Page 156 of Choosing Forever
“You’re a tattletale,” I hear Anna scold Brody.
His twanged voice filters through the room, but I ignore it. When Delaney pulls back, I immediately want her close again. I’m positive that’s how it will always be.
The sound of the front door opening and closing draws her attention from me. There’s a slight stiffening of her muscles that urges me to follow her gaze.
“Sorry we’re late. I made a couple stops along the way,” Bryce says, releasing Daisy’s hand.
Her fiancée joins us in the living room with a soft smile and a cheery hello while she stays in place. Abbie beams from beside her, a box of donuts in her arms. And behind her?—
“Sasha,” Delaney mutters.
My immediate reaction is to be angry with Bryce for bringing her here. But as my ex-wife shuffles in place, clearly uncomfortable, it slips to frustration.
“I’m not staying,” she clarifies, letting go of Abbie’s shoulder. The way she’s staring right at Delaney seems odd. I’ve never seen her look at her like that. “Can I talk to you?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
Delaney pushes onto her feet and chews on her lip before leaving my side. She stops in front of my daughter before anything, giving her a genuine smile and a rub on the arm.
“Hi, Abbie. Are those donuts?”
“Yep! Yellow sprinkles only, like the ones you get for me on Sundays.”
My throat clogs. Suddenly, all of our friends are looking at me, and I glare at every single one of them until they get back to work.
“That was really thoughtful,” Elle says.
“How about you hand them to your dad so everyone can have one?” Sasha suggests.
“Okay!”
Abbie rushes toward me, and I reluctantly let the two women out of my sight. Once they step outside, I lose the ability to hear them too.
Poppy pinches the back of my arm when I stay silent for a moment too long, and I quickly snap into motion. Delaney can take care of herself . . . even if having to do so with my ex-wife won’t ever sit right with me.
***Delaney***
“You didn’t haveto bring her here,” I blurt out the moment I step outside with Sasha. “I know it’s your week.”
Sasha tongues her cheek, antsy gaze far away. “I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry. For what happened back then. I was cruel to you.”
I pause, running that back in my head. It still sounds as unbelievable the fourth time as it did the first.
“Did Bryce force you to say that? Because I didn’t tell her to get involved here.”
“No. Bryce can’t force me to do anything. All she did wasremind me that I was a bitch to you and that Abbie doesn’t need to pick up on that energy. Not now.”
“Did something happen?”
She fidgets, still avoiding my gaze. “I’m pregnant.”
“Oh. Well, congratulations,” I offer, beyond awkward. “Does Darren know?”
“Not yet. I didn’t come to share that, anyway. I’d just like to not bring another baby into an environment so hostile. Abbie’s old enough to pick up on these things now, and with a new sibling, I worry she’ll already be upset with all of the changes coming.”
