Page 65 of I Got You

“What if we could figure something out?” I push, wanting to know the real reason because that sounds like a load of shit.

“Shane, I can’t. My days of dancing at that level are over.”

“Why? When is the show? What would you have to do to prepare?” Throughout this afternoon, my mind has been twisted around and around like a rubberband that’s about to be looped over one too many times. I want to know what’s really going on and what in the hell Danny has to do with it.

“Shane. I can’t. I don’t have the time.” She tugs on her shirt again, her eyes focused on the material. “I don’t know if my ankle would hold up under intense training. Plus....”

She won’t look at me, and I want to know what she was going to say. “Plus, what?” I focus on her face, waiting.

Her chest rises as she inhales a deep breath. “It’s a long story, and it doesn’t matter.”

I wait for her to meet my eyes. “I think it matters a lot.”

“Danny and I….” She starts, but Liv runs into the room sniffling and climbs into my lap, linking her arms around my neck and burying her face.

Every sense is on high alert. I have no idea what to do with anyone crying, let alone a little girl, my favorite one. I was about to fly to New York and kick Danny’s ass, but now someone else is added to the list because whoever made Liv cry is about to get torn apart.

“Hey.” Maggie scoots over and tries to brush Liv’s hair out of her face. “What’s wrong?” Liv only squeezes my neck tighter, so I place my hand on her back. “Liv, what happened?” Maggie tries again.

The dampness of her tears trickles down my neck, her little fingers digging in, and I hold her a little tighter. “Liv,” I try. “What’s wrong?”

“My mama didn’t come.” Her voice is small and muffled.

My eyes dart to Maggie’s, which are wide like she has no idea what’s going on either.

“What do you mean, sweetie?” Maggie asks.

Her little voice wobbles. “I blew out my candles and wished my mama would come to my party, and she didn’t.”

I run my hand over her hair and continue to hold her tight. This part of the birthday experience I can relate to, not that I have any idea how to make it better.

Maggie lets out a breath and rubs her back, her fingertips brushing mine. “You know what my mama said about wishes? She said they’re like prayers. Sometimes we ask God for things, and He answers our prayers, but sometimes He decides it's not the right time or He has something even better planned.”

She pauses, but when Liv doesn’t move, she continues. “Beauty, it’s the same with wishes. Sometimes, our wishes come true, and sometimes…maybe it's just not the right wish. Your mama couldn’t be here today, but look how many people were here. All the people that you wanted to be here, who watched you blow out your candles. They were all wishes that came true, and every one of them loves you so much.”

Liv raises her head and wipes her face, her little lip still quivering. “Do you think she will ever come?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart.” Maggie rests against me to look at Liv and push damp strands away from her face. “But you have me and Shane and Cole and the boys. We all have each other, and it’s the best.”

Liv’s tiny hands loosen on my neck. “Will you always come to my birthday parties, Shaney?”

I don’t even hesitate. “You bet. I wouldn’t miss it. It was the best birthday party I’ve ever been to.”

She smiles. “Really?”

“Really.”

“I’m really glad you’re a part of our family now,” she says, placing her hands on my scruffy cheeks, every ounce of my piss-poor attitude evaporating along with her tears. “Maggie says that families are like wolves. The pack sticks together. So I guess you’re stuck with us.”

I smile, but my chest feels like it might burst with hope. Hope that I shouldn’t let surface, let alone expand. “That sounds good to me.” She hugs me again, her sweet smile returning.

“How about a bath with extra bubbles tonight?” Maggie asks.

“Yeah. Can I bring my new toy in?”

“Sure. Go get it.”

Liv hugs me one more time and hops down. Thank goodness she’s feeling better.

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