Page 82 of Songbird: Black Kite
“Actually, yes,” I laughed. God, she was so clever. Looking over at her, I couldn’t help the little pulse my heart gave as I stared at my kid, my freaking powerhouse of a daughter that I loved more than life itself.
She was an absolute joy, and I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing child.
We drove the rest of the way in silence, Cooper still tapping on her phone and me tapping along to the radio on the steering wheel, until we pulled into the parking space behind our house. I was gathering my things when she spoke again, stopping me in my tracks.
“Hey, Mom?” she said quietly, and I looked up. Sitting there, her dark hair tied back in a ponytail and her cheeks flushed from practice, she looked so much like her father it physically hurt. He’d been just as beautiful, his striking cheekbones and that dark hair giving him a Gothic look, like a timeless vampire prince.
Cooper had that same quality, her peaches and cream skin contrasting against the mahogany hair and striking blue eyes. She was beautiful, inside and out, but where she carried her father’s looks, she absolutely had my sass and snark, which I loved about her.
“Yeah, Coop?”
“Thanks.”
“For what?” I asked, honestly confused. All I’d done was drive her home, something I did every Friday night during volleyball season.
Cooper looked down at her hands, toying with the elastic edge of her kneepads awkwardly.
“Just, you know. For saying that about Britney. I want you to know, I don’t care about her money. Not really. I wouldn’t trade places with her. Ever. Having you for my mom is worth a million dollars. More, even. So...thanks.”
Pressing my lips together, I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep from squealing like a moron. Having a teenager was tough; they were moody and temperamental, and their styles and tastes changed faster than the weather. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was cool, something new popped up and I was on my back foot again. But I tried, I tried so fucking hard to keep her happy, to give her everything I could and make sure she never wanted for anything, but especially not for love.
I told that child I loved her more times in a day than was probably normal, but I didn’t care. The day she was born, I vowed that there would never be a moment in her life where she questioned if she was wanted.
Because from the moment I knew of her existence, I had wanted her.
I had wanted her so bad, I burned down every other relationship in my life to keep her.
Because she was fucking worth it.
So by some miracle I managed to keep my cool, paste on my most casual smile, and simply say, “Thanks, kiddo. I wouldn’t trade you for anything either. Now, let’s go order a pizza.”
Chapter forty-nine
Wren
Present
Saturdayswereforsleepingin.
At least, that’s what theyshouldhave been for.
In reality, Saturdays were for laundry, housework, paying bills, and buying groceries. In my world, anyway.
I was loading the brown paper bags into the trunk of my car, trying to talk myself out of stopping for an iced oat milk honey latte when my phone rang, the ridiculous ringtone letting me know exactly who it was.
“You’re up early,” I said, and Sabrina groaned down the line.
“Not by choice. But I found myself needing to make a hasty exit this morning,” she said, not a hint of shame in her voice. “It was either that, or breakfast with his mother, and really, who even offers that after a one-night stand?” I smiled, picturing the look of sheer revulsion on her face at the prospect of meeting the parents.
“Sounds like he got attached quickly,” I replied, closing the trunk and returning the cart to the proper place.
Only a monster left their cart in the middle of the parking lot.
As I returned to my car, movement at the far end of the parking lot caught my attention. There was a black SUV parked there, windows dark with tint. It was alone, parked far away from any of the other vehicles, and I could see that the driver’s side window was in the process of being rolled up.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to see who was driving, but between the tint and the glare from the sun on the glass, I couldn’t see a thing.
“Yeah, well, he shouldn’t have,” Sabrina said, her words drawing my attention away from the mystery vehicle. “I laid out my terms before we even got started. I didn’t evenmeanto fall asleep, but the stupid mama’s boy gave really good dick. Knocked my ass right out.”
