Page 80 of Unexpected Love
Her eyes flit back to meet mine, and she swallows. With her arms clasped in front of her, she looks like a child who’s facing the consequences of her actions.
“Look, I know I fucked up,” she starts, and I hold a hand up to stop her.
“Just don’t hurt him.” I’m not pulling any punches with this kid. And I do see her as a kid, because she’s certainly not making adult-like decisions. “After everything your brother’s done for you, don’t jerk him around now.”
“You don’t like me, do you?”
I sigh.This girl. “Dani, I don’t know you to know whether or not I like you. But I can tell you that I hate what you’ve put that little girl and your brother through.”
She looks stricken.
“But your brother loves you. So, for now, I’m willing to give you a chance. Don’t fuck it up.”
I sound like her mom. And it’s at that moment that I realize I’m probably old enough to be.
“I won’t.” The quiet words hang between us. I have the sneaking suspicion that if I hadn’t said anything, she might have taken off again without a word. She must be destitute if she’s willing to stay when I’m sure my distrust is palpable.
Instead of easing her anxiety, I step through the door. “Then I’ll see you downstairs.”
A little while later, Cal, Dani, and Charlie bustle into thecoffee shop. Dani’s still somewhat subdued with me, but she’s doting on Charlie and Cal’s got his happy face on.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about any of this.
Instead of making a big deal out of it, I scoop Charlie into my arms and place her in the special high chair that I ordered just for her.
The front door opens, and Maggie bustles through with Jackson in tow. “Hi, guys.”
Thankfully, neither of them seem to feel the tension I’m radiating. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m the problem. But I can’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop and for Dani to pull some shit with Charlie.
Jackson and Cal do their bro handshake as Maggie bestows a fresh muffin in front of Charlie.
She straightens and offers a hand to Dani. “Hi, I’m Maggie.”
“This is Dani, Cal’s little sister,” I interject, realizing how rude I’m being. If Dani thought I didn’t like her, I’m only confirming her suspicions. I can at least be nice.
Jackson hip-checks Maggie and leans his elbows on the counter. “How’s it going, Jules? Ready for the big open?”
“Yep. Just waiting. Expecting a call any minute now.”
“It feels like we’ve been saying that for a week,” Cal mutters. He’s not wrong. “So listen. I called Maggie and Jackson over for a reason.” He sidles up to Dani and drops an arm around her shoulders.
“Dani and I need to go take care of some official business. Jackson’s brother is an attorney, and he’s making himself available to us this morning so that Dani”—he looks lovingly at his sister—“and I can go sign some guardianship paperwork.”
My gaze darts to Cal’s. Does this mean…?
The most obnoxious ringtone interrupts my train of thought. Dani pulls her phone out and silences it.
“Who is that? Who do you keep ignoring?” Cal snatches Dani’s phone before she can slip it back in her pocket, holding it over his head out of her reach. Dani’s jumping up in a futile attempt to get her phone back. The next thing I know, she’s got her legs wrapped around him and is climbing him.
“Jax, a little help here,” Cal calls. And his partner immediately jumps into the fray, taking the handoff from Cal and dodging Dani when she chases after.
“They’re worse than toddlers,” Maggie mumbles, whipping Charlie out of the high chair and out of harm’s way, all the while chuckling at the silly antics of grown men acting like children.
I’m laughing too, until I notice how pale Dani’s face is. The whites of her eyes are showing. This is more than just the panic that her brother stole her phone. There’s some serious fear there.
“Cal.” I raise my voice to be heard over the fray. He stops immediately but doesn’t release the object of their little standoff. He looks at me, a question in his eyes, and I incline my head toward Dani. Realization dawns across his features.
“What are you hiding, Danielle.” In the short time I’ve known her, anytime he uses her full name, she folds to his questioning.
