sure to keep my eyes averted as she opens the door enough to slip the towel through before shutting it quickly.
It doesn’t matter if I don’t actually catch a glimpse, though.
Leila’s figure is engrained in my mind. From her strong, athletic calves to her thick thighs. The ass and hips that, even filled out from bringing life to our child, are still perfection and would fill my hands even better than before. That cute littlewaist of hers up to her now-full breasts. The scars she pretends don’t exist. I memorized every inch of her body in the years we snuck around.
I accepted a long time ago that the memories are all I’ll ever have.
Before the past can drag me down, a whimper travels through the monitor. The nursery is at the far end of the hall, and while I know they’ve only had a short while to get it put together, the room is perfect for our princess. Three soft-pink walls meet with a single navy wall, KAIA in cream-colored lettering centered over the white crib. A matching dresser and rocker are against the opposite wall, a flowy pink-and-white curtain completing the room.
Kaia’s little body wiggles as she tries to eat her fist, little suckling noises bringing a smile to my lips. Gently, and with only a touch of hesitation on if I’m qualified for this, I lift her, ignoring the twinges in my shoulder. I’m going to snuggle my daughter post-nap, damn it. Keeping her head cradled, I shift her until she’s snuggled under my chin and happily smacking on her fingers.
“You’re the perfect baby, aren’t you, precious?” I murmur, loving the way she feels in my arms. I gently sway, hoping to keep her from fussing for at least a little longer. “Never knew I could fall in love at first sight twice. But what do you know? You and your mama have that in common. Two perfect girls stuck with a not-so-perfect me. But I’ll do my best for you. For both of you. I swear it.”
Chapter 11
Leila
