Page 77 of Broken

I was excited to see how Sin and Aine would fit back into our lives. I didn't care how it happened, and Sin did promise she wouldn't run again, but I refused to let them pull away.

I knew Aine wanted the three of us to be a family. We texted each other every day when her mother was giving me the cold shoulder. It was probably the only thing that kept me sane and from coming right back up here.

Leaving them tomorrow was going to kill me.

forty-four

Sinclair

Myheartwastorn.Kai wanted both me and Aine to move to Lakewood. I couldn't go back there; I didn't think I could bring Aine there. That place held so many ghosts, so many demons from my past. I couldn't bury them all.

I watched as my daughter splashed and played in the pool with her uncles and her father. It hurt knowing everything I kept her from for so long. She deserved this. She deserved aunts, uncles, and cousins. She deserved the love of a grandmother.

I thought about my own grandmother, the one I got to know briefly as a child. I didn't know her well, but I knew the woman loved me. I wish I knew her name, I only ever called her granny. I was younger than Aine is now when she died.

Hot tears built up behind my eyes. I didn't think about everything Aine would miss out on when I left home years ago. Something I never thought I had, a family. But looking at the mod podge group of people here, with us now, I always had a family. I always had the love and support I want so badly for my daughter. I just wish I saw it sooner.

I took a deep breath and relaxed on the chaise next to Tess, who was reading something by Anne Rice. It looked like one of her older novels. I smiled. Nice choice Tess. I thought to myself. Anne Rice was the queen of Fiction.

It was good to just relax and let the stress I've been carrying for the past month go. I had so much on my mind lately and found relief to have everyone go back home, back to their lives, and leave me and Aine to ours. I closed my eyes and started to doze off.

I thought about going back to work, and the events we would be held at the resort for the fall. Spring is the big festival season out here in the desert, but we were trying to make fall as popular as spring. I thought about the events we already had in the works, and my mind wandered to Eric and his restaurant.

Fuck, how was I supposed to work with him after the past few days? Danielle still talked to Joel, but I had been actively ignoring Eric's calls and texts. I guess, when everyone left, I needed to sit down and have a conversation with him and make sure we can keep things professional.

I was dozing off when Aine came running up, her wet hair splattering water across my barely covered body. "Mom!"

"Yes, ladybug" I answered, not even bothering to open my eyes. I had finally relaxed a little. She was safe with all this family around. It was nice to not worry for once. To be able to relax and let someone else handle the stress, for a little while.

"Can I go to Riley's tonight? Please?" Originally, Aine should've come back from camping today, I felt a little bad that her trip got cut short, but Kai was leaving in the morning, along with everyone else.

"Go ask your dad. He leaves tomorrow. I'll leave it up to him." I never thought that saying that would feel so fucking good. It took the pressure of saying yes, and the guilt of a no off me. Fuck, I think I might just keep Kai around. I smiled to myself at the idea of having him around more.

"Sin, are you okay?" Tess whispered from the chaise next to me.

I turned and opened my eyes to look at her. "Yeah, why?"

"Because you just let Kai make a major decision. You gave up control."

"I'm not a control freak, Tess. I let others make decisions." I rolled my eyes and returned to my attempt at relaxation.

"Pft. Okay." Tess replied. I heard Noah and Mia laugh with her. Whatever. I was relaxing and enjoying someone else making the hard decisions and having to deal with the heartbreak that came with the

"No's".

"He said yes!" Aine squealed. "I'm going to go pack; they'll be here soon."

I sighed. "Okay, honey. That's fi-." I sat up quickly, "He what? Kai." I quickly sat up from my relaxed position.

"Hello, beautiful." Kai gave me the sexiest grin. If it had been any other time, in any other place, I'd want to kiss that mouth. Right now, though, I needed to understand what the hell he was thinking.

"Why did you tell her yes? She just got home, and you're all leaving tomorrow." Didn't he want to spend more time with his daughter?

"Baby, it's fine. This isn't the only time I'll have with her, right?" Kai lifted an eyebrow, questioning my promise that we would find a way to make things work for us.

"No, but..." I didn't argue. In all honestly, I couldn't comprehend why I was so upset over him telling her yes. I probably would've done the same thing.

"And Sin. You did tell her to 'ask her dad', didn't you?" Kai gazed at me with loving eyes. He was right, I did tell her to ask her dad, and he was her dad. Noticing the defeat on my face, Kai pushed himself from the water.

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