Page 107 of Vain
I shake my head and chuckle.
“You didn’t know?”
“That my woman is a saint? Oh, I knew.”
“Now don’t sit there and pretend you don’t spoil that girl rotten.”
“Guilty as charged.” I wink as I get to my feet. “I’ll go grab her. Be right back.”
I walk over to my dad and Tilly first. “Hey baby, it’s time for Zoe to go now.”
“Oh shoot. Thanks for the dance, Mark. I’ve gotta say my goodbyes.” She kisses him on the cheek before taking my hand. We walk over to Zoe, who is still dancing with Mia and my mom.
“Hey princess, time to go.”
Her shoulders slump. “Okay.” I let go of Tilly and scoop Zoe up, careful how I hold her, knowing some places are still tender.
“We’ll see you soon.”
“Do you promise?”
“I pinky promise.”
She holds up her pinky so I can shake it with mine as I carry her to the waiting social worker. I put her on her feet and Tilly hugs her, whispering things only for Zoe. When she pulls back, both of them are crying. Tilly wipes Zoe’s tears away with the pads of her thumbs.
“We’ll be back before you know it.”
“Okay,” she whispers. “Love you.”
Tilly swallows down a sob. “I love you too.”
After one final hug, Tilly stands up. I wrap my arms around her and we watch and wave as Zoe leaves.
“She really is doing so much better thanks to both of you,” Wade says softly.
“It’s still hard saying goodbye—” Tilly stops talking when her phone rings from her clutch on the table. She reaches for it, her hand slipping inside and pulling her phone free.
“It’s Marley. Sorry, give me two seconds…Hey Marley, everything okay?”
I don’t know what he says, but her smile drops and she grips my arm.
“Tilly?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hangs up and stares at nothing for a second.
I slide my finger under her jaw and turn her head toward me. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Greyson’s hurt.” She swallows hard, her voice cracking. “Someone set fire to my house.”
The flight home was a quiet one. Tilly spent it pressed into my side, her hand tapping her thigh in an anxiety-ridden staccato.
We’d tried to leave quietly, not wanting to dampen the mood of the wedding, but Wade had already begun rallying the troops.
Olivia and my mom bundled Tilly up and took her back to Tom’s to pack our things. Tom, my dad, and Wade went to keep an eye on them all. I called the pilot and told them we needed to fly home immediately. The guys had been pissed on our behalf, and after much arguing, it was decided that Kellen would fly back with us.
Felix went with Kellen to help pack shit he might need, while Banner went off to see what he could find out online. Marcus and Arlo kept the rest of the guests distracted and entertained, so it was mostly a quiet and subdued affair when we left.
Kellen hangs up his cell and looks at Tilly, who has fallen asleep. He tugs the blanket that’s in her lap and tucks it around her shoulders.
