Page 128 of Playing For Keeps
I take her chin in my grip and ease her head so we’re eye to eye. “Do you really think you forgot about what happened?”
“I did. Not once while I was holding her did I think about it.”
“So you’re telling me you haven’t thought about your loss once? All these months have passed, and you haven’t thought about it at all?”
“No. It’s always in the back of my mind.”
At this moment, I remember something. “You told Tera about your loss while you were cradling Avery, so you did think about it.”
“But I forgot that I would be getting ready to have our baby right about now. I didn’t think about that until you mentioned the timing of it all.”
I cup her cheek in my palm. “You didn’t think about it when you saw Avery because you were enthralled with her. There’s nothing more to it than that.”
Dori considers that for a moment then peeks up at me. “She’s perfect. Isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she is.” I lean in and kiss Dori’s pouty lips.
She lingers for a second and then sighs. “Thanks, babe. I’ll let you get back to work.”
“Nope. What you’re going to do is let me drive you home and take care of you. Work will be here in the morning, and you need me now.”
“Why don’t you meet me at home? That way, we’re not leaving a car here.”
“Are you okay to drive?”
“Yeah. I already feel better.” She smiles at me. “I’m truly fine.”
I nod and stand. “Okay, I’m right behind you. I’m going to grab the rest of my stuff, and I’ll leave right after that.”
“I’ll be expecting you soon.” She reaches for the door.
I step aside and close it for her. This unfortunate incident caused Dori undue pain, and that has shredded my insides.
Somehow, I fuck things up with her no matter what I do. I turn and amble away as she drives out of the parking lot.
How can I make her feel better?
Ideas swirl in my head as I gather my belongings and leave for the day. Nothing sufficient comes to mind. Maybe all she needs is for me to listen and hold her. Sometimes that kind of support is better than trying to fix it.
Once I’m home, I find her standing on our balcony, staring out at the waves breaking as they roll in. The gentle breeze blows strands of her hair around. Her arms are wrapped around her waist like she’s hugging herself.
I step out and join her by her side. “What are you thinking about?”
“How much my life has changed in a year.” Her melancholy tone makes my chest squeeze. “I never thought I’d be where I am today.”
“You’ve gone through a lot. I can only imagine how that feels for you.”
“You can’t because I don’t even know how to put it into words.”
I hold on to the railing to brace myself for what comes next. She’s still dealing with a lot.
She’s still working on her trauma around her abduction, she can’t find a job, she and Aiden aren’t in the best place, andI made her pick up her life and move to a city where she knows only a handful of people.
I force down my selfish desire and ask her a question. Her answer has the ability to break me in half.
I rake my teeth over my bottom lip. “Do you want to go back?”
She twists to me. “No. Not at all. Why would you ask me that?”
