Page 80 of Stolen Kiss

“Sorry,” I said.

“It’s okay. Are you feeling alright? You seem distracted.”

I shook my head. “Yeah, I was just lost in thought. I guess seeing you with Ensley got me thinking.”

“About?”

I shrugged. “Kids and future.”

“Hmm.” She looked down and frowned at her sandwich. “I guess taking care of the kids has taken up a lot of my time.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought anything up,” I said, when it looked like this thought really bothered her. I shouldn’t have said anything at all. Besides, who was I to judge? I barely had a life outside of the studio. I barely had a life for the last three years.

“No, you’re right. I need to get out more. It’s just—when you’re so used to a routine, you don’t even question it anymore. You’re on autopilot when you wake up.”

I put my sandwich down and grabbed her free hand. “How about we set aside one weekend and just go out and have fun? Me, you, Jace, and Jensen.”

She smiled. “Deal. So things with you and Jensen are still going strong? He’s treating you well?”

Her tone was casual enough. Which told me she was anything but. She was trying to ensure I wasn’t hurt or being taken advantage of, and I appreciated it, but it wasn’t needed. Especially not where Jensen was concerned.

“I’m okay. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course you are,” she replied vehemently. Ensley wiggled in my arms then, and I let her down and watched as she made her way over to Evelyn, who wrapped her arms around her daughter and placed her on her lap.

Ensley buried her face in Evelyn’s chest, already forgetting the PB&J sandwich in her hand. I grabbed it from her when it looked like she was about to drop it and put it back on the plate.

Ensley peeked up at me with her big brown eyes and my heart melted a little at the sight.

“I just… you’re my baby sister.”

“Not a baby anymore,” I told her.

“Sometimes I wish you were. Things were easier.”

I grinned. “What are you going to do when Ensley grows up?”

“Ugh. Don’t say things like that. Ensley will always be my little girl, huh, sweetheart?”

Ensley, seeing we were paying attention to her again, perked up. Evelyn pinched her nose gently.

I looked away.

Seeing Evelyn with her daughter always reminded me of my mom.

I guess, even after all these years, I still wasn’t over her death.

I shifted a bit in my seat. My back and left thigh were killing me. It had been aching all morning. Sometimes, I forgot to not put all my weight on one leg; not only did it make my leg work more than it needed to, but it also shifted my back muscles in an awkward position, making for a bad day all around.

“Something wrong?” Evelyn asked.

“Yeah,” I said, rolling my pants up. I was wearing loose-fitting pants I had gotten at the workout section of the department store. They were the comfiest pants I owned, and they made putting on the prosthesis that much easier.

Ensley watched me with rapt attention.

I realized this was the first time she saw my legs, and by the way Evelyn was looking at me, you would think this was the first time she saw it as well.

I sighed.

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