Page 49 of More Than Words
“So do you,” my brother said more forcefully.“You don’t win any prizes putting your own life on hold any longer than you already have.”
“I know.”
But I didn’t.Not really.From the moment I’d found out Polly was pregnant, it had always been about Quinn.Every single thing I’d ever done.Every decision.Every move.It had been for Quinn.I wasn’t sure I knew how to put my own needs first.
Or whether I should.
The idea of blending my life—mydaughter’slife—with anyone else was overwhelming and more than a little bit terrifying.But I didn’t need to think about that.Not yet.
Sensing I was done with the topic, Reid broke the silence that had developed over the line.“I’ll check in with you later,” Reid said.“Let me know if you need anything, and be safe if you go out there.”
“You too, brother.Thanks.”
I ended the call and leaned up against the bar, staring out the front windows at the winter wonderland outside.
I thought about Delaney’s smile when I promised her I’d be back for breakfast.
About how fucking amazing it had been to have her in my arms.To kiss her.To make her cry out.
About how damn easy it had been to fall asleep with her in my arms.
And just how hard it had been to leave her side this morning.
Maybe Reid was right.
Maybe Ididdeserve good things.
Delaney was definitely a good thing.
Averygood thing.
But it wasn’t just me I needed to think about anymore.If I let someone in and it all fell apart, what about Quinn?She already loved Delaney.Probably more than she was letting on.
If I screwed this up, or if Delaney changed her mind or decided we weren’t worth the trouble, what would that do to my kid?
Her mother had already let her down more times than was fair.
I wasn’t sure she could handle any more disappointment.
And I wasn’t so sure I could either.
Delaney
Ethan had been gone for thirty minutes already.Longer than I’d expected.
Hopefully, things were okay with his tanks.The storm had been a bad one.I didn’t know enough—or anything, really—about how a long power outage would affect beer.But it probably wasn’t good.
I pulled my old sweater tighter around me to ward off the chill that raced through me.
The power had come back on at some point before we’d woken.My little apartment was starting to warm up again, but that’s not why I shivered.
From the moment the door had shut behind Ethan this morning, I’d been worried.
About the cold.
The effects of the storm.
Us.
