Page 47 of Hideaway Whirlwind
“Bunch of sass-back hellions,” Davis shoots back with laughter in his voice, not truly offended. “And yup. Better get used to it.” Davis almost pats my shoulder, but a growl from Elliott and my shying away from his touch have Davis thinking better of it.
My stomach drops to my feet at the way the kids cling to Elliott while Sydney gives him every word she has kept from me since coming to stay with Goldie.
“Elliott,” I say in a forced, firm voice, steeling myself when I take a protective stance in front of Davis since Elliott is staring daggers at him over my head. “Elliott!” I snap my fingers to get his attention.
The largest, strongest, most terrifying man I have ever met, who looks to be plotting Davis’s imminent death, drops his deep blue eyes to mine, his features immediately lightening. “Birdie,” he breathes out, his boots nudging the tips of my toes. He stoops to press his forehead to mine. “I missed you.”
A whine makes its way up my throat at the comforting smell of him, the tension in my shoulders already relaxing as I melt into his solid presence. I grab his jacket and tip my chin up, letting our lips brush in a moment of weakness. “Damn you, Elliott,” I murmur, then spin and shoulder past Davis inside.
Elliott
She kissed me. Birdie kissed me instead of demanding I leave. The plan is working.
“By all means, come inside,” Davis says sarcastically when I bulldoze my way into his house, my eyes immediately alighting on Kendall when Birdie picks her up off the living room floor.
“Fuck off, Davis.” I move around the couch, only stopping when Birdie backs up, holding her hand over Kendall’s head so she’s facing away.
“Yeah, fuck off, Davis,” Dustin repeats, sticking out his tongue.
I want to laugh, but Birdie and Goldie are wearing identical pissed-off expressions. To set a good example, I clench my jaw twice before forcing myself to say, “I apologize.” It’s like razor blades in my throat.
Davis smirks and closes the door. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“I apologize,” I repeat through clenched teeth, “for swearing at you.”
“And…?”
I narrow my eyes. “And for barging inside your home.”
Oh, he’s loving this. “And…?”
“Quit while you’re ahead,” I growl.
Dustin says, “Yeah, quit—”
“Enough,” I whisper to Dustin.
“But you said it first!”
I set him and his sister down on their feet, then crouch. We’re not quite at eye level, even with my back bowed, so Dustin still has to look up, wearing his mama’s adorable scowl. “Davis is a friend,” I say, thoughsome friend he is, stealing my family away. “And we were both in the wrong for being rude to him. I apologized, and now it’s your turn.”
“Sorry,” Dustin spits after I have to repeat myself, though he doesn’t look the least bit contrite.
“That’s my boy,” I say, standing and ruffling Dustin’s hair, which earns me a wide grin and a hug around my leg.
“That’s it?” Davis asks.
I grunt and turn away, done with Davis and this bullshit conversation, because I’m not the least bit sorry, either.Some friend I am. Sydney and Dustin are right on my heels like Rain and Sky are on Storm’s as I make my way through the room. Goldie and Birdie look up from their heated, whispered exchange, and when Birdie shakes her head, Goldie moves toward the kitchen with Rowan on her hip, giving me the stink eye.
With both hands free now, I can slip one around Birdie’s waist and cradle the back of Kendall’s head. And when her mama finally allows Kendall to twist around at my silent plea, the sight of my little girl’s big brown eyes going wide, so happy to see me, brings tears to my own. So does her babbling ofPapa, Papa!
“Can I hold her?” I ask. “Please, Birdie. I just need to hold her.”
When Birdie loosens her grip and allows me to lift Kendall into my arms, it’s as if I had been drowning in a black lake of dread, gasping for air, and all of a sudden, I’m able to feel the sun on my face and take my first full breath.
“Thank you,” I whisper, closing my eyes and kissing the top of Kendall’s head. “Thank you.” My chest and shoulders shake as I try to suppress my reaction to having them all bymy side again, but there’s no hiding it. It was silly to think I could, especially when Birdie lays her hand on my cheek. I turn to kiss her palm, and then I have my nose buried back in Kendall’s hair.
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