Page 57 of Unexpected Forever
Still, I smile and hug Stella, while the girls gather around Charley, hugging her and asking questions.
Megan comes up to me and hugs my waist. “It’s going to be okay, big brother.”
I kiss the top of her head. “I know.”
She joins the other ladies, and happy, feminine chatter fills the room.
I keep a smile on my face, but the icy fingers of fear claw at my throat.
Family.
The very word sends shivers down my spine.
Deep down, I want nothing more than to fit into the Reynolds clan like Megan managed to do. But family is one area of my life I prefer to watch from the sidelines.
I’m simply not built for all the things that come with having a family. Getting close to them, being vulnerable.
But as I watch Charley with her mom, sisters, and best friend, I can’t deny the mix of feelings running through my veins.
It’s a heavy dose of fear mixed with longing.
I will always be there for my child. I’ll make sure they never felt what I did growing up.
But for anyone else, I’m too far gone and broken to fit into that kind of world.
No matter how bad I want it.
FOURTEEN
charley
“Good morning, Firefly.”
I raise my eyes from my laptop and swallow the bite I’m chewing. One brow lifts at his sweaty workout attire. “Where did you come from? I thought you were upstairs.”
He smiles and shakes his head, getting water from the fridge. “I went for a run.”
I make a face. “Running, ugh.”
“You don’t run?”
“Only if someone’s chasing me with a knife or my ass is on fire.”
“It’s good for you. You should come with me sometime.”
“How far do you go?”
“Today I did almost five miles.”
“I’ll just stick to walking, thanks.”
I eye him over my coffee mug from my place at the kitchen island. I must admit I don’t mind seeing the results of his running habit.
The man looks downright sinful, all hot and sweaty. The white sleeveless T-shirt plasters to his skin in places, his black shorts riding low on his hips.
I want to see his happy trail again.
“Charley?”
